How I Use Peloton to Stay Motivated: My Daily Routine with the Treadmill and Bike
Life can get chaotic. Between juggling family responsibilities, personal commitments, and everyday tasks, it’s easy to let fitness slip to the bottom of the priority list. But for me, staying active has become essential to my physical and mental well-being. In fact, it’s been a consistent part of my routine for the past two years, thanks to Peloton. Whether it’s running on the treadmill or powering through a ride on the bike, Peloton keeps me motivated, engaged, and always striving for the next personal best.
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned over these two years is that consistency is everything. No matter how busy the day gets or how tired I feel, I make time to exercise. It’s become a non-negotiable part of my routine. Some days it’s a quick session, while other days I can push myself for longer workouts—but something gets done every day. Peloton’s variety of classes, both in length and intensity, means I can always find a workout that suits my schedule and energy level.
Building a Daily Routine: Scheduling Around
Fitting exercise into my day is about finding balance. As much as I’d love to start every day with a workout, life often has other plans. So, most of my workouts happen in the evening. I’ve learned to carve out time for fitness after family responsibilities wind down, which means I usually get started around 9 pm. It’s become a peaceful time of the day to focus on myself.
Here’s how I balance my workout schedule depending on the time of day: If I can start before 9 pm, I’ll usually hop on the treadmill for a run. Running has always been a passion of mine, and the Peloton Tread makes it even more enjoyable. I love focusing on metric-based runs, where I can track my pace, distance, and splits. These classes help me set clear goals and push my endurance to new levels.
On days when I’m starting later—after 9 pm—I usually switch to the Peloton bike. The bike is quieter than the treadmill, which is important because I don’t want to disturb anyone else in the house at that hour. This flexibility is one of the biggest benefits of having both the Tread and the bike. No matter the time of day or my energy level, I have options that allow me to stay consistent without disrupting anyone else’s routine.
After each workout, whether it’s a treadmill run or a ride on the bike, I always make time for a follow-up stretch or yoga class. Stretching has become an essential part of my recovery process, helping to keep me flexible and injury-free. I’ve found that even a 10-minute stretch or yoga flow can make a huge difference in how my body feels the next day. It’s a perfect way to wind down after an intense session and helps bring my day to a close on a calming note.
The Treadmill: Metric-Based Running to Push Limits
Running on the Peloton Tread is one of the highlights of my fitness routine. I’ve always loved running, but having the structured classes on Peloton has taken my training to another level. Rather than just hitting the pavement and running without a clear goal, I now focus on specific metrics like pace, distance, and splits. This structured approach keeps me engaged and gives me a way to track my progress over time.
One of my favorite types of classes are the endurance or progressive runs. These sessions focus on gradually increasing your pace over a set distance or time, which helps build both endurance and speed. It’s a great way to challenge yourself without burning out too quickly. I also love the interval classes, where you alternate between periods of high-intensity sprinting and recovery. These sessions push me to my limit, but the reward comes when I see improvements in my endurance and overall fitness.
I typically do my treadmill workouts in the early evening when I have the time and space to focus on running. The metrics-based classes allow me to see real-time feedback on my pace and splits, which keeps me motivated to hit new personal bests. Every run feels purposeful, and I can see the tangible results of my effort through my pace and endurance gains.
Beyond structured runs, I also enjoy the community aspect of Peloton’s Tread classes. Even though I’m running solo at home, the live or on-demand classes make me feel connected to others who are on a similar journey. The instructors are great at keeping the energy high, and their coaching helps me push harder than I would on my own. Plus, the leaderboard is a constant source of motivation—nothing beats the feeling of climbing a few spots during a challenging run!
Late-Night Workouts: Why the Bike Is My Go-To After 9 pm
When it comes to late-night workouts, the Peloton bike has become my go-to option. It’s quiet, so I don’t have to worry about disturbing the rest of the house, and it offers an incredible variety of classes that challenge both my body and mind. Since most of my workouts happen after 9 pm, the bike allows me to maintain my routine without creating too much noise, unlike the treadmill.
