I am my own trainer

This afternoon I was going to go to a cycling class at the gym. You'd think I'd have gotten enough last week...but apparently not. I was running late, so I ended up not making it in time for class. (I have this problem with always running late....I considered giving that up for Lent, maybe I should have.)

So I missed my cycling class, but still planned on going to a weight lifting class in an hour, so I would just do cardio on my own until the class. I'd just do the elliptical and read tonight's Institute lesson until weight lifting time. But they were all taken. So I decided to do the bike until one freed up, then go snag one.

After 5 minutes, no one using the ellipticals gave any indication they were going anywhere anytime soon. A good song came on my iPod, and I decided, "Hey, why can't I just choreograph my OWN cycling workout? Sure the bikes in class are a lot cooler, but this is sufficient." My favorite cycling teacher in Austin, Flor, is my inspiration. Her workouts are perfectly choreographed to really awesome music. I have some good workout songs on my iPod, and on the spot came up with the following workout for myself.

* Paralyzer (Finger 11): Sprint on the chorus (3:29)
* Low (Flo Rida): Sprint on chorus: seated first half of chorus, standing second half (3:51)
* Zombie (Cranberries): Gradual hill, ending in a standing climb (5:07)
* When You Were Young (The Killers): Jumps in counts of 8 (i.e., 8 up, 8 down) on the chorus (3:40)
* Somebody Told Me (The Killers): Standing sprints on the chorus, with one final seated sprint at the end (3:18)
* I'm Yours (Jason Mraz): Active recovery, pedal with the pace of the song (keeping it, as Flor says, "just above uncomfortable") (4:19)
* Repeat When You Were Young (The Killers) because I can't get enough of that song. But this time with sprints on the chorus instead of jumps. (3:40)
* Sounds of Pulling Heaven Down (Blue October): Another hill, ending in a standing climb (4:43)
* Viva La Vida (Coldplay): Keep quick pace during verses, accelerate during chorus (4:01)
* Repeat When You Were Young (The Killers) with jumps again. Did I mention I love that song? (3:40)
* Round Here (Counting Crows): Cool down

Total: 38:48 + cool down

Wow. Outside of cycling class, I've never really had a good workout on a stationary bike. But seriously...this was awesome.

Have I ever mentioned that in my next life I want to be a fitness instructor?