Aerobic Base Building...anyone going?

[tracik]

I'm taking Aerobic Base Building in Millersville, MD tomorrow to finish out my star 2 points. Anyone else going? I'm hoping the MI will be Pam Blum as she runs the program there...she was excellent for certification.

Hope to see some fellow forumites there!:D

[like2bike]

Hey Traci let us know how it goes and if Pam was your MI! :)

[tracik]

Hey L2B...
The workshop was awesome and Pam did not disappoint! The information was very solid and came at a good time for me. With starting at a new club since we've moved, I've noticed that there seems to be a pretty high level of intensity in most of the classes, and have even been told to make sure I really push the members because that's what they like (for instance, before the last interval of a class, I told them it was their last chance to work hard and to use what they had left if they had energy to spare, but to listen to their body if they didn't....I was told not to give them a choice and to "really push" them....not quite my style, I tend to be more of a "listen to your body" kind of instructor).
Anyway, the info presented provided so many reasons with lots of science behind them for not going "balls to the wall" every time. As a triathlete who uses periodization, I'm just not comfortable trying to make every class a killer...it's not how I think, so now I'm glad to have some more ammunition to back those beliefs! I'd highly recommend this one to anyone who has not taken it. Now I'm ready to take the Star 2!!!

[like2bike]

Good for you Traci. Stick to the principles of smart training. I have no doubt that you will make a huge impact on your pupils as you teach them how to train SMART. Glad you had a successful CEC.

[tracik]

Good for you Traci. Stick to the principles of smart training. I have no doubt that you will make a huge impact on your pupils as you teach them how to train SMART. Glad you had a successful CEC.

Thanks, Lori....I need to keep reminding myself that it's okay to be different so long as there are good reasons for doing what I am doing. Case in point: today, I was using the 60 Second Recovery Challenge Spin profile from the fall of last year (I think) which I've modified to fit a 45 minute class. There were 3 opportunities to go to 85% or higher, which to me seems like plenty of anaerobic work. The new GFM (who's class I have taken over) was in class to get in a workout, and was egging people on during the last interval to go harder and push (the interval is at the bottom of a pyramid and should be 75%). I was stunned as I felt a little like I had a backseat driver in class. I calmly mentioned that the design of the profile was to bring the heart rate back down with each interval on the backside of the pyramid, and that there are so many things to be gained from working aerobically (thanks to Pam, I had several benefits fresh in my mind....better fat metabolism, better adrenal gland function leading to better sleep, etc.)
I didn't want to seem mouthy or disrespectful, by inserting my 2 cents but at the same time, I wanted to be true to what I believe and what I intended to teach. Should I have just let everyone get caught up in the moment and "push"? Maybe, but I made the call that I did b/c it felt right at the time and hope it doesn't come back to bite me!!!:rolleyes:

[Todd S]

Thanks, Lori....I need to keep reminding myself that it's okay to be different so long as there are good reasons for doing what I am doing. Case in point: today, I was using the 60 Second Recovery Challenge Spin profile from the fall of last year (I think) which I've modified to fit a 45 minute class. There were 3 opportunities to go to 85% or higher, which to me seems like plenty of anaerobic work. The new GFM (who's class I have taken over) was in class to get in a workout, and was egging people on during the last interval to go harder and push (the interval is at the bottom of a pyramid and should be 75%). I was stunned as I felt a little like I had a backseat driver in class. I calmly mentioned that the design of the profile was to bring the heart rate back down with each interval on the backside of the pyramid, and that there are so many things to be gained from working aerobically (thanks to Pam, I had several benefits fresh in my mind....better fat metabolism, better adrenal gland function leading to better sleep, etc.)
I didn't want to seem mouthy or disrespectful, by inserting my 2 cents but at the same time, I wanted to be true to what I believe and what I intended to teach. Should I have just let everyone get caught up in the moment and "push"? Maybe, but I made the call that I did b/c it felt right at the time and hope it doesn't come back to bite me!!!:rolleyes:

Not cool for the group fitness manager to hijack your class, but manners aside you may not want to sweat the whole aerobic/anaerobic thing too much. You may be surprised at how 'aerobic' even your hardest efforts in a spinning class truly are.

We had a spirited discussion related to this a while back. It may be worth your time to read this thread from start to finish (it will take a while, but it was a good discussion).

http://www.innercycling.com/f/showthread.php?t=6541&highlight=aerobic+anaerobic

Pay special attention to this.

http://www.coachr.org/energy_system_contribution_in_tr.htm

Figure 2 shows a graph of % aerobic energy contribution vs time. You'll notice that efforts commonly classified as 'anaerobic' by your friendly neighborhood spinning instructor are really quite aerobic.

Remember, cycling is an aerobic activity no matter how intensely you're working (as long as you're doing it for more than a few minutes).

[like2bike]

Todd can you switch brains with me for just one day? I'd be so grateful! Of course, you may not be, but it's not about you...lol...;)

[SpinBob]

Wow, switching brains with Todd for a day. Lori, you're genius just to come up with the idea, you don't need his brain. :p

[tracik]

Todd -

Thanks for the links. I'll read over the info when I've got a little more time!

[Todd S]

...and here I thought I was just another pretty face. Go figure...

[SpinBob]

I'm sure you are, but that would pretty difficult to borrow.

[DanielleF]

Speaking o' Pam- she and Sunny Davis will be in northern Virginia this weekend for some gigs together. If anyone is interested and lives close, I'm sure you can find it on Spinning.com. Orientation on Sat., 2 workshops on Sunday.

Danielle