Loading ...The Sweat Shop Goes for a Spin
As the weather nears a ghastly 60 degrees here in San Diego, I urge all you cyclists out there not to panic – The Sweat Shop has found your solution: Crank Cycling. This new, downtown indoor cycling studio allows you to continue your ride – inside.
I’ve always loved spinning (indoor cycling), and this particular studio impressed me for a few key reasons.
1. The bikes. I’ve seen regular spin bikes at gyms and other studios, but I’ve never seen bikes like these. SarisPT300.Saris is a company that specializes in making top of the line bike equipment for cyclists, and their indoor cycling bike comes equipped with something called a Cyclops Power Tap.
Sean Burke, who owns Crank Cycling and is also a cycling coach, explained that the power tap equipment is designed to allow you to measure your watts (your speed vs. the resistance on your bike) and your heart rate in real time, giving you a more accurate measure of calories burned. Also, during the class I took, Sean used the numbers on the screen to make sure you were continually working at your highest level – no cheating!
However, just like other spin bikes, you ultimately control your workout with access to the resistance knob, allowing you to increase the tension on the pedals, or back off.
Bonus: A 50-inch plasma screen TV behind the instructor playing music videos to draw you back in if you find yourself zoning out too much.
2. The studio itself. Crank Cycling is located inside Aire Urban Performance, a new workout co-op downtown. There are several different mini-studios located inside Aire, each offering different workouts.
The mini-studios – which include rowing, pilates, TRX classes and yoga – share space, clients and amenities. They have a coffee bar, locker rooms and towel service – which as any of you other gym rats out there know is pretty darn nice.
Bonus for the ladies: the locker rooms are stocked with Kerastase hair products, blow dryers, curling irons, lotions, and all sorts of other goodies if you forget something (which I always do).
3. Free Parking. Need I say more?
One of Crank Cycling's Spin Classes Hard at Work
Crank Cycling offers classes throughout the day, and their prices are fairly reasonable. A single class is 20 bucks, but, typical of most studios, when you buy in bulk, the classes get significantly cheaper, coming down to 10 bucks a class if you buy 20. Also, currently Sean is offering one week of unlimited classes for free – which includes an hour long half-spin, half-yoga class called Cy-Core, so you can mix a little toning in with your cardio.
The class I took was definitely a workout, and even though the equipment and instructors are impressive enough for some super-fit professional athlete to get a good sweat in, the class is more than accessible to the average person looking for a fun new way to burn calories and tone up.
The deets: Crank Cycling, 1014 5th Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101. www.sandiegocrank.com
Sweat shop style: checking in with ‘Pole Sinsations’
Innovative and interesting, Poll Sinsations offers a new type of workout to anyone who's brave enough to try.
As I buckle the clear, plastic ankle wraps on the bubble-gum pink, six-inch platform heels and the sultry, pulsating notes of Nine-Inch-Nails start pounding through the speakers hidden around the room, I whisper a quick prayer that I don’t break an ankle doing what I’m about to do.
I strut out seductively (I hope) across the hard-wood floor toward the glistening gold pole in the center of the room. Timing my last step to place my right foot at the base of the pole, I grab it with my right hand, turn to face the pole, hook my left ankle around it and fall into “The Fireman” spin – knees wrapped around the pole as I slide down, hit the floor and start dancin’.
Amateur night in Vegas after too many cocktails? Not this time. Just a Tuesday afternoon in San Diego at Pole Sinsations, one of the new boutiques popping up around the country that teach women (and men, I suppose, if you’re into that sort of thing) how to pole dance as a fun, challenging way to burn calories, tone up and lean down.
The unobtrusive studio offers free parking after six and is easy to find. Boasting five poles staggered through the room in front of floor length mirrors, Pole Sinsations is comfortable, private, and each student gets ample time to dance.
Strut your stuff at Pole Sinsations
There were seven women in the Tuesday Intro class that I took with Michelle, a sweet, patient woman in her early 30s who also works as a clinical psychologist. Michelle doesn’t want me to use her last name, explaining that some people still attach a stigma to the innovative new workout, which, though inspired by exotic dancing, doesn’t actually advocate or teach one to strip as a profession. This negative association actually surprises me, a recent transplant from Los Angeles, where it would actually be a little weird if a single, hip girl in her 20s hadn’t taken a drunken spin around a pole at some point – be it a club on Sunset Blvd or a strategically placed column of some sort at your office Christmas party.
The hour-long intro class is $25.00, and I found it to be pretty comprehensive. We started with some yoga-esque stretching, moved into the actual pole work which definitely had me breaking a sweat as my inner Britney came out and got it on, did some “free-styling” with the lights down and the music up, and wrapped up with another yoga-esque stretching session as a cool down.
Pole Sinsations offers different levels of classes as your skill level increases, with the advanced level classes teaching awe-inspiring tricks that increase your upper body strength and flexibility. I left feeling satisfied with the level of work-out and eager to come back.
The deets: www.polesinsations.com 858.220.9414. 1965 5th Avenue, SD, 92101.
