Saturday and I couldn’t swim so after getting the papers out of the way I decided to hit the Virgin gym at French’s Forest for a couple of hours. I know gyms are peculiar places but for some reason today as I walked out of the lift into the foyer, I realised how strange they really are. The racket was deafening. I walked up to the receptionist to give her my card:

Kelly (shouting): “It’s so noisy in here. Why do you have to have the music up so loud?”

Receptionist (shouting): “Sorry I didn’t hear you. What did you say?”

Kelly (muttering):  “Never mind, doesn’t matter.”

Receptionist (shouting) “Have a nice session.”

I don’t know why gyms have such loud music and it’s awful music anyway. Mindless disco music or endless Rap riffs. It drives me nuts. I asked one of my daughters why they do this and she said it’s supposed to be inspirational. What is inspirational about the Bee Gees doing Stayin’ Alive for the millionth time or some worn out Donna Summer disco music that was idiotic 30 years ago and even more idiotic now. I’m sure that most employees of gyms must end up stone deaf as well as have a musical enema.  Richard Branson will, one day, cop a raft of lawsuits from his Virgin gym chain for deafening a whole generation of personal trainers and clients at the gym, as well as ruining for ever the possibility of them appreciating good music. Industrial deafness during rehabilitation is one of the many challenges you may face after a broken leg.

I changed and walked out to get on the bike and get the session underway. The noise from people running on treadmills, clanking barbells, and banging the weights on the various machines was deafening when mixed with the discordant cacophony of the dreadful music. I couldn’t help thinking of that wonderful scene in Good Morning Vietnam where Robin Williams, playing the music D.J Adrian Cronauer, takes a call from an artillery Sergeant out in the jungle.

Cronauer:                                          We’re talking out in the field today. Hi, what’s your name?

Caller (shouting):                            My name’s Bob Fliber!

Cronauer:                                          Bob, what do you do?

Caller (Shouting) :                           I’m in artillery!

Cronauer:                                           Thank you, Bob. Can we play anything for you?

Caller (Shouting really loudly) :     Anything! Just play it loud! Okay?

Really funny. Watch it here

Today’s session

Recumbent Bike………..Warm up 30 mins. Level 8/9/10. Speed 70rpm/max 100rpm. 303kcl. Distance 11.3km

On the bike today got up to 100rpm on level 10. Heart rate to 127bpm. Pretty pleased with that. Deaf but sweating like a pig.

Leg Extension………….15 reps x 30kg  x 4  both legs

Adductor…………………….15 x 35kgs

Adductor…………………….20 x 35kgs

Leg Curl ……………..10 reps x 30kg   x 2    both legs 

Leg Press……………..10 reps x 50kg   both legs     warm up

Leg Press……………..10 reps x 60kg   x 2 both legs

Leg Press……………..10 reps x 70kg   both legs

Leg Press……………..20 reps x 70kg   both legs

Bosu ball …………………..50 side steps

Freeform plate ………………20 squats each leg