Hi everyone! I haven’t done a Friday Five post in a while, but today I decided to jump back into it! I’m linking up with Mar, Cynthia, and Courtney and since today’s prompt is “favorites”, I decided to share some of my favorite things about spin class! I started taking spin classes back in November when I was recovering from my first round of my hip/sciatic nerve injury, and now that I’m re-injured again I’ve been going pretty frequently. I’m lucky to belong to a gym with a really great, state of the art spin studio, so going to class is always a lot of fun and a really great workout. It’s also a huge part of my training for the Gold Nugget Triathlon, so it’s got even more of a purpose now that I’m using it to train! It’s not always easy but I definitely love a good spin class!
- It’s a perfect workout for injured runners. Obviously all running injuries are different, but my PT highly recommended that I take spin class to keep up my cardio level while I was recovering from my injury. It keeps my hips level while helping my legs and core gain strength. Plus when you can’t run, you definitely can still get that awesome post-run feeling after pedaling hard for an hour!
- I get to meet new people. I’m starting to get to know one of my spin instructors really well (she’s the one who inspired me to sign up for the Gold Nugget Tri in the first place), and she’s giving me so many tips for the GNT and even offered to lend me her old road bike if it fits my frame! I’ve also met other injured runners in class who totally got my whole situation and why I’m there. It’s so exciting to meet runners in a place where no running happens! We are everywhere apparently 🙂
- It’s basically a dance party on wheels. And it also helps me plan playlists for my own personal bike rides. I get to see which songs motivate me uphill or to speed up, and if I really like an instructor’s playlist I’ll definitely come back for another class with them!
- There’s a learning curve, but I’m getting through it. It took me a while to truly find the perfect fit when setting up my bike so that I’m comfortable and pain free throughout class. I also still struggle to remember to do equal parts push and pull with my legs to make each rotation smooth, but I’m finally starting to get the hang of it! It’s so cool when the instructor asks you to check in with the smoothness of each rotation and you realize you’re doing it right!
- It gives me a reason to keep my gym schedule. When I want to run on the treadmill or do some lap swimming, I can go to the gym whenever those areas are open. Which means that sometimes I skip those workouts. But knowing that my favorite instructors only teach during certain times each week has me scheduling my workouts and actually sticking to it! I know if I skip one of my favorite classes I’ll have to make it up later with an instructor that I don’t really like or do it on my own, so that’s a huge motivator for me.
Do you go to spin class? What are your favorite parts? And no, you can’t say when it’s over 🙂
Mom in the Mtns 
I love all these things about spinning! I started doing it for cross-training, but it saved my sanity when I couldn’t run for a few months.
Yes! When I wasn’t injured I didn’t even think about cross training (because I was crazy) but it totally saved me when I couldn’t run and was going stir crazy.
I tried spinning many, many years ago, and really liked it — but just couldn’t get comfortable on the seats even with a gel pad, so I quickly gave it up.
Now I have my fitdesk, though, and I don’t belong to a gym, so that’s where I get my biking in. I do miss gym workouts sometimes, but I also like the time savings in just working out at home.
I’m glad you found something you’re loving!
It sounds crazy, but I swear that once you start going 2 or 3 times a week that soreness totally goes away. That fit desk sounds awesome though!
Believe me, I tried it for a while back in the day. I like working out at home — running takes me out enough time! If I took classes it’d be yoga.
I’ve tried spinning a couple times but honestly it’s not my favorite workout. I agree though that the instructor (and their playlist) make a huge difference. I’m glad you found a class and instructor you enjoy!
I hated it when I tried it a few years ago, but it’s definitely all about finding the right instructor. If I have one that pushes me too hard I want to puke and fall off my bike, but if I get one that’s boring I don’t want to go back either. I think I really like it so much because it’s the only workout I can do where I can push myself hard and not hurt my injury. I love running way more!
I went to spin when I was injured! It was an even harder workout than running! Now spinning aggravates my ITB so I don’t do it anymore.
It is so much harder than running! But I like that it’s a guided class – if my gym did that with treadmills I’d love to go!
Spinning is fun! I don’t do a ton of it but I always enjoy classes.
I know if I was able to run a lot that I’d be doing that more than spinning, but it’s good to know that my body can handle spin class and that I can still get in a good workout even with this stupid injury.
I LOVE spin. It’s perfect cross-training for me. It still keeps up my cardio, but there’s zero impact, and the different intensities help strengthen my muscles. I go (usually) once a week on Wednesdays at 6 am, ugh. But I love the class and the instructor so that makes the wakeup call easier.
Yes to all of this! I don’t think I’ll be taking any morning spin classes, but I probably would if that’s the only time my favorite instructors taught!
I love teaching spin class! One of the few classes that leaves me dripping sweat. Love that feeling!
Me too! I think it would be so much fun to be a spin instructor. I always wondered this – do you actually pedal just as hard as we do, or are you going easier so that you can still talk and think straight?
Looooove spinning!!! for all these reasons and more! I do have a favorite instructor and my running coach actually tailored my training plan to allow me to insert it. Just took a class yesterday and try to go once a week – so awesome!
That’s awesome that you were able to fit it into your training plan! It’s such a fun class when you get the right instructor!
You know I love me a spin class. It is one of the few fitness classes that really really pushes me (at least at Flywheel)
I wish we had Flywheel here! We have one spin studio in town but I haven’t tried it out yet because it’s so expensive, but when my gym put in their new state of the art spin equipment I was totally hooked! We have these little computers that change color depending on how hard we’re working which is a huge motivator for me to keep up with the rest of the class!
I taught spin class for several years. Loved it for cross training. I taught an early morning class, so I loved my early birds. We kept the lights off and didn’t care what anyone looked like!
That’s awesome! I think it would be so cool to teach spin class. I have to say that one thing I forgot to put on this list is that I love that classes are in the dark – no one can see how much I sweat so I push myself really hard!
I wish there was a spin studio near me! You make it sound fun!
It is, but’s also a really tough workout! But if you can’t run it’s a great alternative.