Located on East 4th Street a few blocks away from SoulCycle Noho and David Barton Gym Astor Place, the studio has 30 Woodways–the same high-tech, otherworldly equipment that you’ll find at Barry’s Bootcamp. These aren’t your mama’s treadmill, but, don’t worry, they’re remarkably easy to use. And, if you’re like me, who generally steers clear of the “dreadmill” while exercising on my own, Mile High Run Club is our chance to mix things up in the company of others.

Each Woodway is stocked with a cheat sheet, breaking down the 4 different training levels for novice Joggers or more experienced Racers. And, there’s plenty of space for a water bottle and towel.

I chose a class called Dash 28, structured intervals for 28 sweaty minutes plus 10 minutes of kettlebell training for 45 total (the other option is an hour-long class called The Distance, with 50 minutes of treadmill work).

Pro golfer and über all-around instructor Andia Winslow took our all-female group through a challenging mix of sprints from 1% to 5% incline, staying mostly within Levels 2 and 3. At the end, we popped off behind our treadmills and finished strong with sets of lunges, squats and pushups holding 3- and 8-pound kettlebells.

Despite mic trouble and a playlist including “Mambo Number 5″ that should be curated with an ear for much newer endorphin-inspiring tunes (like Row House), this was, for sure, the fastest half hour that I’ve ever run inside.

And, on the way out, a list of upcoming races got me thinking.  In New York, as always, the options are endless. Which races are you running this season?

But, just because the new year is here doesn’t mean that the party’s over. Never one for major New Year’s resolutions, I do believe in reasonable goal-setting to keep myself motivated through the dead of winter.

So, I’m dedicating 2015 to moving forward.

STRENGTH+Sole is getting a new look and we’re busy behind the scenes now, making your experience even better. That means: easier search, bigger images and more weekly fitness and fashion content. Stay tuned–it’s coming your way by March!

If you’re shopping for a new gym, take a look at David Barton‘s just-opened Chelsea location. Formerly, the raging, all-night dance club The Limelight, it’s now a haven for sweating of a different sort. With Life Fitness treadmills, ellipticals and weight machines tucked into dimly-lit, dreamy spaces and the original stained glass windows all around, this gym is proof that in New York, everyone–and everything–is always being reinvented.

Here’s to the power of positive change.

Designed to burn fat and sculpt muscle simultaneously, HIIT includes a mix of kettle bell training, burpees, lunges and squats. This class incorporated those–and then some. It was a sold-out show, with 21 clients, and we each occupied a fixed spot in the studio vs. other HIIT classes, which often rely on circuits and continuous movement of small groups between stations.

In addition to the music, those of us who’d chosen to wear a Wahoo heart rate monitor supplied by the front desk were also able to push ourselves using the numbers displayed on a flat screen.

I always find this type of information inspirational vs. defeatist, so, whenever I saw my intensity level change from orange to yellow, I knew it was time to step it back up.

After several rounds of exercises, laid out for us on a chalk board at the beginning of class, we ended with abs: side and center planks plus scissor kicks. Ugh. What I need and dread most.

And, before I picked up my berry smoothie and headed out the door, I grabbed Robert plus a kettle bell for a sweaty photo opp. Posing for the camera and on the mic in class, this guy was born to do it.

Enter WIN Detergent.

It’s scientifically designed to remove the oils that build up in synthetic, sweat-wicking fabrics causing them to become more than a little funky over time.

It really, truly works.

And, there are two formulas, regular and dye/fragrance-free, neither of which are tested on animals. Plus, they’re used in exactly the same way as regular detergent, no extra steps involved. So, grab a bottle and your fellow cyclists at SoulCycle, Flywheel and Peloton will thank you, I promise.

Get $1 off yours by entering the code WINGIVE1 at checkout here.

I’ll also be giving away a bottle of each on Twitter this week. Follow @fitgirlrachel and stay tuned!

Product provided by SweatPink. #SweatHardSmellGreat #WINDetergent #sweatpink
All thoughts/assessments are my own.

My advice? Run, don’t walk!

Showing through February 15, 2015.

Ain’t love grand?

Skirt: Trina Turk, Sweater: Uniqlo, Pumps: Louise et Cie and my grandmother’s antique pearl ring.

First, there’s the bike. In my opinion, it’s the most superior indoor cycling bike out there. Highly connected, it offers up each rider’s personal cadence, resistance and output along with a real-time leaderboard, so that we can see how we measure up against the rest of the class and others tuning in from home.  It rides like a dream.

For virtual cyclists, Peloton is the first experience to provide streaming of live and on-demand classes, right from their home gyms, libraries or living rooms.  So, if you skipped Lisa Niren‘s 10:30am class last Sunday because you slept in, were on a plane or simply live in Detroit, don’t worry, because it’s available…24/7. (And, trust me, if you want to be in amazing shape, you don’t want to miss Lisa’s Endurance ride–check out her way enviable abs.)

For New Yorkers, Peloton’s 23rd Street studio is the brand’s home base. With a spacious lobby lounge that’s like a comfy-meets-chic living room and a Jack’s outpost with freshly-brewed coffee and fruit-infused water, the pre-and post-ride experience is made to feel equally important.

And, as always, there’s a full collection of branded tees, tanks and crop capris on your way in and out. (If you don’t have your own cycling shoes, they’re complimentary with the ride, along with water.)

In New York, we often grumble that everyone is always looking for the next best thing in lunch spots, labels and even love. But, after having taken three Peloton classes with another scheduled for tomorrow morning, I gotta admit: my present is pretty perfect.

The entire class is done on a machine called the Megaformer, an über version of the traditional Reformer, timed to a pumped up, pop playlist.

Equipped with adjustable springs, stirrups and straps, I found myself hanging from and twisting on the Megaformer in ways that I didn’t know were possible. Moves like the Mermaid worked our obliques, Scrambled Eggs targeted the outer thigh. Plus, there were many, many planks.

This is my instructor Emily, showing off her best side plank. (I love her look, especially the girly toe socks.)

Mixed with high intensity cardio like cycling and running to shed fat, I can definitely see how SLT would deliver on its promise. And, you know me, I’d rather be sore than sorry any day.

SLT Flatiron opens next Monday, 11/3. Find a class here.

For me, the source of my equipment intimidation has always been weights machinery that seems too complicated to figure out and use by myself.  So, I decided to make a date with my fear and scheduled an appointment to work out with trainer Gary Peters at Equinox, who took me through a fast-paced, lower-body focused routine that I would definitely not do on my own. 

From squats with a barbell to chin ups assisted by a HOIST, these moves were challenging and out of the ordinary for me, and, an hour later, I could definitely feel the difference in comparison with my usual resistance training. The day after, I couldn’t sit or walk down the subway stairs, so, I know that it was effective! I can’t wait to go back for more. I also made a point of taking note of the settings and sequence of the moves on my iPhone, so that I can repeat the routine on my own.

So, next time you’re inside the studio or at the gym, don’t let a seemingly complicated Schwinn or a group of grunting guys stop you from mixing up your workout, surprising your body–and seeing major results.

Want to train with Gary? Find him here: gary.peters@pt.equinox.com

My look? Preppy chic. Levi’s paired with a lavender cashmere sweater, sparkly gold flats and oversized Jackie O.-style shades.

Do you live in jeans? If so, check out Levi’s Mid Rise Skinny–with the perfect amount of stretch, you’ll actually feel like you’re in leggings…because we should all have as much fun as we can.

Product provided by Levi’s c/o Women’s Health. #LiveinLevis
All thoughts/assessments are my own.