Most of us have been to our fair share of fitness studios with a dedicated apparel section, but what about an apparel/shoe store that houses a fitness studio? Heartbreak Hill Running Company’s Cambridge location flips the script and does just that, giving a whole new meaning to run club with their treadmill studio. This studio-store brings a unique mix of classes appropriate for experienced and novice runners alike. Heartbreak Hill Running Company was a nice change of pace, for sure!
Our instructor, Jarick Walker, explained his name is a combination of both of his grandfathers: Jared and Patrick. We found this fitting since his Power 26 class felt like a nice combo of Barry’s Bootcamp plus OrangeTheory, with an added community vibe bonus of the November Project. This 45-minute class kicked off with a brief warm-up, followed by 26 minutes on the treadmill and a 15-minute finale of kettlebell strength training. Having dabbled in races ourselves, we appreciated the not-so-subtle nod to the 26 miles of a marathon–we’ll take minutes over miles any day!
Each treadmill included a reference guide for speed ranging from levels one to four, with one being a jog and four being a maximum effort sprint. There was a faster sprint option for average runners at seven and and a more amped-up version for elite runners at nine and higher. Jarick took us through a series of intervals that typically lasted no more than a minute, before transitioning to another speed or incline. For this particular class, the incline never exceeded 3.0 which kept things a little easier than expected, but rest assured, the sprints will have you breaking a sweat.
The strength training session wasn’t the strong point of the workout. But for those looking to incorporate a little more total body, it gets the job done though. Many of these exercises serve in-training runners well, proving this studio clearly knows its audience. Several sets of squat jumps, single-leg dead lifts and bicep curls later, and we were out the door with a high-five (medal, Heatsheet and banana not included).
“You’ve gotta be an athlete before you can be a runner”, explained Jarick. True words spoken from the former college athlete. Jarick was a natural in his coaching role and impressed us with his charming demeanor. Unlike other high-intensity tread classes in town, Jarick understood that everyone doesn’t necessarily want to sprint at a high pace, which was encouraging to runners of all levels. He kept the energy high throughout the class and was clearly a fan of his own rap remix/throwback playlist. We were, too.
The Tread Studio is visible from its Mass Ave. storefront window, but can only be accessed through the Heartbreak Hill Running Company store. If you haven’t checked out one of their stores before (also in the South End and Newton), then good luck walking away without purchasing a new jacket or pair of shoes.
After the salesperson checked us in on their iPad, we were shown the small locker and shower area. The locker area was shared, and out in the open. But to be honest, we weren’t expecting much, if anything, so it’s nice to know these are both available, even if they’re not glamorous. Runners can expect a relatively dark studio, illuminated by interchanging neon lights above. The studio itself fit just over a dozen Woodway treadmills, arranged in two rows, facing a mirrored wall, with a small rack of weights in the corner. Positioned above the weights was a CrossFit-esque digital clock that served as a countdown through the workout. While the treadmills are spaced out nicely, the strength training portion of class took place behind each runner’s treadmill, which felt a little cramped. Perhaps the highlight out the studio though was the back feature wall. Comprised of glass, this showcased all of the brightly colored running shoes available for sale on the store side. A shoe-in to winning over any runner.
294 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge MA, 02139 Cambridge Running $$$
Heartbreak Hill Running Company
Cambridge Running, $$$
294 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge MA, 02139
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Heartbreak Hill Running CompanyRunning
Our instructor, Jarick Walker, explained his name is a combination of both of his grandfathers: Jared and Patrick. We found this fitting since his Power 26 class felt like a nice combo of Barry’s Bootcamp plus OrangeTheory, with an added community vibe bonus of the November Project. This 45-minute class kicked off with a brief warm-up, followed by 26 minutes on the treadmill and a 15-minute finale of kettlebell strength training. Having dabbled in races ourselves, we appreciated the not-so-subtle nod to the 26 miles of a marathon–we’ll take minutes over miles any day!
