Kristen Doctrine

Kristen responded to my post “Swan Song”. It was and you can read for yourself, priceless.

You can be getting burnt out. If you are, you need to limit the number of times you cycle a week, to something more like 2-3 times a week and make sure you take some other kinds of workouts 2-3 times a week. Also remember, we want to do things in our "workout life" that has longevity in it. Something that we can do throughout the next few decades, not the next few months. The beauty about cycling (and I've been teaching it since 1995) is every level of participant can find success in it. I've done it thru two pregnancies, family deaths, one divorce, hand surgery (rode with my hand wrapped and in a sling), with the flu, with a bad heal spur, etc. Its like an old friend that never leaves me no matter how dismal my day is or how drained my life feels. I find solitude in it, even with all of the riders around me. I meditate on the bike and I celebrate every fiber of my being that has good health and life in it. Don't beat yourself up on the bike, rather let it guide you and allow it to become a "partner" in your quest for oh - so - much - more than just fitness.

Swan Song

Today I was worried that my spinning days had come to a conclusion.  Without much fanfare I might add.  For the first time in a hundred odd days my intuition held me from taking the trek into Equinox and waiting on line for the “ten most wanted” seats in Kristen’s Spin Class. 

I know that after so many years of exercise in one form or the other I was reaching the first phase of burn out.  I was determined however to manage my expectations a bit better and back off on the pedal stroke just a touch because I realized I had added too much road for my body in its present form to endure. 

This is no easy tale to tell because my ego will never let me give up. Fortunately this awakening came before I chose to give in. And so I take a couple of days to re-charge or rejuvenate my desire that had me come into KSC in the first place. 

For one I would miss writing about my adventures and two because it’s more much more than just a spin class. It’s as I have said part Zen part 12 step and part fitness all rolled up into a little red knob below the black handlebars. It goes without saying of course that the third reason is that I would miss Kristen the main ingredient to why we all cram in here when we can have front row seats in any other class Equinox offers. 

And so because I thought this might be my swan song in writing KSC I’ll give it a day or two before I take my place alongside you all again my intimate strangers.  (I hope)

Yours truly,

Jack Briant A.K.A. John McQueen

Foreign Correspondent

Today was another foray deep into foreign territory and Kristen bless her heart let the cat out of the bag when she exposed my real intentions as the author of our blog. I might now be indicted for not having a full access pass and the attorneys are hard at work covering my tracks with a forged version.  Fortunately I have fairly close ties with the general manager at the home office.   Woodbury has been my home since its inception in 2003 and Roslyn has never been more than a fly over with illegitimate passes from my upper echelon friends.  However, now that my spy cover has been blown I have to just come clean with both clubs and beg for your indulgence. 

Today was indeed a great class because the energy in the room felt great even though most of you in Roslyn are strangers to me.  But somehow Kristen is adroit at bringing us together as if by some mysterious incantation.  Not very mysterious in reality, she is just very talented.  The acoustics are different and the lighting without windows makes for a meditative ride. 

  I am starting to notice a definable improvement in a smoother pedal stroke and although I am out of breath for a good portion of the spin I am starting to become more efficient in terms of the power I feel in my legs and I am witnessing a faster RPM.  A hundred days in and I have shed 10 pounds and I can feel my heart rate moving to a higher zone before I go anaerobic. 

Foreign Correspondent was the idea that flashed across my inspiration window on my way to Roslyn today and I am glad I made it because it was truly a convivial one. I invite your thoughts as always.

P.S.

The rider next to me named Tina inspired the next entry I will call it Tri-Focal.

Castles in the Sky

Castles in the sky came plummeting to earth because the clouds weren’t dry.  And when they hit one of them landed right on my left foot and as I hopped about I thought to myself that castles had no business being built without skyhooks to make sure they were held in place.  Although they looked just as beautiful on the ground as they did in the sky.  And I didn’t have to climb up Jack’s Beanstalk to get in the front door. 