One of the best features of the Peloton bike is Power Zone training. Power Zones are based on your individual FTP (Functional Threshold Power), which is essentially the maximum power you can sustain over a certain period. The training focuses on working at different intensity levels to build endurance, strength, and overall cycling performance. It’s a scientific approach to training that has helped me make measurable progress on the bike.
I complete mutiple Power Zone challenges that involved two rides and two runs per week over six weeks. The structure of the challenge pushed me to stay committed and helped me hit some new personal records (PRs) along the way. In fact, I managed to achieve four new PRs during the last challenge, which felt like a huge accomplishment. My current FTP score for running stands at 399, and I’m always striving to improve that.
The bike also offers a wide range of class types, so even if I’m not in the mood for a Power Zone ride, I can switch things up with a low-impact recovery ride or a high-energy climb. The diversity of class options keeps me engaged and motivated, no matter what time of day I’m riding. Plus, the instructors do an incredible job of pushing you just the right amount while still keeping the experience fun.
Just like with my treadmill workouts, I always follow up a bike ride with a stretch or yoga class. These recovery-focused sessions help release any tension in my muscles and give me time to wind down after an intense ride. Stretching has made a big difference in my overall flexibility and has helped prevent injury, especially when I’m doing high-intensity rides or back-to-back workouts.
Staying Balanced: Incorporating Strength and Meditation
While running and cycling are the cornerstones of my fitness routine, I also make time for strength training and meditation through the Peloton app. These additional components have been essential in keeping me balanced both physically and mentally.
Strength training helps me build muscle and prevent injuries, especially since running and cycling put a lot of repetitive strain on certain muscles. By focusing on different muscle groups, I’ve been able to improve my overall performance and endurance. Peloton offers a range of strength classes, from bodyweight exercises to weighted workouts, so I can choose the type of strength training that complements my cardio sessions.
Meditation, on the other hand, has been my go-to for mental clarity and stress relief. The 10-minute meditation classes on the Peloton app are a great way to reset after a tough day or even after a workout. I’ve found that practicing mindfulness helps me stay focused and present, not just in fitness but in everyday life. The combination of physical exercise and mental wellness keeps me feeling balanced and ready to tackle whatever comes next.
Tracking Progress: Power Zone Challenges and Personal Records
One of the things I love most about Peloton is the ability to track progress. Whether it’s through FTP scores on the bike or pacing improvements on the treadmill, there’s always a metric to monitor and a goal to reach. Seeing my progress laid out in numbers keeps me motivated to continue pushing myself and setting new personal records.
Recently, I hit four new PRs during a Power Zone challenge, and I also achieved a new FTP score of 399 for running. These milestones remind me that all the hard work is paying off and that I’m constantly improving. It’s a great feeling to look back at where I started and see how far I’ve come. The small gains add up over time, and Peloton’s tracking system makes it easy to celebrate those victories.
In addition to tracking my own progress, I find motivation from the Peloton community. Whether it’s competing on the leaderboard during a live class or seeing others share their achievements in the forums, there’s a sense of camaraderie that makes fitness feel like a shared journey. Even when I’m working out alone at home, I never feel like I’m truly solo. The Peloton community and the encouragement from instructors keep me pushing beyond my limits.
Conclusion: Fitness as a Daily Ritual
At the end of the day, Peloton has become more than just a workout platform for me—it’s a daily ritual that keeps me grounded. Whether I’m running on the treadmill, cycling on the bike, or doing a stretch and yoga class, fitness has become a non-negotiable part of my life. The combination of structure, variety, and community has helped me stay consistent and motivated, even when life gets busy.
I’ve learned that it’s not about being perfect every day. It’s about showing up, doing the work, and making progress over time. Whether it’s hitting a new personal best on the Tread or crushing a Power Zone ride on the bike, each small victory adds up to a healthier, happier me.
As Jess Sims often reminds us, “You don’t have to, you get to.” That simple shift in perspective keeps me motivated and grateful for the opportunity to challenge myself, day in and day out. It’s not just about the workout; it’s about embracing the privilege to move my body and grow stronger.
“You don’t have to, you get to”
Jess Simms
