F^€¥ you, Cheryl

Jun8

Monday March 24, 2014 was a “long” day for me. I had two SPIN classes to teach as well as a TRX class. It was pretty fun to have a full morning of classes. I was also supposed to run five miles, but as has happened all year, my running has taken a bit of a back seat to teaching classes. Anyway, that day was one where I could say, why yes I have done my job as a group fitness instructor.

The first class of the day was really great. We did what I label as the “hardest ride ever” which consisted of nothing but hills with some sprints sprinkled in for good measure. There were times I even thought, um, WHY am I doing this? Nevertheless, the class did it quite well and had a good time.

Then, it was off to teach at my “home” club of Lincoln Square Athletic Club. I’m always a bit nervous teaching there because I am around it so much doing my own thing and I know a lot of the people. Because I know so many, part of me feels I need to really step up my game because I know members talk to each other about how an instructor is. In any event, we did another tough ride, but with fewer hills comparatively however we still had some sprints. Continue reading →

Directionally Challenged

Mar7

Generally, I have a really good sense of direction. When I am places, I can figure out where I am going with ease. However, there is one place where I find myself directionally challenged at times and this is when I am taking certain group fitness classes. In particular, the classes where you are following what the instructor is doing and the instructor is facing you.

The thing about those classes is that when you look at the instructor, that person is acting like a mirror so that when you do an exercise, if you are watching and following along with the instructor, you feel like you are looking in a mirror.

However, in my case, I cannot do this. Well, I should say, I can’t do it all the time. Instead, I am doing the opposite side of whatever the exercise is. At times, this isn’t that big of a deal because as participants we aren’t moving but are instead stationary while doing the exercise. However, it is a big problem if we are supposed to be moving. Continue reading →

Cardio Conundrum

Feb10

Some things are mostly good of late. Teaching has gone well despite my inability to turn the fans on high at times. And usually at least one person compliments the playlist.

Of course, this has also led me to becoming a bit of a subbing whore. I actually proudly wear this label given to me by a fellow SPIN instructor, though when some people say it to me, it can be annoying.

Anyway there is a point here, just bear with me. Recently, at a training session, my cardio routine had come up. Mainly because I had mentioned that assuming all goes according to plan (i.e, Bucktown Athletic Club is open) then I will have close to double-digit classes to teach at the end of February / beginning of March. I’m pretty excited about this but at the same time, slightly freaked out about. Continue reading →

Focusing and Goals

Jan8

January 2, 2014 I had my first training session of the year with my trainer and while we were discussing some of my grand scheme goals, the idea of what do I really want to accomplish came up during the session. Before the year started, I already had a running goal in mind. I also had some ideas of things I wanted to accomplish otherwise as well. But now, I need to figure those goals out concretely and figure out a plan of attack.

I suppose the number one goal is to get to the number I have been “dreaming” about on the scale. I’m much closer than I was at the start of last year. And while I should have met that number last year, I’m ok that it didn’t happen. It was aggressive to meet but now I think it can happen.

At my session, we were kind of brainstorming some things I should try to do this year. For instance, one of the things is to go shopping for clothing that is not workout related. I hate shopping and I really desperately need to buy some clothes that fit. Just about everything I own is way too big. However given my past shopping experiences I always dread it because while I may be smaller, things still never fit. So it is beyond frustrating to shop for something new. However, I should probably try to not look like a slob when I am not working out. Continue reading →

Come With Me

Jan7

He said in such a seductive voice. “Come with me.” And so we obediently went with him as he asked us to add a little more resistance to the wheel because we were ready to tackle the hill.

Come with me is what he said as he gestured with his hand for us to come out of the saddle and go to a standing climb from the seated climb we were previously in. Then he motioned with his hand to indicate where our hearts rate was and where he wanted us to take them. Those were the little things he did to make the ride so delicious. Continue reading →

November 16, 2013

Dec30

For most, 11/16/2013 is not a special date. However, for me, I’m going to remember it as the day that I made the first step in changing my life. That was the day that I got certified to be a SPIN instructor. How all of this came about was months in the making, but certification day seems the right time to say it all changed.

How did it all begin? Well, I work out a lot as you probably know if you’ve read any past posts on here. And as part of that, I am always trying to find new ways to challenge myself. One of the things I do to cross-train is take Spinning® classes as my primary thing other than running. They both rank pretty high on my list of things to do.

Anyway, 2013 was the year that I was going to finish the marathon and as preparation for that, I decided I needed to start training to run 26.2 early so I decided to train for a spring half marathon. That meant running in the terrible winter months of February and March. Continue reading →

Exhilaration

Dec29

Lately, I can honestly say that things are good for me. As I’ll explain in another post, I changed and that change has made me immensely happy. The past couple of weeks, I have had the opportunity to do some subbing of Spinning® classes at my gym. So far I have done two of them and each time I teach, it is just more and more awesome.

The first time I taught a Spinning® class, it was pretty frightening at first, but then it turned out quite well. To say I enjoy throwing myself to the wolves is probably an understatement. That first class was a very last-minute subbing thing and it was at the club that I’ve heard from many people has a “special” personality when it comes to the Spinning® classes.

My first hiccup in that class began when I couldn’t figure out how to get the fans on full speed. This annoyed one of the members quite dearly, but he managed to get them turned up. That was good since this particular studio tends to get hot really fast. Continue reading →

Appreciating the Treadmill

Dec10

what I occasionally feel like when running on the treadmill

No one likes the treadmill. It goes nowhere and there is no pretty scenery (unless you happen to have it positioned in view of beautiful eye candy.) And let’s be real: running on it feels like pure torture.

But on a day like today where the high in many places is barely five degrees, it can be useful. Especially when there are wind advisories and frostbite can occur within 30 minutes. Admittedly, I am not the biggest fan of the treadmill. Give me the road ANY day. But slowly, I have come to appreciate what I like to call the gerbilmill.

Running on the gerbilmill is a bit of a way to get away from other runners. I’m not sure what it is about me, but when I am outside running, too many times I have other runners coming up and touching me. It’s just. . . weird when it happens. Usually it is a “good job” type of pat or something, but why someone feels compelled to touch a stranger is beyond me. It isn’t the type of touch to alert me that another person is running close by and needs to pass me. That I can deal with. It’s the “feel a need to reassure yourself so you reach out and touch a stranger” stuff that creeps me out. Suffice it to say, if you’re a stranger, it is best to not disturb other runners. Continue reading →

Game. On.

Dec6

Now that I have officially gotten back on the workout band wagon, I’ve been mixing it ever so slightly. I’m still taking my usual classes, but lately, I’ve been trying to get to more TRX classes. Aside from it being a different workout, I do have another reason for taking it, which I will explain another day.

Anyway, one of the first times I took this class, I was working so hard that I actually got to a puke-worthy status. Yes, puke-worthy. As in, as we were getting closer to being finished, I wanted to throw up. The instructor for the class is pretty tough. So tough that you don’t realize it until maybe afterward when you realize you’re sore from a workout that seemed easy but really wasn’t. Continue reading →

I Believe Her Now

Dec2

she believes in me, so now i will start to believe

Several months ago, I talked about how my trainer says I am an athlete and I did not think that was the case. At the time, I had only recently come to the realization that I am a runner. But an athlete? No way. I don’t think I look like one. At least not someone who I would consider as an athlete.

However, after these past few weeks, I believe her now. I officially had the realization Sunday after a tough spinning workout. That ride was probably the hardest I have ever done in my years of taking such classes. I managed to keep up in it and while leaving it all on the bike, feel like I could do more. Continue reading →

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