First Impressions: Zwift's New Running Pace Partners

[@RunningOtaku]

I see lots of possibilities here. One of my buddies has an 11 year old son who is not a runner, but fell in love with a Peloton trainer. And now the kid is constantly running on the treadmill just to watch her. 🤣

[@Dcrainmaker]

Hahahaha...hey, I'm all about getting kids fitter!

[@littlered6340]

Oh my god that's amazing 😂

[@Stevenafoe]

Right! I was cycling zwift and i saw the yellow person running. Thought it was a level 50 runner in tron-clothing or so. This vid explains it .

[@All4Grogg]

Passed one of these on massive L39ion group ride yesterday morning, it had about 4 people running along and a few more just behind. I guess that beats running solo. That scene of a 1,000 rider blob whooshing past a group of only 4-6 runners using a brand new feature released a day before seems rather representative of the user demographics on the platform.

[@mlegrand]

Digging that bike society shirt. I don't have a treadmill but I have been thinking about putting my big screen with apple tv on some wheels and adding a large V-Mount battery so I can take Zwift with me out on the road. Also, are there options for shorter shorts for your avatar?

[@mlegrand]

Is Bellie Benoit related to Joan? Sisters? Is there a lot of animosity there because of Joan's success? So many questions that went unanswered with your video. So disappointing. 😉

[@Dcrainmaker]

Regarding taking Zwift outside...let me introduce you to my archive: kzbin.info/www/bejne/omTUgaFmhc99qNk 😂

[@mlegrand]

@@Dcrainmaker - I do remember that you spent a really long time in Australia. It was like a month or something. And wasn't it great when you could just put a kid in a stroller and they would inevitably pass out. Those were the days. Love the archives. 👌

[@MattSwain1]

There’s so much they could do with these in future so I’m glad they’ve been added to running (I use the cycling pacers occasionally) but in the short term I’ll pass. I think there needs to be a least 4 more for running to fill in some of the big gaps in pace between them, but I’d also like to see them vary between steady pace and putting in some surges (within a range) for a some variety. All that said, any signs of running on Zwift getting some attention is most welcome!

[@1519Spring]

Seems like this would be most useful if the user could set the pace partner's pace. It's all automated, so why can't it be infinitely variable. Also, totally agree it should be 24 hour.

[@Dcrainmaker]

I think the general idea is that it attracts a group of other runners. So on the cycling side these have basically become forever-group-rides. Or always-on-group-rides (at least, for 20 hours a day), and you get huge groups.

[@alolsen339]

@@Dcrainmaker and the pace partners require no scheduling or planning. Just jump on and go as long or as short as one wishes.

[@mrjoshuagordon]

Just ran 7.5 miles with Billie, about 5 runners came and left during that duration. Was fun.

[@jimhansen5395]

Couple of possibilities for improvement: 1: More and more granular categories? 2: Personal (user configurable) pace partners? 3: Ghost partners (previously recorded runs/rides)? for personal pace partners, have a bias setting you can adjust on the fly like you can in rides with FTP (for ERG mode workouts)

[@MateHegyhati]

2-3: it seems for me, that this is meant to be a community feature, making people run together. Not a personalized training partner. So that is why these pacers run 20 (why?) hours a day, and you spawn right next to them if you chose them.

[@jimhansen5395]

@@MateHegyhati Yup, I get it. But there has to be a balance. Finding a bunch of runners online at the exact same time who run at exactly the same pace is going to be a challenge. Not programatically, but logistically. The platform will have to be a lot more popular for that to work.

[@MateHegyhati]

@@jimhansen5395 I have absolutely no idea, how many people use Zwift for running. Let's say x*100, and in averge they run 0.3 hours a day (2+ hours a week). this would mean 30*x running hours a day, leading to 1.5*x runners being present _in average_ at the same time, ~0.4*x runners at the same time with the same pacer. So if there are at least a 1000 runners, it means 4 runners _in average_. Of course there would be peaks, and some pacers would be more popular than others. My guess is, that Zwift HQ looked at the stats, and identified 4 peaks. Also, probably they will increase the number of pace options, as the platform gets more popular (if it does) and there will be enough runners to "fill" the groups.

[@jimhansen5395]

@@MateHegyhati where are you getting these numbers to "average"?

[@MateHegyhati]

@@jimhansen5395 As I said, I have absolutely no idea, tried to undershoot things, and did my napkin math to see, how big x need to be to make this viable. However, I did not factor in, what percentage of people prefer this over running freely alone, doing a predefined workout, etc. Which was silly on my part. Well, it was 3 am for me :-D Chris, thanks for providing better estimates.

[@hgiusdfajgfds]

I've ridden with the cycling partners a few times, and haven't really seen the bot's pace oscillate at all? Maybe day to day it varies, but on a given day it seems to be static. The effort you need to put out does vary though due to drafting and terrain, which makes it interesting enough to ride with them IMO. They'd just need to figure out the warmup side of things.

