Magnet Students and Teachers “Spin” Out

post-spin smiles

Last Saturday, I took a spin class. I’ve taken spin classes before, and they’re always lot’s of fun, but this one was different. For starter’s, it was free – and it was also a class full of Raptors! Mr. McCormick, teaching the class, led many Magnet students and teachers through 45 minutes of intense cardio.

As soon as the overhead lights cut off and the music turned up, we dove into the warm up. Only a song in, I was feeling the burn and maybe even questioning what I had gotten myself into. Mrs. Lankford, another brave spinner, had a similar experience: “My legs were burning in the first 3 minutes so I didn’t know how I’d get through 45 minutes of that. I have to say, and I confessed this later to Mr. McCormick, I cheated and pretended that I was turning the resistance knob but I really didn’t very much.” Can’t blame her.

Sidney Simpson says that, “I thought I might die at first but I ended having a lot of fun!”

Ms. Orr had a similarly strenuous experience: “I would say I died, but I don’t want to give Tyson that satisfaction. Think of the hardest AP class you’ve ever taken and multiply that by 5. He did not give us CP level, or introduction, oh no, it was straight up AP. My legs started feeling normal about a week after!” Asked if she would do it again, Ms. Orr hesitantly replied, “I would. But… I would cheat. Like a certain teacher who will not be named *cough* Lankford.”

After gathering a consensus that the class was tough but fun, I decided to sit down with the mastermind behind this spinning operation, Mr. McCormick. He got into teaching spin after taking it for 10 years and getting sub-par teachers. “Eventually I was just like ‘I’m gonna get certified! I can do this.”

Mr. McCormick had invited students to take class in years past, but this was the first class he’s taught where Magnet teachers participated. I asked if it was what he expected: “Yes. I’ll just say yes.” *Laughs* “Many of them were very nervous and apprehensive about taking the class, and I think that many of them thought that I was going to kill them… but they came anyway! They conquered their fears! And nobody died – but they did all run out of there pretty quickly.”

Because such a highlight of any spin class is the soundtrack we, of course, had to talk music: “My favorite song is probably Perm. Cause I can sing it! And we can have a little fun on the bike with it.”

Mr. McCormick has allowed me to broadcast that if you’re a Raptor and are looking to take a spin class, find him and he’ll get you on a bike! I would highly recommend it – spinning is a really fun way to get good exercise!