One of the most common complaints of trail runners using treadmills for year-round training is the lack of realistic pacing and real-world terrain simulation. This discomfort runs so deep that many refer to the devices as “dreadmills” when forced to jog indoors due to gnarly winter weather. Thankfully, the legendary cycling brand Wahoo is revolutionizing the running space with its high-tech Wahoo KICKR RUN, now 25% off through December 1.
The Wahoo KICKR RUN. All photos: Wahoo Fitness
Launched in late summer of 2024, the Wahoo KICKR RUN is a game-changer in the treadmill space. In addition to pairing perfectly with apps like Zwift Run, Kinomap, and the Wahoo app, which combine to create a truly immersive training experience, this impressive machine boasts up to a 15% incline and a 3% decline, so it can seamlessly mimic rolling road or trail conditions.
The treadmill also has a no-touch RunFree mode, which uses a special sensor to track your natural pacing and adjusts the speed of the belt accordingly. No need to click a half dozen buttons to change your pace; this treadmill shifts its belt pacing so you can run your run and focus on technique.
Let’s get into what makes the Wahoo KICKR RUN such a unique addition to the treadmill market and why it’s the ideal companion for runners of all stripes.
The Wahoo KICKR RUN offers dozens of high-tech features and is now 25% off.
Wahoo KICKR RUN Top Features
Terrain Simulation
Avid trail and outdoor runners who train on rolling terrain will love the impressive incline and realistic decline of the Wahoo KICKR RUN, which also pairs with apps like Zwift to give athletes fully immersive training sessions. Simply pair the treadmill to the app via Bluetooth and connect to your laptop, phone, tablet, heart rate monitor, or smart fan and enjoy comfortable indoor running sessions with epic mountain and trail visuals. The Wahoo KICKR RUN will naturally raise, lower, and tilt to match the landscape as you bound through it, unheeded.
The Wahoo KICKR RUN has made some big fans in the trail running world, too. “It’s a running experience that needs to be felt to be believed — truly mind-blowing tech,” says David Roche, the 2024 and 2025 Leadville 100 Mile winner and course-record holder.
Lateral Tilt
The Wahoo KICKR RUN fights fatigue and engages the core with its lateral tilt feature, which can automatically tilt the running surface by 0.5 degrees every few seconds to combat repetitive-motion strain and stimulate athletes’ stabilizer muscles. This seemingly small detail helps reduce issues caused by performing a single motion for too long.
RunFree Mode
One of big goals with the Wahoo KICKR RUN was to eliminate pesky button mashing so that athletes can hone in and focus on their pacing and training, rather than dealing with annoying belt dynamics. With the RunFree mode, a sensor at the front of the treadmill tracks your hip movements, and the machine’s speed adjusts on the fly based on your natural speed. When paired with visually striking training apps, like Zwift, it’s akin to training in your favorite idyllic mountain setting, all from the comfort of your home.
“KICKR RUN is a game changer, it allows me to control every aspect of my training,” says Chelsea Sodaro, an Ironman World Champion, of the treadmill’s integrated RunFree mode.
With the RunFree mode, runners can focus on their training and not their button pushing.
Unmatched Connectivity
When we said that the Wahoo KICKR RUN is a high-tech marvel, we weren’t kidding. Not only can this powerful treadmill connect to different devices via Bluetooth, but it also boasts ultra-fast USB-C charging so that your devices don’t run out of juice on long runs. Just strap your laptop up front, pair it with the Wahoo KICKR RUN app, and it’ll effortlessly track your training stats while pumping out epic visuals.
In addition, the Wahoo KICKR RUN is compatible with the free Wahoo training app, plus third-party apps like Zwift, Kinomap, Peloton, and HumanGo. In addition, those who pay extra for a Wahoo X membership can turn any past activity into a custom treadmill route or upload an upcoming race profile for indoor training recon. Sessions can also be uploaded to your trusty Strava profile after completion.
High-Intensity Pacing
“The KICKR RUN is truly Olympics-ready. Especially during fast sub-1,000-meter intervals, where we reach speeds of over 20 kilometers per hour, the treadmill easily keeps up,” says Olympic marathon runner Hendrick Pfeifer.
Thanks to its top speed of four-minute miles (or 15 miles per hour), Wahoo’s KICKR RUN is a fantastic option for interval training and short sprints for athletes looking to really push their tempo on the treadmill. Control paddles also make it a breeze to speed up and slow down with a simple, intuitive motion. When paired with the machine’s impressive incline profile of up to 15%, even the most advanced mountain runners and long-distance athletes get a hearty challenge, all while training indoors.
The Wahoo KICKR RUN boasts a top speed of four-minute miles.
Wahoo KICKR RUN Specs
- 15% maximum incline, 3% maximum decline
- 0.5-degree left/right tilt
- Four-minute mile maximum speed
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- Paddle controllers
- 60 x 22 inch running surface
- Shelf for a laptop or tablet
- Two water bottle holders
- Running app integration
From now through December 1, shoppers can take 25% off the Wahoo KICKR RUN and feel the difference for themselves.
With its impressive 15% incline and 3% decline, the Wahoo KICKR RUN mimics real-world running conditions.
[Editor’s Note: This article is sponsored by Wahoo Fitness. Thank you to the brand for its sponsorship of iRunFar, which helps to make iRunFar happen and free for all to enjoy. Learn more about our sponsored articles.]
