In 2007, National Walking Day was established by the American Heart Association (AHA) as an annual event on the first Wednesday of April. The goal of the event is to encourage people in the United States to participate in physical activity that is accessible and easy for most people. The AHA highlights that physical activity is a powerful tool in reducing stress, improving mood, and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. In fact, a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that simply increasing daily activity by 10 minutes can save over 100,000 lives a year.
Although the benefits of physical activity are well-known, we live in a world where we are constantly bombarded with messages and activities competing for our attention. An innovative company decided to step up their game and take it to the next level for National Walking Day by partnering with a viral TikTok star to launch a new and exciting fitness trend. Orange Theory Fitness, in partnership with TikToker Allie Bennett, debuted the #TreadmillStrut train in their more than 1,500 studios worldwide, providing an accessible form of exercise that can significantly improve heart health and help prevent chronic diseases.
Allie’s #TreadmillStrut has managed to take the TikTok world by storm with over 125 million views. The train invites participants to walk stylishly on a treadmill to the beat of a pump-up playlist, increasing the speed incrementally each time a new song plays. Orange Theory Fitness believes this trend can be adapted for their in-studio experience while staying true to their partnership with the American Heart Association. Consequently, on National Walking Day (April 5, 2023), Orange Theory Fitness will premiere its #TreadmillStrut class, which combines the excitement and fun of TikTok’s viral trend with the power of Orange Theory Fitness.
Working closely with Orange Theory Fitness’s team of fitness experts, Allie infused her #TreadmillStrut experience into a limited-edition powerwalk treadmill portion of the class. Allie hopes that the campaign and her #TreadmillStrut will encourage people of all fitness abilities to participate in physical activity without feeling overwhelmed or intimidated. She has received positive comments from people who were intimidated by going to the gym or working out and decided to try the Treadmill Strut after seeing a video. They found it to be both fun and doable, and realized they can do more than they thought, which is the goal of the collaboration.
To keep attendees in the strut-to-the-beat zone, Orange Theory Fitness has partnered with DJ Truth, one of their member favorites, to create a unique playlist inspired by Allie’s song choices. Hundreds of thousands of Orangetheory members will participate in a unified #TreadmillStrut workout on National Walking Day, featuring heart-pumping inclines and impact-driven power walks, as a result.
“With National Walking Day approaching, we decided there was no better time to celebrate our Power Walking community and highlight the format as a fun and accessible way to get into The Orange Zone and see results,” says Scott Brown, Orange Theory Fitness’s vice president of fitness. Orange Theory Fitness is based on five-zone heart rate-based interval training, designed to increase metabolism, burn fat and more calories, and improve cardiometabolic, cardiorespiratory, and mental health. Its proprietary heart rate monitor tracks personal performance data in real time and guides members toward measurable results. Every Orange Theory workout is led by a certified trainer who offers options to make classes accessible to all fitness and ability levels.
Allie’s journey in becoming an influencer in fitness was never a conscious decision. Instead, she wanted to focus on her mental well-being after experiencing eating disorders, and thus she started posting videos of herself power walking on treadmills. “I had a very messed up view of food and exercise growing up, but making these videos has actually played a big part in my recovery,” she shared openly. “I’ve somehow stumbled into this community of super supportive and like-minded people, and they inspire me to no end. I’m so lucky to be where I am and getting to do this collaboration with Orange Theory Fitness is such an exciting milestone for me at this trip!”
The #TreadmillStrut campaign aims to make workouts accessible to everyone, which is also the inspiration behind the original Strut. Those interested in joining in on the #TreadmillStrut fun can register for any scheduled class on April 5th at their local Orange Theory Fitness studio, via the Orangetheory website, or the Orangetheory app. The class is free for new members. By raising awareness about the importance of physical activity and making it accessible and fun, Orange Theory Fitness and Allie aim to encourage every individual to participate in physical activity to improve their overall well-being.
