After 37 years of waiting we finally have another Triple Crown Winner. I love horse racing, the beauty, the grace and the power of these animals is intoxicating. Over the last 37 years there have been many horses that have won 2 of the 3 Triple Crown races, but they have no one has been able to pull off the trifecta. The fact that so few horses have been able to win this coveted award is what makes this year's Triple Crown winner, American Pharaoh, so special and I've decided to immortalize this year's event in a cycling video.
I'm lucky enough to teach at many different facilities and all but one of them have bikes with power. The beauty of power is that every interval can be turned into a race. You can compete against your FTP (Functional Threshold Power), your previous interval's average wattage or just about anything you, as the instructor, can dream up. The first two Triple Crown races, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, take about 2 minutes for the horses to complete and the third race, the Belmont, is a bit longer and takes about 2 minutes and 30 seconds to finish. These 3 races fit perfectly into a 3 interval set. For the first interval I have my participants ride to the Kentucky Derby video which takes 2 minutes and 3 seconds to complete. At the end of this first race participants get a 30 second recovery, I also have them take note of their average wattage. For the second race, the Preakness, which will take 1 minute and 58 seconds to complete I ask my riders to beat their average Derby wattage by at least 1 watt. The Preakness is followed by another 30 second recovery. Now it's time for the Belmont and a chance to win The Triple Crown. This race is going to take 2 minutes and 26 seconds. I tell my class that if they can complete the Belmont with the same average wattage that was ridden for the Preakness they will be the Triple Crown Champion.
Now let the races begin!
Check out my Triple Crown Video with embedded soundtrack
Ed Hayes is a listener and member of our community. Ed Hayes is 75 today March 8th 2009 and to celebrate he taught a 2- hour Indoor Cycling Class!
Looking at his picture I'm guessing 75 is the new 50.
Check out his certifications:
ACSM Certified Health Fitness Specialist.
Reebock Cycling Group Exercise YMCA and Silver Sneaker Instructor Phase I & II and Yoga. Tai Chi is my real forte. I'm currently a level 6 master instructor certified through World Tai Chi Assn.
It’s 5:30 a.m. and you can hear the sound of a low but persistent hum in the Spinning room. Listen carefully, and in between the grinding of flywheels you can hear the whispers, “Is she late…… again?”
The window of time before class begins is where most growth occurs. Arrive 30 minutes early and seize the opportunity to:
Test the sound system and ensure microphone battery is fresh
Crank up some background music to warm the crowd
Adjust the air temperature
Tidy up the room
Offer water to new students if they didn’t come prepared (I always keep a case of water bottles on hand)
Distribute guest passes so students can bring friends (make your own if your gym doesn’t offer a free cycling class pass).
Dim the lights to establish an environment free of judgment (if lighting options are available at your facility).
Start class on time!
Critical phase
During this critical pre-class phase, get to know your audience! A savvy instructor will learn students’ athletic interests, musical preferences and occupations. Congratulate the mother of two for completing her first half marathon, throw in a remix by The Doors for your children of the 70’s and buy a latte’ from the guy on bike #12 who owns a coffee shop. Don’t expect riders to support your efforts if you don’t support theirs.
Don’t believe me? Take the challenge! For one month make a conscious effort to improve your time management skills and extend genuine kindness to your students. Watch with delight as new conviction emerges and classes become energized.
What’s next? I’ll teach you how to spice up your class with a trick from the advertising boys on Madison Avenue…..trust me; you won’t want to miss this one!
Leave a comment for Barbara so she knows your were here.
This Podcast is was originally published on February 8, 2009, I have updated it with our new Podcast host information and I am representing it now. I hope you enjoy it, Joey
Why did you become an Indoor Cycling Instructor? Why do you continue to teach?
An interview with the senior Group Fitness Instructor in my family, my wife Amy Macgowan. We discuss our reasons for becoming Indoor Cycle Instructors.
We would love to hear your reasons why you started and continue teaching.
Accountability
Practicality = Like or need to be paid to teach and appreciate the free membership.
Leadership = You are always in charge.
Personal fulfillment
Recognition
Camaraderie
Frustration = "I can teach a better class than so and so."
You love teaching
Some other reason?
Call the listener line and leave a voice mail with your reason. Skype ID john.macgowan1 or phone 952-388-0661
Listen to the Podcast below or subscribe using iTunes or Zune.
IHRSA recently (April 2009) conducted a survey of 1,000 Americans and asked them why they are attracted to their health club, what their personal goals were, and if they were not members of a health club, what prevented them from joining. The responses were very interesting. When members were asked what attracted them to their current health club, the top 3 selections were made (multiple selections were allowed):
#1. For their overall/health & wellbeing (69% of health club members)
#2. For the variety of equipment, strength and cardiovascular equipment (55%)
#3. In order to get my work out in, rather than to socialize (48%)
It’s 5:30 a.m. and you can hear the sound of a low but persistent hum in the Spinning room. Listen carefully, and in between the grinding of flywheels you can hear the whispers, “Is she late…… again?” 
