Common Ground

Welcome back, Wellworthy readers.

The best fitness experiences are about more than a workout.

They bring people together, inspire you to try something new, and create the kind of energy that makes it hard to leave. 

We saw that firsthand last weekend at Runningman Festival, where running was just one part of an epic experience.

Here’s what’s inside:

• Why Runningman is really about the people

• The NYC Marathon changes course for the first time in 15 years

• FRESH THIS WEEK: A Peloton that folds away, a sleep system that fits under your bed, and maple-powered endurance fuel

Let’s get into it.

The Feature: Runningman Festival

Runningman is built around running, but the biggest takeaway from the weekend has nothing to do with distance.

It was the people.

More than 2,000 people came together, from first-time 5K runners to elite endurance athletes. Most people showed up with a goal in mind, and plenty ended up running farther than planned.

Around the course, there was always something happening: shoes to test, supplements and food to try, the world’s largest sauna, cold plunges, concerts, a beer mile, a pickle-eating contest, and more.

What made it all work was how easy it was to let your guard down. Everyone was there to move, have fun, meet people, and share the same experience. Even brutal heat and a heavy Saturday night downpour didn’t seem to bring down the vibes.

Inside the Wellworthy Bodega:

Our contribution was the Wellworthy Bodega, a corner store built around health and wellness. We stocked it with complimentary products from some of our favorite brands across fuel, performance, energy, and recovery.

We brought more than 25,000 units of product, and all of it ended up in attendees’ hands. Even after we closed for the night, people were still trying to get in, including a Friday night shelf raid after we left. The scratch-off tickets were another hit, including one grand prize winner who took home a ticket to Runningman 2027.

After months of building the Bodega, seeing people discover and enjoy the products was the reward. But the bigger takeaway from Runningman was simple: put good people in an environment where they can move, connect, and have fun, and you’ll be surprised by who you meet.

Special thanks to the brands in the Bodega: Athletic Nicotine, Be LOVE, BonWellness, Coldfreak, Create, Day Out, Equip, Everyday Dose, Go Raw, Grüns, KA-EX, Kenetik, LivOn Labs, Lorea, Mateina, Melan, Mooala, Moonbrew, NOON WORLD, Painterland Sisters, Redmond Re-Lyte, Skratch Labs, Smood Sweets, Sour Days, Stoked Oats, StripIt, The Forward Bar, TofuGo, Turtlebox, and Wilde.

Just Dropped

New products and drops spotted → 

Health & Fitness Tech

Eight Sleep unveiled Pod 6, with a Hub that’s 50% smaller than Pod 5 and fits under most bed frames. It also has 20% faster temperature relief, nine times more biometric sensors, and new Solo sizes starting at $1,999. Meet Pod 6.

Peloton introduced Tread Flex, its first folding treadmill and most affordable Tread yet. It compacts by nearly 50%, rolls away when not in use, and has a swivel screen for strength, pilates, and other off-tread workouts. It also includes auto-incline and personalized pace targets through Peloton IQ. Join the waitlist.

Amazfit debuted the T-Rex Dual Solar, which the brand says is the first AMOLED smartwatch with solar charging from both the display and back of the watch. It gets up to 25 days of typical battery life before additional solar charging. Shop the watch.

COROS added the PACE 4 Pro to its running watch lineup, a lightweight performance watch built for runners and multisport athletes. It pairs a 1.47-inch AMOLED display and titanium construction with dual-frequency GPS, global mapping, advanced training tools, and up to 60 hours of GPS battery life. Check it out.

Gear & Recovery

Loop expanded beyond earplugs with Eclipse, a contoured sleep mask designed to block light without putting pressure on your eyes. An adjustable strap and grip zones help keep it in place whether you sleep on your back, side, or stomach. Shop Eclipse.

Therabody gave the Theragun Mini a Y2K refresh with new colors like Blue Raspberry. Underneath, it’s still the third-generation Mini, the brand’s smallest and lightest massage gun, built for portable recovery and priced at $229.99. Check out the new colors.

Danimás is moving into ready-to-wear, with 28 styles informed by research into how clothing fits women who strength train. The lineup includes joggers, warm-up sets, tracksuits, and other pieces made for the gym and everyday wear. See the collection.

Fuel & Nutrition

Momentous launched Daily Hydration, an electrolyte mix made for everyday hydration rather than heavy sweat sessions. Each stick has 100mg of sodium, 50mg of potassium, and 2g of carbs. Grab it here.

SAP turned its maple-based endurance fuel into SAP MIX, a drink mix made with dehydrated maple syrup, Himalayan salt, and lemon. Each serving delivers 40g of carbs and 500mg of sodium, giving athletes a maple-based alternative to the usual endurance carb mix. Shop SAP MIX.

The team behind Grüns launched Müves, a new line of daily prebiotic fiber gummies. Each pack delivers 10g of soluble fiber from inulin, tapioca, and FOS in a Strawberry Kiwi gummy format, giving people a more convenient alternative to powders and pills. Meet Müves.

On Our Radar 

What's moving in wellness this week → 

Even the NYC Marathon course can change. For the first time in 15 years, the race is making a small adjustment between miles 20 and 21 in the Bronx. The new route cuts the section from seven turns to five while improving access to a supermarket and 24-hour laundromat that were previously blocked on race day. The full five-borough route and 26.2-mile distance remain the same.

Wearable data is getting a clinical layer. Xella Health is integrating with Oura, letting members share data like sleep, HRV, temperature, recovery, activity, and cycle insights alongside Xella’s diagnostic testing and physician-guided care. The platform is focused on areas including fertility, perimenopause, hormonal health, cardiometabolic health, and longevity. It’s another step toward connecting the data wearables collect with deeper testing and actual care.

HYROX is starting them young. HYROX Youngstars made its U.S. debut in Salt Lake City on September 19-20, adapting the fitness race for athletes ages 8 to 15. Kids take on age-adjusted running alongside stations like the SkiErg, sled push and pull, rowing, carries, lunges, and wall balls or squats. Fitness racing now has a version built specifically for the next generation.

Carb loading is getting literal. Tipster’s NYC Bakery Run returns October 25, sending 100 selected runners through a free half marathon with ten pastry stops across the city. Runners are chosen by lottery in pairs and split into three pace groups, with stops including Radio Bakery, La Cabra, Eleven Madison Park, Librae Bakery, and more.