As the coronavirus crisis and social distancing has closed down gyms and fitness studios across the country, many are trying to find new ways to successfully fit in a workout routine.
In Chicago, brick-and-mortar fitness studios and gyms are beginning to offer virtual workouts, and tech-enabled upstarts, like Charge Running, are also proving to be particularly useful during social distancing orders.
Charge Running, which launched about three years ago, is an app that allows users to virtually participate in live runs with coaches and other runners. Founded by Chicago natives Matthew Knippen, Julie Wallock and Rorie Graman, Charge Running said it has seen an uptick in the number of new users since the coronavirus pandemic began.
The app gives users a schedule of live runs to join, which are each virtually coached by one of the startup’s trainers. With headphones in, runners can hear music, and receive motivational and personalized feedback from one of 10 coaches, which Charge Running employs as independent contractors.
While participating in a run, users not only get their distance and speed statistics, but also those of the other people on the run—no matter where they are. The app shows a leaderboard of everyone participating, and allows runners to communicate with each other and share pictures of their "sweaty selfies."
“We’re answering two different problems that the world is facing right now with coronavirus,” said Knippen, the company’s CEO, who says he’s been building iPhone apps for about 10 years. “One is the ability to have a simple way to work out … The second is the community and camaraderie that comes with it.”
Knippen came up with the idea for the app after his running buddy moved away.
“How cool would it be if we could run together while not actually being in the same state?” Knippen said.
Charge Running’s social aspect differentiates it from other running apps, according to Knippen. But if Charge Running users don’t want to participate in live runs for some reason, they can also go on solo runs by listening to pre-recorded coaching sessions and still track their progress.
Knippen would not disclose how many members Charge Running has but the app costs $10 per month to use. However, during the coronavirus pandemic, new users have access to a free, two-week trial.
The startup has raised a small seed round of $625,000 and is looking to fundraise again soon, Knippen said.
In a coronavirus world, Charge Running has the luxury of already being digital. Meanwhile, many of Chicago’s fitness studios and gyms have been scrambling to offer virtual workouts amid the shutdown.
Studio Three, a fitness studio with locations in River North and Lincoln Park, initially began offering classes for free via Instagram live when shelter-in-place orders came down. But as the coronavirus pandemic persists, it announced earlier this week that it is ending those Instagram classes and instead going to offer limited-capacity virtual, live classes over Zoom. And members pay $100 per month for the new service.
Additionally, CorePower, a Denver-based yoga studio chain with several locations throughout Chicago, has launched an on-demand service for pre-recorded classes. Memberships start at $20 per month. And Brooklyn Boulders is offering daily virtual classes and workshops as well.
Even bigger fitness chains with local outposts, such as Life Time Fitness, are offering on-demand classes for members and non-members to stream cardio, strength and yoga classes.
