Weight loss

And participants are flocking to the classes because they offer a challenge on a familiar machine."The treadmill is a lot less dancey and aerobic — and more sporty," said Jennipher Shaver, an editor at Club Industry's Fitness Business Pro, a trade magazine.

"People respond to it, especially men." She said the classes have been growing in popularity.Mark Goldwasser, 47, the chief executive of National Securities Corporation, a brokerage firm in Manhattan, said, "I don't have to do fancy stuff." Twice a week Mr.

Goldwasser and a colleague, Stephen Jones, 49, attend Ms.

Cornish's class.

"I'm in a high-pressure business, but this is easy: we walk in, do the class, we sweat, and we're back at work in an hour fifteen," Mr.

Goldwasser said.

"It's kind of addictive."Nationwide treadmill classes are taking off.

They are such a staple at Gold's gyms that some are building special rooms for them.

In January, Life Time Fitness introduced a 12-week program of group treadmill workouts, with strength training like push-ups before and after the running, at 40 of its 48 clubs clustered in the Midwest.

The first series of 44 classes, limited to 18 people each, quickly filled.

Last fall Tread and Sculpt was introduced at a fifth Equinox branch, in the Westwood area of Los Angeles.

And the Crunch chain, which be...

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