There are a few workouts we have discussed adding to our challenge that I am dreading. Mostly they are ones that involve a lot of sweat, cardio, and well effort. Flywheel was one of those dreaded classes. But as much as I dreaded it I was actually excited to get a really great sweaty workout. Since the polar vortex and well since winter started my running has completely stopped. I longed for that adrenaline rush of pushing my body past the breaking point and sweating long past the finish line. I took spinning almost a decade ago at a musty Boston Sports Club. I wore baggy sweatpants, a big t-shirt and my gym shoes. I wasn't a spinner, but I threw it in every so often when I felt like I should get a good workout. But that was a decade ago when I could lose 5 pounds by not eating dessert at one meal. Flywheel is not that spin class. Not even close. Its fancy. Maybe we are late to the whole boutique spin studio movement that has taken over the country, but this was really impressive. We arrived, Lulu clad all naive, like heyyyyyyy its our first time now baby us. Upon checking in we quickly discovered that first timers didn't get special treatment, everybody does. We checked in with our reserved bikes and grabbed our borrowed clip in cleats already placed (in our correct size) in our assigned cubbies. We filled up our water bottles with a choice of filtered cold or room temp water. A kind usher (?) showed us to our reserved bikes and adjusted it to our height and comfort level. This was a fancy bike, again nothing like the creaky spin bikes of years past. This one had a computer dial, no guess work, no cheating, you are fully accountable for your workout. Our instructor popped on his bike and quickly began our 45 minute ride into hell..........the music was pumping, the lights were low and immediately I was out of breath. I tried making oh my god faces to the woman next to me, but she was all business and clearly not looking to make any new friends. Rachel was pedaling hard and probably trying to ignore my what did you get me into face. I was trying my darnest to pedal as hard as I could and not throw up, seriously. I had that is this a burp or throw up moment a few times. I shockingly regretted not signing up for the torque board, a tv screen that shows where you rank in class or how hard you are working compared to the other "competitors". A little competition, I could get onboard with that. But the torque board would have to wait until the next class. I knew even as I grew woozy that there would be another class. FINALLY, a class that made me sweat, like dripping on the floor sweat. It felt good, it felt hard, it felt queasy but I loved it. It flew by quickly. Of course once the class ended and it was time to stretch I was stuck. I was actually stuck. I could not get off the bike. Rachel kindly helped to pry my feet out of the clips. We wobbled out of class, smiling. We both knew that we would be back. The next class was waiting outside ready to take their spots. It was definitely much busier now that it was later in the day. I can see how because of its location and its national reputation there would be quite the scene here at times. Even so the people seemed passionate about their workouts. Even the instructor pedaled with us the entire time and you can tell he genuinely liked (was obsessed with) it.

By the way do you think Flywheel is named because Rachel and I look so Fly here??? I think so. I think so. (PS this was AFTER class)