Thing #2 Stationary Bike at the Gym

I figured I’d continue the trend of starting off easy. I already go to the gym, and I have ridden a bike before. What made this an option for the list was two-fold: I did one of those programs that adjusts the effort for you, and I did it for a full 40 minutes rather than the 5 minute warm-ups I sometimes do before sessions with my trainer.

It was a good workout – not as good yet as running, but pretty darn good. My lung capacity from running is better than the leg strength I need for biking, so my legs felt the burn long before my heart-rate got up where I like it to be. But the pay-off was knowing that biking is a *great* complement for running, and should help to stabilize my knee. It needs help this winter – a summer of training for a race left it a little sore and achy.

Moment of truth – it took me awhile to figure out how to use the programmed workouts on the bike. I started by using one that adjusts based on heart-rate and it about killed me. So I did a manual workout and it was better. No, of course I did not ask staff for help. Are you kidding? It didn’t even occur to me, sadly.

Another moment of truth – I liked the bike because I could sit up and dance a little if the song was good and I was between max efforts on the bike. Looked like a fool, but felt great. Some kind of musical distraction is a necessity for me with indoor cardio efforts.