I have been staring at the class schedule at my gym for weeks, only coming up with reasons I couldn't make the classes I was most interested in. I think internally I just wasn't ready to make the commitment yet.

So, instead of being a Negative Nellie, I decided to make a change, and do something to make this challenge more achievable. Yesterday, I started setting my alarm 1.5 hours earlier than my normal wake up time. (I have been thoroughly exercising my right as a self-employed business owner to NOT set the alarm the last 2 years.) It wasn't even as hard to get up as I thought, since Jake wakes up around that same time. I had just been blissfully sleeping through that for the last several months :)

So today, I got up, got my busy work done (office odds and ends), walked the dogs, did some editing, and made my way to the gym for a noon cycle class. I use to LOVE cycle classes to no end. It has probably been about 5 months since I have gone to a cycle class, and I was reminded of all the fun beginner things you go through going back for the first time.

When I first arrived, I was so excited to see that the class instructor was someone I had taken classes from at a previous gym, so I already knew I would like her format. The class was about 30% full, which was another bonus (sometimes I get claustrophobic with people working out too closely to me!) About 6 minutes into my workout, my senses awakened, and I began sweating from pores I forgot existed. At about 11 minutes in, my energy was up, and I knew I would be able to make it through the hour. Piece of cake, right? 

The only thing I had failed to prepare for was how lovely the bike seat feels the first time you take one of these classes. At about 25 minutes in, I began shifting uncomfortable and silently cheering in my head each time she told us to stand up. It will take me just a few more classes to get used to the bike again, but I think I will pass on tomorrow's cycling class, and will seek something with less sitting :)

Today's motivating factor? Definitely the man on the bike in front of me who was probably 25-35 years my senior, and in seriously awesome shape.