Everyone knows that treadmill running is THE ABSOLUTE WORST — watching TV is the only thing that makes it tolerable. If you'd rather run outside but can't stomach the boredom, a new fitness trend might turn you into an outdoor warrior, after all: The UK-based gym chain David Lloyd Clubs is equipping personal running coaches with vest-like contraptions that secure digital tablets to their backs so clients can run outside (>treadmill!) while catching up on their favorite TV shows.


While you watch Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Now TV, or Amazon Prime on your personal trainer's TV (PTV) with the wireless headphones provided, your running coach paces you through 3- to 10-kilometer off-road routes, depending on the length of your show. (One episode of The Crown amounts to about 8K, for reference.)

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David Lloyd Clubs


Of course, there's a catch: You have to keep up with your coach to continue watching. The service is offered at the gym's Chigwell location now, and will gradually will be introduced to 86 more locations.

In a press release, a David Lloyd Clubs spokesperson says this new offering gives "time-poor parents and young professionals the perfect means to stay up to date with their favorite shows while ensuring they stay active and healthy at the same time."

What a dream — if only coaches brought popcorn.

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