Using group ex classes in place of a training day

PamMarchione

I have received some feedback already and it has been wonderful.  I would like to see what others might suggest as well.

Dave Campbell

Hey Pam, by group exercise class, do you mean a spin class, Zumba, aerobics, crossfit, pilates, etc? Each will have their own potential different benefit. I was a spin instructor for a few years and although they are not necessarily bad, I don't think you will get the same training effect as one of the EN bike workouts. Lots to be learned about riding your own bike(pacing, gear changing, cadence, etc) that you don't really get on a spin bike. Plus, some instructors are just not that qualified. So, it depends on what your desired outcome from the day is. Sitting alone on a trainer hammering out an EN workout has a higher mental cost to some people than a spin class because at spin, you are usually with your buddies, whereas trainer, your in your basement/garage/etc solo. Its the OS, and its up to you to determine how much fitness gain you want to achieve and at what mental cost you are willing to invest. If you are dead serious about an early season "A" race, I'd suggest doing the plans as written. After all, you are paying for plans!

But if you have a different goal for the OS, there is nothing wrong with keeping it fun. The season can be long and you want to spend your mental focus at just the right time to peak for your "A" race. This time of year, I think nothing of accepting an invite to go mountain biking, some crazy run relay, etc instead of being a slave to a plan. We call it "doing cool stuff with our fitness". There is a time and place to buckle down and execute the plans as written. You just have to decide when that is.

Hope this helps!

Jess Withrow

Hey Pam! I'm throwing in another 2 cents (hey! I'm up to 4 now!) as a reformed spin junkie... I can second Dave's reply. I hated giving up the spin classes, but in the end there's nothing like being on YOUR bike. No matter the quality of the spin bike you're on, you just can't configure the fit the way your own bike fits you. I also tried really hard to keep my "fun" classes (like kickboxing and step... I love step. Old school, I know!), but after a while the accumulated fatigue was just too much and I was underperforming in my S/B/R workouts. The friend I told you about who is training for IMFL - her coach is trying to get her to give up teaching altogether, but that's just not financially feasible.

I think it would be helpful to know what you're training for, as the extraneous stuff will have less of an effect on training for an Oly versus training for an Ironman... and it would also be helpful to know what type of classes you teach. When it comes down to it, though, I agree with Dave that, "there is a time and place to buckle down and execute plans as written."

Coach Patrick

Thanks all for helping out!!!