SALEM — If Peter Courtney can’t ride into the sunset with solutions to Oregon’s woes next session, at least the Senate president can escape for awhile on a stationary bike.

Courtney revealed during an annual meeting with editors and reporters from The Associated Press and other media outlets Thursday at the state Capitol that he has been preparing for a challenging 160-day legislative session by getting in shape. The eight-term Senate president enjoys going to spin class, in addition to working out at the YMCA and playing tennis.

“Personally, I’ve been working on my health,” Courtney told the roomful of journalists. “I’m making sure that I am working out more than ever because I am scared to death I’m going to get myself in trouble with flus and things.”

The Senate president said he is concerned he lacks the votes to pass a balanced budget, that lawmakers won’t be able to raise new revenue to fill a $1.8 revenue shortfall and that all of the work that has gone into a transportation package could flounder because of partisan divisions.

To cope, “I’m doing feel-good things,” Courtney said.

Another one of those feel-good things? He is reading a letter Friday to a dog retiring from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

The legislative session spins into action Feb. 1.