(or Using Music to Survive Time on a Trainer)
Today started my fourth time working out with Kristen Meshberg over the winter months. Kristen is a Cat 1 racer from the Chicago area, and runs Pedaling with a Purpose, a twice-weekly program from December through March to help cyclists achieve their goals for the next season. Typically, my goal is to survive her classes.
December consists of what she calls “base period” sessions. I call them “two hours of butt-numbing, mind-crushing, pen-jamming” sessions. There are long, sustained periods of spinning, with only a smattering of something like sprints to make it interesting. As the months go by, the intensity heats up and the sprints, intervals, and other fun stuff increase. I look forward to those. Seriously. I do.
There’s only one way for me to get through days like today: music. Yes, Kristen plays music, but I need music blasted directly into my ears so it travels to my brain and down into my legs like an IV.
What do you listen to? Leave me a comment below or @soozed.
Here’s my playlist (NSFW) for today’s two-hour workout:
The Russian March, Dirty South & Bob Sinclar
Seven Nation Army, The White Stripes
Father’s Son, Fistful of Mercy
Higher Ground, Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Great American Nightmare, Rob Zombie
Irresistible Force, Jane’s Addiction
The Beautiful People, Marilyn Manson
Whole Lotta Love, Led Zeppelin
Red Light, Green Light, The Fresh & Onlys
Swampblood, Legendary Shack Shakers
Panic Switch, Silversun Pickups
Midnight Rambler (live), The Rolling Stones
Working out with Kristen has been extremely beneficial in the past, as I’m sure it will be again. It’s as much a mental workout as it is physical. I’ll still ride outside whenever I can. And music − all kinds of music − will help me survive in the meantime.