UrbanUpdate

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I am a weak man. Like most runners, I don’t do much besides, well, run. And as I near 30 and the Coronas take up residence around my waist, it’s become clear what my ercise routine is missing: Strength training.

But I haven’t had a coach since high school. And since I wasn’t about to order a bunch of old Kathy Ireland fitness DVDs on Amazon, I decided to check out Wello, an online service that gives recluses like me access to certified personal trainers via video chat. It’s just like video chatting with your girlfriend across the country, except a jacked dude in white basketball shorts and an orange T-shirt is barking at you.

The whole process is shockingly easy: Log in, pick out the training session you want (I opted for one-on-one training vs. group classes), scroll through the trainer database (I picked DonnyBrocs, who had five stars), and then fill out a form (which amounts to assuring Wello you don’t have a debilitating heart condition). Once I’d scheduled my first workout—$29 for a half-hour session—I started chatting with DonnyBrocs.

_DonnyBrocs: __What kind of fitness equipment do you have at your disposal? _

**Me: **A medicine ball, a foam roller, and a yoga mat.

_DonnyBrocs: __What do you want to focus on? _

**Me: **I’m a marathon runner with chronic hamstring problems. I’d like to strengthen my core and hammys.

_DonnyBrocs: _On a scale of 1-10, what level do you want? 7-10 would be hardcore to one foot in the coffin.

**Me: **I’d say about a 6.9 to start.

_DonnyBrocs: _Hey Bill. That works my man. I totally get what you are saying and know that I’m your guy! I look forward to our online session and helping you continue to keep active and reach your fitness Goals.

He signed his message “DonnyBrocs is the Truth...”

And he wasn’t lying! DonnyBrocs _is _the truth. He kicked my ass. During our first 30-minute session (with me in my living room and him in an undisclosed, carpeted location), he mid in everything from single-leg deadlifts and pushups to planks and hill climbers. If I did something wrong, DonnyBrocs told me—or actually showed me—how to do it right.

The session walked me through new (painful) ercises, like the elbow plank drop and the chair pistol squat, and honed my technique on moves I already knew. (It turns out I’ve been doing lunges wrong my entire life.) Though the idea of inviting a virtual stranger into your living room might feel a bit too Chatroulette-ish, I found it to be the ideal mix of technique and pep talk. There was a minimum of Richard Simmons schtick, and yet no lack of personality. When my cat Roger walked into the frame while I was doing lunges, DonnyBrocs shouted, “Kitty! Your cat’s looking at you, like, ’What you doing man?’"

While it can be nice to have the hands-on attention of a trainer at the gym, Wello still gives you a trainer’s undivided attention—plus it’s cheaper (with no long-term gym membership) and more convenient. I booked one session with only 24 hours notice, and there always seems to be availability with their roster of trainers (though I recommend adopting a regular schedule with someone you like). If you travel a lot, you can set up shop in your hotel room. And if you’re like me, just looking to put together a specialized program and learn the proper form, Wello is ideal. Donny even sent me a comprehensive list of all the workouts we did. But I won’t be needing the list—I’m already signed up for another session this week.

Bill Bradley is a columnist at Next City. Follow him on Twitter @billbradley3.

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