Theme Ride Thursday: Get Moving for National Fitness Day!

Did you know that National Family Health & Fitness Day is coming up this month? While we found a few different dates online for this “holiday,” the general consensus is that it is observed on the last Saturday in September in the U.S. The purpose of this day, which was created in 1996, is to promote physical activity for the whole family.

To help you get moving, we’ve compiled two playlists that you can explore as you create your own fitness-inspired profile. The first has approximately 95 fitness-related songs about moving your body, working it, different sports, and some of our favorite motivational songs that empower riders, such as “You Gotta Want It” and “Unstoppable.” The second gets even more specific, with about 175 songs that simply ask you to MOVE. (There will, of course, be some crossover between the two playlists.)

Here are a few of our favorites to get you up, moving, and ready to sweat:

Let’s Get Physical, Olivia Newton-John, 3:42, 124 bpm
While it isn’t really about exercise (ahem), the video, in all its ’80s glory, begs you to use this song in any fitness day playlist. It’s 124 bpm, so it works great as a climb, standing on the chorus.

Till Ya Legs Hurt, 99 Percent, 3:15, 105 bpm
Now, we aren’t saying you should push so hard that your legs hurt that much, but everyone understands that a hard anaerobic effort can make the legs burn. With that in mind, you can take this song in a couple of different directions. Start at a cadence in the low 90s at an intensity around threshold (Zone 4), then, when you hear the chorus—”Do it till ya legs hurt”—surge the legs to the tempo at 105 rpm. That should easily bring the intensity to Zone 5 or even Zone 6. If your riders are comfortable pedaling at 105 rpm for longer periods, start there and add resistance on the chorus instead. Either way, this is a great way to bring some serious anaerobic intensity to the ride.

Shut Up and Dance With Me, WALK THE MOON, 3:19, 128 bpm
No playlist about fitness and moving is complete without this energetic dance track! Just shut up and climb!

She Works Out Too Much, MGMT, 4:38, 148 bpm
Say it isn’t so—she works out too much? As long as she comes to my cycling class, I’m fine with that! Use this for a fast climb.

Move This (Shake That Body), Techtronic, Ya Kid K, 5:19, 121 bpm
An iconic dance track from the late ’80s, this one will have you bobbing your head to the beat. At half-time, it’s a solid, slow climb at 61 rpm, and you can even throw in some longer jumps if that fits your coaching style.

ICA members can find two bucket playlists below: FITNESS/EXERCISE/PLAY/WORKOUT (~95 songs) and MOVE/MOVE ON/MOVE ALONG (~180 songs). As usual, help us add to these playlists by sharing some of your favorites that we’ve missed!


And because you all know how much I love quotes and mantras, I leave you with one of my favorites perfect for National Fitness Day.

3 Comments

  1. Christina Aguilera – The Fighter until I have a moment to think about it.

  2. Here are some more that should fit this theme;
    Play Hard – David Guetta feat. Ne-Yo & Akon
    Run Through the Jungle – Creedence Clearwater Revival
    We Come Running – Youngblood Hawke
    Run – Snow Patrol

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