Peloton's New Pace Target Classes will Challenge You to Push Your Runs to the Next Level

If you’ve ever taken a Run class on the Peloton Tread or Peloton Tread+ and had a moment where you can’t quite match the pace your Peloton instructor is cueing or your stride is speedier than theirs, you’ve probably found yourself adjusting the speed dial to meet where you’re at. (After all, every runner is different, and what works for you today may be totally different than what you need down the road.)

In the words of Peloton instructor Becs Gentry, “Forward is a pace, and your pace is always good enough.” That’s why we’ve developed a new method of coaching that is more personalized to whatever your pace may be. 

Read on to find out more about Pace Target classes, how you can benefit from them, and how to get started.

What Are Peloton Pace Target Classes?

Pace Target classes calibrate instructor cues into paces to match your individual pace level. When you take an instructor-led Pace Target class on your Tread or Tread+, the speed ranges show up on-screen.

“Having specific indicators and markers that you’re improving is super important. Now, we have the ability to give you specific numbers and still coach to a mass of people, thereby improving your specific performance. I love this feature and I’m so happy that we rolled it out,” says Peloton instructor Marcel Dinkins.

We’ll help you find the best pace target level for you by suggesting a level based on your best 1-mile or 1K time on the Tread or Tread+. You can also opt-in to a level that feels right for you and change your level at any time—before or during your workout.

“Pace Target classes aren’t going to look significantly different from our traditional classes, except that rather than speed ranges, we will be calling out paces,” explains Marcel. You may hear Recovery Pace, Easy Pace, Moderate Pace, Challenging Pace, Hard Pace, Very Hard Pace, and Max Pace throughout a class. “Think about them the same way you think about a Power Zone class [on the Bike]. If you take Power Zone classes you work in specific zones, and in Pace Target classes you work at specific paces.” 

Of course, you’ll still get the same amazing Instructor-led coaching and music you know and love.

Why You’ll Love Pace Target Classes

Every Cue is Relevant to You. 

Pace Target classes ensure that you’re being appropriately challenged in each class. That means you’ll never get a cue from an instructor that feels too fast or slow from your current fitness level.

In classes that aren’t coached to pace targets, Marcel explains, “Generally, we’re calling out numbers that are an average, but intensity looks different on everyone. When I say ‘Get into a run from 6-9 mph,’  not everyone's run will be 6-9 mph. Pace Targets takes  into consideration what feels right for your body, how long you've been training, and more.”

“It’s highly advantageous for you to take the pace target classes because now your workouts are more specific to you, what your abilities are, and what your goals are,” she says.

You’ll Be Able to See Your Progress Over Time.

Pace Target classes are a great way to measure how your running speed is improving over time, if that’s a goal for you. You may start out at Level 2, but as you progress and take more classes, you might find that Level 3 is a better fit for you. “You’re going to be able to see your performance improve,” says Marcel.

“Having pace targets helps you run smarter and become more strategic as a runner,” she says. Ultimately, this can boost your performance. 25 percent of Peloton Members who have taken more than 10 Pace Target classes have advanced to a new Pace Target Level within 2 months.

Want to start improving your pace? Here’s how.

How to Get Started

Now you can filter, search, and schedule Pace Target classes on your Tread or Tread+ and the Peloton App and take the classes on the Tread and Tread+ now, and on the App in the coming months. We recommend checking out the Introduction to Pace Targets class first, to help ensure you’ve selected the right level.

From there, after you select your first Pace Target class on your Peloton treadmill, here’s what to expect.

1. Get to know Pace Targets.

Follow the onboarding flow to get familiar with the paces you’ll see in class. There are seven paces, ranging from Recovery to Max.

2. Choose your Pace Target Level.

Select from one of ten Pace Target Levels (we’ll suggest one based on your best 1-mile or 1K time on the Tread or Tread+) and see a preview of what the seven paces are for that Level. If you haven’t achieved a best 1-mile or 1K time on the Tread or Tread+, you can self-report your best time or share your running experience to get a suggested Level. Don’t worry, you can always adjust your level before or during a workout if it doesn’t feel quite right.

3. Join a workout and follow the on-screen pace bar.

You’ll be able to see your exact pace during the workout, as you would in other Tread workouts, but now you’ll also see a pace bar above it indicating the pace the instructor is cueing. You’ll also see the target speed range for the selected level that corresponds to the pace the instructor has cued. When an instructor cues a new pace, the speed range and pace bar will adjust to reflect the pace for that Level.