The episode begins with Phil (Ty Burrell) writing jokes for the SCARB (Southern California Annual Relaters Banquet) that he is hosting. Unlike what he thinks Claire (Julie Bowen) believes he is going to bomb with his unfunny jokes. Also Cameron decides to workout with bike shorts much to Mitchell’s (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) chagrin. While working out Claire and Mitchell decide to tell the others spouse of their bad habit (like “Strangers on a Train”). At the Dunphy’s house Mitchell arrives to tell Phil about his bad jokes. Unfortunately Mitchell can’t go through it after seeing Phil’s sad face. Meanwhile Claire tells Cameron about how he doesn’t look good in bike shorts causing Cameron to go and cry in the hallway.

Later that day Claire calls Mitchell asking him why he didn’t go through it. While saying she didn’t go through her part of the deal Cameron hears the conversation and becomes sad once again. To prove their relationship can stand anything Mitchell gets ready to cut off his beard, but after only cutting a single part of it Cameron tell him he loves his beard. soon the couple kiss and make up, but they soon get into another fight. At the SCARB Claire hides Phil’s lines in her purse. Phil decides to go up their and improvise which some how works to Claire’s confusion. At their house Phil tells her he knows she took the cards and that he is OK with what she did.

Meanwhile at Jay’s house Gloria (Sofia Vergara) reminds Jay (Ed O’Neill) about his co-workers quinceanera. Initially Jay decides not to go, but too prove a point to Gloria, Jay decides to go. When they arrive Jay convinces Manny (Rico Rodriguez) to ask everybody their name to win the fight between him and Gloria. Gloria soon realizes they are at a engagement party which is next door to the quinceanera. Gloria tries to tell him these, but Jay won’t listen. Soon the couple kiss each other and Jay tries to stop it.

At the Dunphy house, hearing Alex (Ariel Winter) nervously calling a girl named McKenzie, Haley (Sarah Hyland) decides to help Alex becoming more popular. Soon her help works when Alex soon says she’ll try to come. It then turns into chaos when Alex becomes nervous again and says I love you to McKenzie. Alex then becomes sad when Claire comes to comfort her.

“Strangers on the Treadmill” is the fourth episode of the second season of the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) American sitcom, Modern Family. The episode originally aired October 13, 2010. The episode was written by Danny Zucker and directed by Scott Ellis.

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