Each treadmill included a reference guide for speed ranging from levels one to four, with one being a jog and four being a maximum effort sprint. There was a faster sprint option for average runners at seven and and a more amped-up version for elite runners at nine and higher. Jarick took us through a series of intervals that typically lasted no more than a minute, before transitioning to another speed or incline. For this particular class, the incline never exceeded 3.0 which kept things a little easier than expected, but rest assured, the sprints will have you breaking a sweat.
The strength training session wasn’t the strong point of the workout. But for those looking to incorporate a little more total body, it gets the job done though. Many of these exercises serve in-training runners well, proving this studio clearly knows its audience. Several sets of squat jumps, single-leg dead lifts and bicep curls later, and we were out the door with a high-five (medal, Heatsheet and banana not included).
“You’ve gotta be an athlete before you can be a runner”, explained Jarick. True words spoken from the former college athlete. Jarick was a natural in his coaching role and impressed us with his charming demeanor. Unlike other high-intensity tread classes in town, Jarick understood that everyone doesn’t necessarily want to sprint at a high pace, which was encouraging to runners of all levels. He kept the energy high throughout the class and was clearly a fan of his own rap remix/throwback playlist. We were, too.
Heartbreak Hill Running CompanyRunning
Whether you’re the kind of Boston runner who embraces the cold and icy sidewalks outside, or prefers to get your winter miles in indoors, step into Sid Baptista’s Deerfoot Dash class and you’ll be sure to leave with a sharper focus on your form and technique.
This 45 minute class is entirely treadmill based – no hopping on and off for strength or weights. Following the suggested speed ranges posted on each tread, Sid took us through several sprint intervals, ranging from :30 to :60 seconds max at any one level, and maxing out at a 4.0 incline. As advertised in the class description, you can expect to hit anywhere between 3.5 – 6.5 miles by the end of this class, depending on the speed you choose. After working our way up several hill-then-recover combinations, we had a substantial cool down, followed by a bonus five minute core routine comprised of bicycle crunches and plank shoulder taps done on the back of the treadmill.
Sid charismatically led a structured class, with clipboard in hand, to make sure that we didn’t miss a beat. With reminders to focus on our center of gravity and not to carry tension in our shoulders, we were able to utilize the studio mirrors to be particularly mindful of form. Don’t expect Sid to hop in alongside your treadmill and crank up your speed or inclines as you might experience at similar studios. Deerfoot Dash is all about going at your own pace which was evidenced by the fact that not only did we have a Boston Marathon runner in our class, but we also had… us. We liked the inclusiveness of the class and look forward to logging some more miles at HHRC again soon, even after the snow has melted.
Heartbreak Hill Running CompanyRunning
Billed as a 45-minute workout that will “improve your running form, power & efficiency”, we can attest to just that. This stop-and-go workout will have you hopping on and off the treadmill for a set of three strength training intervals. And if you’re looking for an experienced runner to motivate you, look no further than instructor Amanda Nurse – we have a feeling that her running resume will have you pushing that extra mile.
With the exception of our thorough warm-up and cool down on the tread, just about everything in this class occurs in short, fast bursts. While this style workout certainly delivers on the cardio aspect, we did find that as soon as we were hitting our stride during the sprint intervals, it was already time to hit “pause” and work through a strength set. We will say that if you’re in race training mode, you’ll find the kettlebell core and arm routines, combined with lunges and various plank work, beneficial for getting used to running while fatigued.
Amanda’s calm and cool demeanor is reflected in her coaching style. With timely prompts for speed and incline ranges we were able to cater the workout to our own goals (all paces encouraged). In keeping with the theme of other HHRC classes, the primary focus was on form & technique. Amanda definitely brought the enthusiasm and motivation, but we did feel that the intensity of the class relied on what we wanted to get out of the workout. If you’re looking to coast, you can get away with it in this class, but from the looks of things, this class was full of go-getters who were all about the community vibes of this indoor run and sweat session.
