Would Zwift runnign races work with the unpowered treadmills?

I am aware of people running on manual treadmills and getting their data into Zwift. Not sure if the data comes from the treadmill (I imagine lower grade treadmills don't have BLE/ANT+ transmit) but you can use a higher quality footpod to get pace info into Zwift.

Cyclists can game the system and get false speeds/results just as runners.

You can still compete and get the benefit of the race without worrying about where exactly you placed.

Huey Newis and the Lews wrote:

Yes, I know real running/racing is 1000X better than virtual racing. But as a recovering cyclist, I have to say that Zwift racing is REALLY damn fun and you get to intensity levels not really possible in a non "race" situation. I've been doing a Thursday night series in COVID world and find myself spending all day looking forward to it (I know kinda sad). Running in zwift is dumb - because it has crappy data from foot pods or optical sensors which measure speed from the treadmill, but there is no way to ensure the racer is not off the mill. Does anybody know if those curved treadmills (like this $200 option): would work to measure "power" or even speed. This could make things like virtual racing possible, because you control the speed, not the treadmill.

At first I didn't understand the question, but I guess you're wondering if these non-motorized treadmills can bluetooth the speed of their belt to Zwift as evidence of the speed of the runner. Would be interesting.

That being said, these new smart treadmills work fine for racing -- I don't think there's a real risk of someone stepping off the treadmill if you required HR data, just as with cycling races.