Spinning and the Brick

My Friday workout is spinning. The spinning studio at Lifetime Fitness is impressive. Accomodating up to 30 spinning stations supplemented with industrial strength air conditioning vents to help cool us all down as we push out the watts.

So far, spinning is my most challenging workout. I glance at my Polar AS400 watch monitoring my heart rate and struggle to keep in zone 1 and yet I'm breathing hard, muscles are burning and I'm sweating, struggling to keep going. Usually in zone 1, it is considered an active recovery zone and shouldn't be this hard.

We watch the Tour de France 2001 because it is Ryan's (trainer)  favorite show to watch. I feel unworthy as I virtually race along with these super athletes. I have the passion, the drive to push it out. I just feel so behind in my efforts.

As I dismount, my legs struggle to adjust to the transition to walking or running. This transition has been called the Brick. My leg muscles have become accostomed to the cycling motions for an hour, it and then when I start running it has to relax some muscles and ligaments and tighten others. The effort is a momentary test of will and flexibility. As in life, we must be willing to change, to bend, to meet the current demands.
I need to buy cycling shoes. These are a Men's Louis Garneau Tri Speed shoe and run $119.95 from  Trivillage.com.