The Workout: Getting Fit Is A Pain In The Neck

Recently, a friend of mine who is an avid cyclist asked me if I wanted to join her for some personal training sessions. The focus, she elaborated, would be on core and functional training designed to help us once outdoor riding season was underway. As a cyclist-in-hibernation, and in keeping with my recent vow to try new workout routines, I thought, “Sounds great! Sign me up.”

And so I found myself walking into in Glencoe for my shared personal training session. My friend introduced me to Joe, the man who would be responsible for inflicting pain on me for the next hour.

Joe asked me a little bit about my current activity level, and we spoke about what goals I had for the session. We talked about issues that tend to plague cyclists, such as tight hip flexors and weak back muscles. My friend also pointed out that neck fatigue is something she battles when riding outdoors. And, of course, we agreed that core training is always beneficial.

“Good, I have a plan,” Joe said. For some reason, that made me slightly nervous.

We started with situps. However, they were a lot harder than the situps I do in my living room in front of the TV (OK, I never do situps in the living room in front of the TV, but these were a lot harder than my imaginary situps, I can assure you.). Joe gave me lots of gentle pointers: “Keep your lower back touching the floor; don't let your feet lift up; no jerking motions; exhale on the way up.”

We segued into pushups, an activity I have never willingly done in my life, followed by the cursed plank. Then we did a long segment focusing on the back and neck. The goal, of course, was to strengthen the muscles in advance of cycling season in order to ward off the back and neck issues that tend to come with hours in the saddle. “This,” I thought to myself, “is exactly what I need, a new dimension to my workout routine. And not only am I trying something new, I'm also preventing problems down the road.”

The irony hit me full force the next morning when I woke up with a sore back and neck. And it didn't stop there. My abs were fatigued. My arms ached from my shoulders right down to my fingernails. I was sore in a good way, of course, but it made me realize that for someone who's in good shape, I'm really out of shape. But at least by trying something new, I feel like I'm on my way.