Double cardio Tuesday

Today is double cardio Tuesday!

Double cardio Tuesday originated late in 2008 as the result of a triathlon-training schedule. Back in those days, double cardio Tuesday would consist of a lengthy swim and a spin class, not necessarily in that order, there may have also been a short run in there somewhere, but not always (that’s why it’s not called triple cardio Tuesday).

For whatever reasons (and there were a few, non being event completion) the triathlon-training schedule came to an abrupt halt, but double cardio Tuesday lived on. Tuesday evening spin class is the consistent cardio (only 3 Tuesdays a year that this does not occur, those are the last week of August and first week of September when the Leisure Centre is closed for shutdown, and the Tuesday between Christmas and New Year when evening classes are cancelled at the Leisure Centre), it is a 45 minute, yes, 45 minute not 60 minute (we go hard) spin class that alternates each week between hills/drills/speed and hill/heart rate training. The energy is crazy, the music is loud and the workout is tough (unless you are putting on your academy award winning face and riding tension free, you have me completely fooled)! I consider it to be the consistent in DCT because it happens at the same time every week, and because I have been teaching in that time slot for the past 8 years (time flies, eh Erin?).

For me (and Conny, don’t let her tell you that I make her either, she loves it) a tough run takes a regular Tuesday to DCT. Depending on the time of year, it is either a fast road run just before spin or like this morning, 60 minutes in the trails (my preference, I think Conny’s too, but the road did serve it’s purpose when we were ½ marathon training).

DCT has caught on; I like to think that it is spreading like wildfire. Some of the participants in my spin class arrive early and do a session by themselves before my class, some run, some swim, Daniela plays floor hockey after (she is a triple cardio Tuesday’er, very hardcore)!

DCT is not for everyone, here comes the disclaimer…a strong cardio base is required and you need to be adequately fueled and hydrated before and throughout the workouts.