Take the Boot Camp Challenge
Do you have what it takes? (Photo by The U.S. Army via Flickr)
Have you ever wondered what it is like to go through boot camp when joining the military?
It has been said that the Marines push new recruits through some of the toughest training courses created. Once a year, the MCRD opens the base and welcomes the public to test their endurance and strength on the Marine’s obstacle field. This Saturday, September 26 strap on those running shoes, don’t forget to stretch, and prepare to get dirty.
This training course is no ordinary field. Regular men and women are transformed on this site every day into United States Marines.
Coming across a Marine in San Diego isn’t hard; it is even harder to find one out of shape. When it comes to training, they mean business. The training course is 3 miles. It will defiantly leave you sore in the morning after climbing, jumping, and surviving over 50 obstacles along the way.
Drill Instructors know how to give motivation ( Photo by larryzou@ via Flickr)
Oh, and don’t think cheating is an option. Cheating is never an option for the military. PLENTY of very well trained and experienced drill sergeants will be along the course offering their “support.” Don’t let this deter you from coming out and experiencing this once a year event. Just remind yourself it’s only one day. And unlike the military, you get to go home afterward. Plus, this is a great way to support our men and women in the military.
To congratulate everyone for coming out, plenty of other activities will be going on as well. Music, food, drinks and beer will also be offered during the day along with awards to the top 3 finishers in each category/age group, including official race T-Shirts to all entrants. The event is not only open to individuals, but boot camp challengers can group up into teams of three or five.
Online registration is open until the end of today, September 24. Registration is $35 for individuals, $105 for 3-person teams, and $175 5-person teams. The race begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday with five-minute intervals for each group and class. There are over 3,000 entrants expected so make sure to arrive early.
To sign up or learn more about the Boot Camp Challenge, check out www.bootcampchallenge.com.
Take a Jog: The Best Kept Running Routes in San Diego
Photo from 'Ed Yourdon' via Flickr
Running can get dull. Runners tend to choose the same routes because it is easier to gauge the distance and level of difficulty; but all this becomes very routine. In San Diego there are hundreds of running routes that will entertain every runner and add just the right twist to ones weekly workout. So if running in San Diego sounds like a fantastic idea, then check out these five running locations today!
Cholla’s Lake Park
6350 College Grove Way
San Diego, CA 92115
Located in Lemon Grove, Cholla’s Lake offers a serene running loop suitable for any runner. The lake is managed by park and recreation which means that it is always in good condition. In addition to the 0.8 mile loop, there are circuit training tools placed intermittently along the path. The path is dirt and has a couple of tiny hills, but nothing that will make a runner’s quads tired. If hills are needed for the workout, there is a very steep hill on the backside of the loop which can be used for drills.
This little loop is a secret gem in San Diego and is never very busy. There is a shaded parking lot and runners should be prepared with sunscreen and bottled water. There are restrooms, benches, and water fountains in the park.
Murray Lake Dam
5540 Kiowa Drive,
La Mesa, CA 91942
Lake Murray is situated in the neighborhoods of Santee and La Mesa and is a part if the Mission Regional Trails Park system. The running route is an out and back totals 6.4 miles. The route runs along Lake Murray and ends at the dam where runners must turn around.
This route is busy with all sorts of walkers, bicyclers, and runners alike. It can be very warm, so sunscreen and water are suggested to complete this route. There are a few restrooms along the way, but oftentimes the rangers forget to unlock them in the mornings. The lake is open from sunrise to sunset.
Check out some of the upcoming marathons in San Diego
From 'Anthony Goto' via Flikr
San Diego Marathons are among the most popular in California because they provide great weather and scenery.
There are only two in San Diego, the Rock and Roll Marathon and the Carlsbad Marathon. Both of these will take place next year. This gives you plenty of time to prepare for them. San Diego Marathons are extremely difficult, they are 26.2 miles of up and down roads. It is advised to take months of preparation and demands dedication. This means proper diet, daily runs and managing pains and aches. While this will take plenty of your time and energy, crossing the finish line will be an incredible accomplishment and an extremely satisfying sensation.
There are several San Diego half Marathons and runs to help you prepare for the big ones. This weekend — Saturday August 22 — the 3rd Annual NNCR Wild Duck 5k XC Race will take place in Oceanside, which benefits Rancho Buena Vista High School and Vista water polo teams.
The following run, The Silver Strand Half Marathon, begins Sunday, November 15, in Coronado.
These types of races are great ways to start off in preparation for full marathons. Running San Diego marathons and half marathons are great way to keep in tip top shape, but they also benefit a variety of charities and organizations in San Diego County.
Major Marathons:
Rock and Roll Marathon
- Sunday, January 24, 2010
- 6:00am Full Marathon & 7:30am Half Marathon
- Plaza Camino Real 2525 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, CA 92008
Carlsbad Marathon
- Sunday, June 6, 2010 6:30 AM
- 6th Avenue & Palm Street San Diego, CA
- Online Registration Closes: May 29, 2010.
