Theme Ride Thursday: 🏀 It’s Game Time—Get Ready for March Madness Energy!

🏀  March Madness isn’t just a sporting event—it’s the sporting event of the year. Three weeks of pure adrenaline, where every game can shatter dreams or spark legendary comebacks. The heartbreak of an underdog upset, the wild roar of a buzzer-beater—there’s nothing like it. And don’t even get me started on those brackets…

đŸ”„ Bring That March Madness Passion to the Bike

What makes March Madness legendary? Passion. You can feel it everywhere—the fire in the players’ eyes, the intensity of the coaches, the electricity from the fans. It’s do-or-die. One bad game? You’re out. These athletes push their minds and bodies to the absolute limit, battling for that shot at glory with every ounce of heart they have.

That same passion belongs in your studio. It’s time to channel that energy, play like there’s no tomorrow, and leave it all on the bike.

🏆 Your March Madness Playbook: Profile + Playlists

Get ready to dive into the ultimate challenge with Karen Cruz’s March Madness Ride! This ride mirrors the intensity of the tournament itself—six rounds of bracket-busting effort, starting with strength-building drills and ramping up to fierce competition. Just like the tournament, every round gets tougher. This interval-heavy workout will push riders through powerful efforts and short recoveries—perfect for testing their limits. (It’s designed for 45 minutes, but we’ve got extra song suggestions if you’re running a longer class!)

đŸŽ¶ Two Playlists to Keep Your Ride in Overtime Mode

🏀 “Full-Court Press” Playlist (46 songs)
Built by instructors who live for basketball season, this playlist is packed with tracks that echo the thrill of the game. Some songs bring those basketball vibes directly, while others are fueled by raw, competitive energy—perfect for capturing the intensity of a high-stakes matchup.

đŸ”„ “Game Time / Game On” Playlist (255 songs)
This is your go-to for high-octane, all-sport anthems that scream WIN. It’s the soundtrack of determination and triumph—songs that’ll fire up your riders for every sprint, every hill, and every last push. When it’s time to bring it on, this is the playlist that delivers.

ICA members can find the bucket playlists and Karen’s March Madness profile below. 

Good luck with your brackets!

 

9 Comments

  1. No March Madness in 2020 🙁

    1. Author

      I know, crazy huh! We often schedule our TRT posts two weeks in advance, so obviously the cancelation happened after it was scheduled. Moving forward, I am going to be cognizant of not posting a seasonal theme that no one can really take advantage of. Instead, I want to post a lot of fun theme ideas that instructors will be able to take advantage of once we are out of this threat.

      Be well!

  2. I am not a basketball fan, but I used the March Madness profile this past Sunday and received numerous compliments for this Race Day theme ride, which simulates running up and down the court with the numerous surges. The storyline of a Cinderella team advancing through the brackets is so heartwarming and entertaining. The coaching cues are first class and “Shots” is my favorite interval due to the seamless flow in the choreography. If you haven’t used this profile yet this year, it isn’t too late. You have until April 9.

  3. Great playlist and thanks. I added a few different songs by artists who will perform at the 2018 NCAA March Madness Musical Festival which starts Friday, March 30, 2018. I find this is a fun way to keep it fresh every year.

  4. I’m sure we can find a way to apply this to sporting events in the UK , but could you please explain the meaning and context of ‘the brackets’. Thanks

  5. For those of us in Chicago, and Bulls fans from back in the MJ days anywhere, Alan Parsons Project’s Sirius is synonymous with basketball. When I’ve used this, I’ve acccompanied it with the player’s intros, finishing with “and from North Carolina, number 23…”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *