Halfway to the Moon

Ogni Morte del Papa is the Italian equivalent of Once in a Blue Moon. The literal translation is every death of a Pope. For unexplained, but fitting reasons, the colloquialism flashed across my consciousness this morning as we hammered out a new spinning protocol. I’ll provide the drill instructions as the main course before getting to the desert. And just for the record, I will take gelato over tiramisu any day of the week. That being said, the set was designed to both try something new as well as to illustrate the difference between simply burning calories as a cardio routine and actually stimulating core muscles to encourage adaptation. As we say, authentic evolution is more about continual improvement than winning. So I wanted this one to be a fanny kicker and build some muscle. 

10 minute warm up.

One song standing in groove zone, with a 10 second push somewhere in the middle. 

One song seated at 7/120 with a 20 second push somewhere in the middle.

Repeat for six songs, adding 10 seconds per tune.

Start over with 10 and proceed.

60 minutes, warm down, stretch and recover.

Fortunately my set list primarily consisted of mostly 3 and 4 minute tunes, so there was a ‘decent’ amount of seated time in 7/120 mode to fake a complete recovery. 

About 3/4 of the way through it became apparent to everyone that this was, indeed a monster. Even those who regulated their pushes, governed them way down in power, were at boiling point and hunkering down for the conclusion. And then it happened. That ONE 6 minute song opens at the precisely WORST moment, a long stranding climb with a 60 second push. I am checking my heart rate as the aforementioned Italian cliche pops up, due to the fact I am quite sure that the titular theme of the tune, Halfway to the Moon, connected me to an astral, cosmic, otherworldly awareness that only the magical alchemical synergy of endorphin flow and music can do. I am not simply in the groove, I AM THE GROOVE. This is why we do what we do. This moment, this piano, this harmony, this challenge. 

After our set, out of shower, in the lobby sipping coffee, one of our regulars stops on his way out to ask the name of that Phish tune. 

And that happens Ogni Morte del Papa.