In this video, I’m giving you a full tour of my home gym (or garage gym, or “pain cave,” depending on the day) and reviewing some of the equipment I’ve been using to support my marathon training, cross-training, strength work, and general health.
My training is built around consistency. Most days, that means running. But the equipment in this garage lets me add low-impact aerobic work, strength training, uphill treadmill sessions, easy spins, warm-ups, and recovery workouts without needing to leave the house.
A few of the main pieces I cover in this video include:
FEIERDUN DB1 adjustable dumbbells
YOSUDA EM1 long-stride magnetic elliptical
Feier TM1 fully folding treadmill
Concept2 RowErg
Zwift Ride Smart Frame paired with a Wahoo KICKR CORE trainer
Huge shoutout to Jason Rodriguez for filming this content and creating an incredible video. You can find Jason on Instagram @ctxsmedia.
Equipment featured
FEIERDUN DB1 Quick Adjustable Dumbbells
Find them here: https://www.fedfitness.com/products/quick-adjustable-dumbbell-52-5lbs
These have probably been my favorite addition to the gym. As a distance runner, upper-body strength is something I can easily neglect, and having adjustable dumbbells makes it much easier to get in quick, consistent strength work.
The DB1 dumbbells go up to 52.5 pounds each and adjust in 2.5-pound increments, which gives me plenty of flexibility for curls, presses, push-ups, accessory work, and short strength sessions throughout the day. The big advantage is convenience: instead of needing a full rack of dumbbells, I can quickly adjust the weight and move from one exercise to the next.
YOSUDA EM1 Long-Stride Magnetic Elliptical
Find it here: https://www.fedfitness.com/products/long-stride-magnetic-elliptical-machine
I’ve never been a huge elliptical person, but this one has become a useful tool for low-impact cardio days. It’s smooth, compact, and easy to use when I want aerobic work without adding more running impact.
I’ve been using it about once a week, especially when I want something different from the bike. It has multiple resistance levels, Bluetooth/app connectivity, and a compact footprint, which makes it a good fit for a garage gym or smaller home gym setup.
Feier TM1 Fully Folding Treadmill
Find it here: https://www.fedfitness.com/products/fully-folding-treadmill
The treadmill has become a daily-use tool for me. I use it for uphill strides, controlled intervals, easy runs, shakeout runs, and bad-weather training days.
It goes up to 11.2 mph and 12% incline, which gives it a wide enough range for many of the treadmill sessions I like to do. One of my favorite uses is putting on a weighted vest, cranking up the incline, and doing uphill walking when I want a harder low-impact session. I’ve also been impressed by the softness of the ride, the traction of the belt, and the fact that it folds up when not in use.
Concept2 RowErg
The Concept2 rower is one of my daily warm-up tools. I often use it for 90 seconds to three minutes before a run to get the upper body, lower body, and cardiovascular system moving before I head out the door.
It’s simple, durable, and effective, and for me, it’s less about doing long rowing workouts and more about using it as a quick full-body primer before training.
Zwift Ride Smart Frame + Wahoo KICKR CORE
Get it here: https://us.zwift.com/products/zwift-ride-kickr-core-2
The Zwift setup is probably the biggest overall game-changer for my training as a runner. I use it almost every day, sometimes twice per day, mostly for easy aerobic riding and additional low-impact training volume.
Cross-training has become a major part of how I build fitness while staying healthy. The bike lets me add five to ten extra hours of aerobic work per week without the impact of running. Most of my rides are easy spins, but I’ll also use it for intervals about once a week.
The electronic shifting, Zwift integration, and TV setup make the experience much more enjoyable. I’m not just staring at a wall—I can ride Zwift, watch something, listen to a podcast, or use it as an easy way to loosen up after a hard run.
Why I built a home gym
The biggest reason I built this setup is convenience. I’m using something in this gym almost every day. Some days it’s the treadmill. Some days it’s the bike. Some days it’s the dumbbells. Some days it’s just a short row before a run.
I think the key pieces for anyone are equipment that supports what you already do: strength training, low-impact aerobic work, controlled treadmill running, and recovery-friendly movement. You don’t need everything at once, but it helps to think about what would let you train consistently even when the weather is bad, life is busy, or you don’t feel like driving to the gym.
For me, the essentials are:
A way to strength train
A treadmill for controlled running
A low-impact cross-training option
A space that feels enjoyable enough to actually use every day
The next step for this garage gym is making it feel a little more homey, and eventually, I’d love to add a sauna. But for now, this setup gives me almost everything I need for marathon training, strength, longevity, and general fitness.
Disclosure: FED Fitness sent me several of the products featured in this video to test and review.
