So...today I did a THING! The month of March was to be all about stepping out of comfort zones, doing things I wasn't normally doing, experiencing classes I wouldn't typically do. It was really supposed to be something geared toward pushing me to do more strength training (which I am still struggling with). The plan was to add strength training to my weekly rotation of workouts and work on building strength. I still have a hill to climb on that goal as I can't seem to kick myself in gear enough for it.
Nonetheless, I have pushed past comfort zones when it comes to the cycling classes. It all started with Death by Tens and the introduction of Tabata classes. Even though each class left me drenched in sweat and totally spent, I still found it a worthwhile experience to push as hard as I could. Whereas with Power Zone Training, I am training more for endurance, the Tabata classes required me to exert the limits of my anaerobic capacity. With Tabata and other HIIT cycling classes, intervals are the name of the game in terms of the push.
Yesterday, Alex Toussaint, one of the top cycling instructors at Peloton began a "Ride to Greatness" event where participants are aligning themselves into two different teams: #TeamActivate and #TeamValidate. Teams are competing for bragging rights and of course, a Peloton badge. The class yesterday was to be the first "practice" session for the teams, with the competition consisting of three actual live game day rides. Yesterday, I watched from my phone as the first practice session took place because I am already committed to another Power Zone Challenge and I just survived the Death by Tens.
Yet, one of my sorority sisters who watched it with me yesterday said, "let's do the practice session tomorrow"!! Lord, why did I agree??? It was a 30-minute HIIT class, with Peloton Suicides (which no one had ever heard of before)!! I was barely making it through a 15-minute Tabata and HIIT class, how in the world could I do 30? There went my plan to ease my way to 30 minutes by taking several 20 minute classes first. So, here I was today...pressing forward and actually surprising myself!! I finished...almost faltered and wondered if I could really do this. Ended up hitting a PR even though I wasn't trying.
So my takeaways...1) Alex IS crazy!!! But he makes you a beast on the bike. 2) Conquering HIIT is more of a mental thing than a physical thing--our bodies can do more than our mind thinks it can. 3) I am stronger than I realize and I am getting stronger everyday. 4) Pacing yourself in a HIIT class is more important than anything--you can't go out the gate too hard, too fast or you can hit a wall quicker than you want. 5) Finally, I may be laid out at the end of these rides, but "did I die"?
Practice session #2 takes place next Saturday...am I in it? Absolutely!!! I will be riding with #TeamValidate and taking this Ride to Greatness to a whole new level!! Here's to more power, more strength!!