Exercise your rights. Or just plain exercise.

Tara (owner of Splie) & Jayme of The Blonde Side

Red, white and blue, in a three-way conjunction are my absolute favorite colors. I often say I’m obsessed with America and it may sound silly, but it’s true. I’m obsessed with our country and our freedom and the overall good people that I like to think exist everywhere that make our country so amazing.

This morning I joined a great group of women in South Lake Tahoe at a local fitness studio, Splie (pronounced SPLEE-AY) for a Freedom Ride. I had no idea what a Freedom Ride was, but I knew I was in need of a good spin class to sweat out the toxins and keep myself in semi-bikini shape.

Tara, the owner, encouraged us to wear red, white and blue on the studio’s Facebook page by saying: “It’s how we roll. Red, White and blue ride this Wednesday.”

Wearing her own TEAM USA tank from the leader bike, Tara told us to “ride for something bigger than us, like the blood shed for our country,” and during rest breaks shouted out U.S.A. trivia and facts to encourage us and remind us just how lucky we are to live in this great country. She reminded us that because of what so many brave men and women have fought so hard for so many years, we have freedom. All while sweating up a storm, no less.

“We have the right to live equally,” Tara shouted from her spinning pulpit. “And to add resistance [to our bikes],” she demanded.

The 60-minute ride was a fierce combo of celebrating our freedom (hence the #FreedomRide) and our heritage and patriotic nature, complete with this playlist of varying genres:

The gals from the #FreedomRide at Splie Fitness

Beastie Boys: Fight for your Right

Bruce Springsteen: Born in the USA

En Vogue: Free Your Mind

Metallica: Nothing Else Matters

John Mellencamp: Pink Houses

Jimi Hendrix: Star Spangled Banner

Alicia Keys: Sleeping In My Bed

Brad Paisley: Camouflage

Foo Fighers: My Hero

Kenny Chesney: Freedom

Xtina: Fighter

Miley Cyrus: Party In the U.S.A.

When Xtina’s Fighter came on, Tara reminded us that sometimes we have to fight for our freedom.

In 1848, in New York, women began the long struggle for the right to vote. In 1920, 72 years later, their voting rights were recognized across the nation.

As Americans we are fighters (just like Xtina said) and we fight for our freedom. Remember those that put their lives on the line for us each and every day.

Needless to say, I got my patriotic butt kicked today. And I loved every minute of it. Thanks to those who have and are fighting for our Independence every day.

Exercise your rights. Or just plain exercise.

[This blog post was part of the 2013 Women’s Health Magazine Action Hero Blog. To see that original blog, click here.]