The zen of the underwater treadmill

Something I enjoy: Specialized equipment that looks completely and utterly ridiculous when you watch people using it out of context.

Case in point, this advertisement for the HydroWorx X80 Underwater Treadmill. You have never seen Olympic-caliber runners look sillier. (Sadly, it's not entirely underwater. When I first saw the name of the clip, I was really hoping for guys in scuba gear.)

Also: I've apparently reached the age where current Olympians look to me like they ought to be too young to drive. Crap.
Thanks, Eli Kintisch

Maggie Koerth-Baker is the science editor at BoingBoing.net. She writes a monthly column for The New York Times Magazine and is the author of Before the Lights Go Out, a book about electricity, infrastructure, and the future of energy. You can find Maggie on Twitter and Facebook.

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MORE: exercise • olympics • out of context • running • sports • Technology

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knijon

In your defense Maggie, Galen Rupp is a 26 year old that looks like a 14 year old to everyone else, too.
Recluse

I used one of these things at the local Y. The only exercise I could ever really stand was running, but my knees won’t let me pound the pavement. The underwater treadmill was interesting. I liked it! Need to get back to it, but they are very popular and you have to sign up in advance for a 20 minute slot, so it isn’t terribly convenient.
karounie

Needs moar cats.
- http://maggiekb.com/ Maggie Koerth-Baker
  
  That’s what your creativity and video editing software are for.
  - kpelt
    
    This is my favorite cat on an underwater treadmill video. I especially like the music.
    
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mJDfNqiXpE
blueelm

Actually that looks really fun.
Smoobly Renfrew

Notice how it’s never just an underwater treadmill, but always “The HydroWorx ™ Underwater Treadmill”? Also the “Nike Oregon Project”.

Maybe the trailer a few slots up is accurate…
- http://maggiekb.com/ Maggie Koerth-Baker
  
  Well, it is an ad, made by HydroWorx (whose company name makes me want to vom, what with the unnecessary capitalization and the “x” at the end).
LaylaSV

I didn’t know Nike Distance Running was an Olympic event.
kongjie

I’m guessing you don’t run? This looks great and I wish I had access to it.
just_a_user

What if that big monitor (on castors!) fell into the pool?!
Neuron

Galen Rupp is the US champion at 5000 and 10,000 meters. So maybe there’s something to this?