What’s this have to do with spinning?  I will figure it out just give me a chance. This line of inspiration just didn’t arrive in my brain for no reason. I don’t think so anyway.  Oh yeah it was one of the songs that Michelle Laskin was playing on her ride today at 1015.  It set me off into a dream like state and kept my aching frame from remembering how come I was kicking my ass so hard this week.  4 Spin classes, 2 sessions of that 30=MC2 thing with Richard Bianco and another workout of my own that I cooked up and it was no wonder I was dreaming about castles in the sky. See there you go there’s the tie in. I knew if I stuck with it long enough it would show up and just in time too.

Castles in the Sky is a beautiful metaphor and since I am writing this blog you will have to live with my non-sequiturs once in awhile. 

Texas Hold'em

The Lone Star State gets a sampling of “Breathless the Ride” this weekend. Are they in for a rodeo surprise.  Those Cowboys and Cowgirls might be good on horseback but they are in for the ride of their lives when Kristen lands first in Preston Hollow and then Highland Park Texas this weekend.

New York meets Dallas and when the spinning wheel comes to a gentle stop the riders will shake their heads and be rubbing the very sore musculature in their legs at least for a day or two.  Is this what spinning is like back in New York?  Without so much as to knowing what hit them she will be gone leaving them wondering: Who was that woman?  We all know who she is here and the Equinox Dallas CS will never be the same.  

The Tony Award

Do they give Tony’s for Spin instructors?  Just a passing thought on my way in to my usual place on line to sign up for the remaining 10 seats this cloudy cool Thursday.  I keep coming back to the thought that in order for there to be this continuous full house each time Kristen leads the charge has to be on account of that it’s just great theater.  Most of us all have favorite actors; mine are Cary Grant, William Powell, Sidney Poitier and Meryl Streep.  You fill in your own blanks whether they are modern day thespians or those that graced what they called back in the 1930’s and 40’s, the silver screen. What they all possessed for me is that they believed in the characters they were portraying.  It is never wooden because it all seems so natural as if they were born into the role.    We all love good acting and we hate bad acting. And remember when I talk about acting here I am not talking about a fictitious portrayal, I am talking about an individual performance that is passionately pure and mirrors what’s on the inside as to what we see on the outside.  My wife is like this but she can’t spin so I cast my Academy vote for Kristen Gagne.  Whether you agree or not is not important because the supporting cast at Equinox Woodbury are all capable of winning supporting cast awards. And Kristen has had a hand in their success because she takes diamonds and polishes them. 

Someone just asked if Kristen was teaching today and I felt  this rock hit the bottom of my stomach, as I am still 3^rd and its 5 minutes to sign up time.  It’s okay I tell myself because I am writing about one of my favorite subjects, KSC.  And even if she is not here, what am I saying?  Breathe in through your nose and let the nostrils flare.  It seems to work most of the time.  Oh well I will find out soon enough.  This will be a postscript to today’s entry. 

P.S.

Okay much to my relief Kristen’s shining physiology appeared as if by magic and my fears were allayed.  And I have to tell you she was in a stern mood today.  She was admonishing us quite a few times. At one point she said: “Who’s Talking?” Kristen takes what she does very seriously and she just proved it yet again.  And I said to myself that her staff might be getting a dose of fire and brimstone so they had better watch their collective P’s and Q’s. 

The Spy From Woodbury

It was a simple mission for Secret Agent Man, Jack Briant. Get into the Equinox Roslyn and go unnoticed by any of the local inhabitants.  I had some assistance from Number 10 Downing Street in Woodbury. His code name: Jared. However I was sworn to secrecy by MI-6 to which I have pledged my allegiance.  #2 as he is known at the office of the  home secretary had  surreptitiously arranged for my false identity papers and I slipped by Roslyn security with nary a raised eyebrow.    I was happy because I finally was able to circumvent   this blackberry/I phone handicap that had me vexed and locked out online and waiting in lines 60+ minutes at Equinox Woodbury. There was no angst of being the first 10 in line because I was able to book this class online. Shhh Jack this is spy stuff and top secret.     It was good to see a few familiar faces and they faked any recognition of me knowing the risk I was taking.  Of course our leader was there doing her best impression of Kindergarten Cop with the lightweights in Roslyn.

Secret Agent Man, giving you a number and taking away your name. Odds are you won't live to see tomorrow.  Mission accomplished as I was able to file this report exclusively for Kristen's Spin Class.

Yours truly,
Jack Briant