In the episode, Claire and Mitchell try to spare their significant others from embarrassment, Haley tries to teach Alex how to be cool while Jay tries to prove to Gloria that he knows his employees' names.

[1] "Strangers on a Treadmill" received mostly positive reviews with Joel Keller saying the secondary plots "didn't quite make it", but had "fun moments".

The episode begins with Phil (Ty Burrell) writing jokes for the SCARB (Southern California Annual Realtors Banquet) that he is hosting.

Cameron (Eric Stonestreet) decides to work out with bike shorts much to Mitchell's (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) chagrin.

He gives a speech and offers to pay the bar tab, however when the engaged couple kiss each other Jay tries to stop it, as he thinks it's a father and daughter dancing.

At the Dunphy house, hearing Alex (Ariel Winter) nervously calling a girl named McKenzie, Haley (Sarah Hyland) decides to help her become more popular by teaching her the basics of adolescent social maneuvering.

[8] In its original American broadcast on October 13, 2010, "Strangers on a Treadmill" was viewed by 11.344 million households and received a 4.8 rating/13% share among viewers between the ages of 18 and 49.

"[15] Alan Speinwall stated "an episode like "Strangers on a Treadmill" - while having a number of strong individual moments - was a reminder that sometimes the show can get too crowded for its own good.

"[16] Matt Roush of TV Guide wrote that "No show had me laughing out loud more this week (as usual) than the brilliantly structured Modern Family".

[17] This episode won Julie Bowen the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.