[@oldtwinsna8347]

I ride with those cycling bots daily and they never alter their w/kg pace. As mentioned, the actual speed will vary because they are responding to the road and draft conditions, with zero consideration of how it affects other riders. So the speed changes can be incredible if you aren't paying attention. They just need to get that archaic exit out of the game issue before changing courses fixed then warmups will not be a problem since one could then change courses in seconds.

[@mpd1967]

Awesome video thank you! Hope to see or run with in in Zwift Watopia.👟👟🏃🏼‍♂️😎🇺🇸

[@lloydy187]

I found the same B is a little to slow for me and A a bit too fast for most of my runs! Would be great to see some in between options!

[@shanew634]

Top tips Ray.👏

[@BurntToast1]

Something similar to the keep group together feature on the cycling side might work. As long as the runners stay within the advertised zone, they could stay together?

[@pal_lokomotivet2679]

I dont understand this for inndoor running. Your pace can be perfectly controlled by the treadmill. Unlike the virtual parter outdoors on watches or pace partner for zwift bike. It helps you solve a problem. This dont solve anything unless you have a non motor treadmill where you must pace yourself

[@michaelkennedy9064]

Your pace can be perfectly controlled on the bike as well. Put trainer difficulty down to zero which results in flat roads and then there is erg mode where the trainer will just set the power you want. I think the aim isn't about pacing so much as to get runners to be on the road at the same location in game. When I run I hardly see anyone. There are far less runners and you almost never see anyone. If everyone joined one of the pacers there would be pack runs where runners could chat or at least feel like they are running with others.

[@pal_lokomotivet2679]

​@@michaelkennedy9064 Its when you have "flat" roads this can be useful. Its easy to maintain a steady watt but thats not the same as steady pace. Same in erg mode. That dont help you maintain pace but watts. In freeride its perfect if you want to practice holding a back Too get them together is something i can understand.

[@michaelkennedy9064]

@@pal_lokomotivet2679 watts per kg is the focus in zwift not speed. In fact I tell my athletes worry less about your pace/speed and focus on what your output is. True I misused the word pace as I was using in reference to sticking with the pacers in zwift who are called pacers but actually stick to a set watts per kg not speed.

[@pal_lokomotivet2679]

@@michaelkennedy9064 aa ok my bad. I belived it was pace and not watt kg. I wonder how they solve this since watt kg can give a huge difference in speed according to your weight. A teenager or a woman would have have to go way outside their watt kg to keep up with me on flatish roads. do they use fence?

[@michaelkennedy9064]

@@pal_lokomotivet2679 have you ridden with the pacers on zwift?

[@steevee425]

I can't decide if I want FR945 or FR745. I am worried about FR945 future updates when it is going to be 2 years since it has been released. I like new functions as Workout Suggestions or better recovery estimate (I know FR945 has it too). Do you think FR945 is still worth it?

[@DeepikaAditya]

is there a way to transfer treadmill elevation information to zwift

[@stuartevans6807]

Without the draft its harder to stay in the range. The run pacebot could match your speed providing its within its range. Then as more people join it takes the average and again providing its within range would be easier to keep a group together

[@brianrbailey]

btw does zwift have a pacer or race your best time ghost rider like Bkool does? for cycling....

[@brianrbailey]

wait lol i just watched...never mind

[@rcuadro]

Imagine if this can turn into Zwift controlling the treadmill 😱 that would awesome and will never happen I am sure

[@pal_lokomotivet2679]

A friend of mine that works with IT security says he belives this is a bit far off yet. He think manufacturers are a bit afraid of injury when people are running on a moving belt that others can control thats controlled by a online third party. I would check off that box any day and let zwift controll my mill and i do hope it comes soon :-)

[@oldtwinsna8347]

i think they would need to have some kind of direct design control of the treadmill itself for safety additions as mentioned here. Considering that Zwift can't even get its act together to assemble their own stationary bike even though off the shelf parts exist for it, I'd say we got quite a long time to go, if ever, at least with Zwift.

[@sitech1234]

Well I don't know why they can't have a mode where it's done purely based on power instead of pace (or something like Strava's Gradient Adjusted Pace). So when you go up a hill your in-game pace decreases and visa versa. That way if you want to maintain your pace going up a hill you need to exert more effort by virtue of needing to run faster. Not as nice as an incline, but similar benefit.

[@mediocrecyclist]

Does anyone know why an avatar on Zwift would appear to be walking while someone is full on running while on their treadmill? It can be pretty discouraging for slower runners or someone who is just getting into running pushing themselves to only see their avatar going for an evening stroll through Watopia.

[@sypher0101]

Does this need a special treadmill to connect it to the software ?

