Spin Class Chatter

 Aloha, Reader!

¡Feliz jueves! No te rindas, ya casi es viernes.

[Happy Thursday! Hang in there - it's almost Friday.]

Do you appreciate the Spanish lesson? :) I took Spanish in the seventh grade and practice when I can.

Okay - on to today's blog topic, which involves athletics, music and good vibes! Spinning - if you're not aware is this area of athletics that has become quite over-complicated and expensive... Ask Peloton - they've made a killing on it - especially during & after the pandemic!

When it comes to coaching spin, I consider myself an OG, teaching a road cycling format with no time spent 'dancing' out of the saddle. Ask any of my former students! I was asked to become a spin instructor about a decade ago and it was a fun addition to my CPA career - as it required a different set of skills, which I loved. After a few years of competing in triathlons, I developed a natural curiosity to learn the more about the technical aspects of cycling. In my first few months as a spin coach, I often spent more time crafting my music playlists than I did on designing the spin set.

My friend/teacher/spin guru, Steve Young, wisely advised me it didn't matter what my set looked like -> the music mattered more. He's right! Get your music right, who cares... just spin away! Although I coached many morning spin classes and have always considered myself a “morning person”, evening classes were always so much more fun - especially on Thursdays. Why? My students simply wanted a stress release & were gearing up for the weekend! Energy levels always ran extra high and coaching spin & strength sessions (a Thursday night off-the-bike add-on) will always be a highlight of my 30s. Eventually, I coached outdoor cycling and became a triathlon coach, myself, and that was fun, too! It certainly provided an extra incentive to stay fit, as I’ve also been a “Practice what you preach” type of professional. Leading by example has always been an important guiding principle for me.

Taking Coach Steve's music advice to heart, I spent a lot of time (and a lot of my own money!) crafting playlists and buying iTunes and was always happy when I could hook up the studio’s sound system OK. I also discovered many years later, I was under a different compensation agreement than other instructors... and made a funny, yet, well-deserved, request on this unfair employment arrangement to the founding coach, Tim. Unfortunately, he hasn’t obliged.

Over the years, I also learned how to change my voice pitch, tone, etc to command the class and had so much fun doing it! In between sets, I often told my personal “every day” stories, which my students loved... I think, gosh, if I got back to spin coaching nowadays, the STORIES I NOW HAVE!

**This blog post is dedicated to the Menlo Swim & Sport staff. Even when my long-trusted triathlon coach, Tim, refused to help me out by providing a friend's phone number in an emergency situation in November of 2023, they helped me. I will never forget the kindness extended to me by certain individuals there! I choose to remember, with fondness, laughs shared with many of my contacts over the year including Steve, who knew me before I was forced to deal with the extra BS of the SF Bay Area and I've recently reconnected. Specifically, a note of gratitude to Steve: Steve, I'll never forget that Christmas Eve group ride we took many years ago, pausing on Route 84, to take in the panoramic views, the champagne finish line story about you meeting the cute German woman at Challenge Roth & your advice when I took on the 2014 Escape from Alcatraz triathlon... 'after you jump off the ferry, just lay back for a minute & appreciate the fact you're in the SF Bay - look up at the bridge'.

Steve, who once competed as a serious athlete, similar to me, approached life & athletics with gratitude and got 'it' - unlike many of our Bay Area peers. It was a cool moment when I got to meet his partner & young children years many later at the pool.

Lastly, as I wrap this article, I think of the other folks I got to know during my time as a spin coach, including Semisi & Bill (also fitness instructors!) & Kathy, a sweet athlete who also worked at Menlo S&S for many years. So many good conversations and memories surface, when I think about these folks!

With Aloha & Good Vibes,

Heidi