We recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Chris Perone, a dedicated runner and Peloton enthusiast, to discuss his fitness journey, love for spinning, and his incredible accomplishment of completing a half marathon in every state.

From Spinning Enthusiast to Peloton Addict

Chris’s fitness adventure began back in 2006 when he first discovered spinning. “I fell in love with it as soon as I started,” he shared. Even while serving in the Navy, Chris made time for his passion. He became a certified spinning instructor during a year-long stint in Washington D.C., and upon returning to Florida, he continued spinning on a bike he bought from Spinning.com.

His transition to Peloton came in 2021. Initially, Chris was an app user, enjoying classes without the bike’s metrics. But a sales event changed everything. “I took the plunge and got my Peloton bike. I wish I had joined earlier,” he admitted. Now, Chris also uses the app for running workouts on his treadmill and has fallen in love with the breadth of Peloton’s class offerings.

Favorite Peloton Instructors and Classes

Chris is a huge fan of Susie Chan, his favorite tread instructor, and enjoys a variety of classes including Power Zone rides and bootcamp sessions. His advice for new Peloton users? “Try everything. You might fall in love with something you never tried before.”

Running Through All 50 States

Despite admitting he “hated running” in his early days, Chris’s approach to fitness evolved. The turning point was a half-marathon training class in 2015, which led to his ambitious goal of completing a half marathon in every state. Chris credits a fellow runner for introducing him to the 50 State Half Marathon Club. After a few races in Florida, Georgia, and California, he was hooked.

Traveling with friends, Chris knocked off state after state, even managing to run amidst the disruptions caused by COVID-19. He completed his final state in Hawaii in 2022, marking his 100th half marathon with a scenic run in Waikiki.

“Running in different states gave me the chance to explore places I never would have gone before,” Chris said, reminiscing about beautiful runs in places like Acadia National Park in Maine and La Jolla in California.

What’s Next for Chris?

For now, Chris is content with his achievements but remains open to future races. He’s considering tackling races he missed the first time around. “I know people who have done 500 or 600 of these races. I’m happy to just do it once,” he laughed.

Balancing Running and Spinning

Balancing both disciplines can be challenging, but Chris has found his rhythm. He runs twice a week with friends and fits in shorter treadmill runs when needed. His spin sessions are equally varied, often focusing on Power Zone rides. What else can Chris tell us about his exercise routines? I asked him for some fun facts, and he told me that…

• He got his first Peloton (OG bike) back in 2021, but sold that last year and got a Bike+ (huge upgrade, in his opinion)
• By far, his favorite bike classes are Power Zone, and he’s done 12 Power Zone Pack challenges.
• His favorite bike instructors are Jenn, Denis, Ben, and Emma, who tend to play music he likes- a big deal during bike and tread classes.
• Before he began running he did quite a bit of road biking and has done about twenty or so 100 mile rides. He’s slowly getting back into road biking again.
• He’s run two full marathons, but doubts he’ll do another one -way too much training!
• He finished my 100th half marathon in La Jolla, CA in May. It was one of the hardest and prettiest that he’s done. Other favorites were runs in Waikiki beach, Newport, RI, Acadia National Park in Maine, Cocoa Beach, Fl, and Big Cottonwood-near Salt Lake City.
• He also does quite a bit of strength classes using the Guide. Andy is his favorite strength instructors, but he also loves Emma and Callie’s core classes.

Join the Journey

Chris Perone’s fitness story is a testament to dedication, exploration, and the joy of discovering new passions. Whether you’re a seasoned runner, a spin class regular, or just starting your fitness adventure, there’s something inspiring in his tale. Hear the interview here– or watch it here!

Want to catch more inspiring stories like Chris’s? Stay tuned to The Clip Out and join our community of fitness enthusiasts. And if you haven’t yet, consider signing up for Peloton and explore the diverse range of classes that could transform your fitness routine.

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