[@Jon-lf2dj]

Zwift needs to know how fast you are running. Typically this requires a treadmill that broadcasts in bluetooth (or a retrofit like the RUNN sensor [~$100]), or a footpod that broadcasts your speed. Zwift makes a very basic (inaccurate) footpod for $40; at the high end the Stryd footpod is much more sophisticated, but also over $200. Here are the deets from Zwift: support.zwift.com/en_us/supported-running-hardware-SycvahzDB

[@michaelkennedy9064]

Why not have events just like they do for cycling. A variety of events from races that could also be graded, group training with start times so you can arrive warmed up just like we do on the bike. Basically they just copy more of what they have for the bike and do the same for the run.

[@decydecy4226]

So, what kind of treadmills can hook up?.. I have a Nordic.

[@kitschener3050]

Someone made a connection for a nordic track to zwift through a raspberry pi hack. It is somewhere on the zwiftrunners facebook page.

[@pal_lokomotivet2679]

My sole t85 can connect

[@oldtwinsna8347]

Just get a stryd footpod to use independently of any treadmill (it's a tiny device that attaches to your shoe). It's deadly accurate and you can use it for regular runs and walks as well to get watt readings.

[@decydecy4226]

@@kitschener3050 now that's interesting I'll check it out. Ta.

[@decydecy4226]

@@oldtwinsna8347 cheers mate appreciate it.

[@asketienne8684]

I’m trying to use iPhone to run zwift but the app must be always showing to work and count the running km. For expl I can’t go and do something else or the km will stop counting. Anyone knows how to make it work?

[@ingmarneple6072]

Isn’t that normal? 😅 you don’t run you don’t move

[@alolsen339]

When I use a bike pace partner I ride solo for 15 - 30 minutes to warm up, stop, save the ride and then start a new ride with the pace partner. That works just fine for me.

[@francoisrouviere]

That works but it seems so archaic to need to shutdown Zwift altogether instead of simply being able to go back to the main menu and select another course/pace partner/etc. I still do not understand why Zwift has not made an update to make this a more user friendly experience.

[@alolsen339]

@@francoisrouviere agreed.

[@Nonixification]

Whats the point of pacing when you run on a steady treadmill ??

[@jinx6493]

It’s not about pacing, it’s about a bot running at about your level and being a focal point for other similarly paced Zwifters to run together and chat etc without knowing each other or forming meet ups. Works well for cycling so hopefully be as beneficial for the running community and if you don’t like it don’t run with them.

[@lukamalic486]

Only 2 watches today , if they where on the one wrist I could have overlooked it , hehe,

[@RyPat]

Billie "Benoit". I believe the French embassy would like to have a word with you..... :D

[@Dcrainmaker]

Haha, my assumption is that it’s named after Joan Benoit, so not the French pronunciation. ;)

[@EverythingIsPhotogenic]

You look tired Ray. Working too hard for us! Hope you and the family have a great holiday!!

[@Dcrainmaker]

Haha...always a bit tired. But with Lockdown 2.0 starting last week and three little kiddos not in school anymore, spare time is at a premium. As they say...this too, shall pass.

[@Dcrainmaker]

Oh - and have a great holidays too!

[@mgcarland]

I don't get the point of a pace partner running on Zwift. Cycling makes sense, you are free to speed up/slow down, push yourself, and you need to keep up. With running, you are picking a pacer that will run at a certain speed that you need to follow. But you are already on a treadmill. Just punch in the number you want and go. The only thing I can see that this gives you, until Zwift controls treadmill speed, is it will group runners together for a social aspect. Meh.

[@pal_lokomotivet2679]

@@tyecm But then you can just join groups?

[@mgcarland]

@@tyecm I'm not knocking the social aspect. I'm saying it doesn't make sense when there isn't feedback to the treadmill. Most treadmills are not precise with speed, so if you try to follow a certain pacebot, you are going to be throttle jockeying your treadmill to try and stay with it. It may add to the number of runners around you, but still no interaction. I both cycle and run on Zwift (mostly cycle so far). I get the cycling pacebot, it can push you to keep up. But on a treadmill, if you want to push yourself, punch in a faster pace.

[@MateHegyhati]

Oh, and so the pace didn't even change up/down hill?

[@Dcrainmaker]

Nope, stayed totally static.

[@MateHegyhati]

Got my answer in the blogpost, my bad. "No shifting of pace: On the cycling side the pace partner meanders within the pace range (w/kg), however here that never happened. It stayed exactly the same - even going up and down hills."

[@MateHegyhati]

@@Dcrainmaker the more I think about it... Zwift can not control the "difficulty" of the tradmill (e.g. adjust its incline), so there is no reason to make a hill climb slower. Or is there such a "smart trainer" feature there?

[@MaartenOverweg]

They really should do one looking like Forrest Gump.

[@bf5420]

I don't have a choice for running- My only choice is biking

[@johnc2164]

Tried using Zwift but non of my devices, Garmin Dual HR strap, Garmin foot pod will show up. Very un-user friendly and their support and getting started videos are a total joke.

[@alanrobertson3172]

Just go outside with a friend

[@prettypepper9139]

Please clean up your bench!