That is what alot of people thought I was doing by offering a Boot Camp Instructor Certification Class around the country. They thought that I might give away too much and then they could just go out and start a boot camp. Wouldn't that cause more competition?
And in fact that was a question I received in my training class last night. Last night I offered the first ever nationally accredited Outdoor Fitness Boot Camp Instructor Training class. And yes, those people could one day be (and in fact currently are) my competition. And yes, by training them they can compete better. But better compeition is what the outdoor fitness boot camp industry needs.
I want fitness professionals to offer SAFE and effective workouts. I want to stop hearing the a client got hurt doing someone else's boot camp workout. That makes me sad. I want some real competition head to head. That makes me better. That makes our company better and it makes boot camp a more long term valid form of fitness in the eyes of the general public. Then when I win, which I will, I REALLY WIN. I just don't get it by default.
Now I am not really giving away the farm. But when I was a little girl, my dad taught me a very valuable lesson in business. Always smile when you don't like how something is going or when you don't like a person. Keep your "enemy's" close and in fact, embrace the challenge that they bring to you by showing them that you are a kind, generous person. Get to know your competitors, laugh with them and give them just enough information to be dangerous, but not enough information to hurt you. And that is what I am doing. I want the level of fitness instruction to increase in this country. I want fitness professionals to start operating like business professionals and not just former jocks and bodybuilders with nothing else to do.
Last night, I met quite a few potential leaders (although none quite as good as my instructors). They were very anxious to learn. They were eager to see how it was done right. Because The American Boot Camp Company is doing it right. Last night, I have never been more proud of the hard work that has gone into our company. So to all my volunteer instructors, all my paid instructors, all my kickboxing, interval and core instructors, and especially Tara and Chris G. - Thank you for helping to make TABCC an awesome company. And a special thanks to my dad for teaching me to be a leader through example.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
The day the lightening struck
This mornings workout will live on in TABCC's history. And we were lucky and crazy enough to be part of it. Today, every instructor that was at the Blackburn workout earned their stripes. You earned the ability to say, "Remember when". But most importantly you earned the respect of your campers and of each other.
It has never been more clear to me why I am traveling across the country for very little money to educate fitness professionals about leading outdoor workouts than it was this morning.
Around 6:35am the first cloud to ground lightening struck about 2 miles away from our group. Less than 10 seconds later the second bolt hit, but much closer this time. We had already made the decision to head back from our end of month long run early and were just a football field or so from the cars when the wind picked up and the sideways rain started pounding so hard and fast that we could barely see.
Branches were falling and more rain was coming down than I think I have ever seen. Just as the front of the group made it back to the cars the first bolt of lightening hit a nearby tree. It was still raining with such fury that we coudnt tell how close the tree was, but could hear the tree crack. In response we sprinted away from the tree above us and as that happened the second bolt hit the transformer less than 50 feet from me and much closer to several others just getting in from the run. We got everyone into the safety of their cars and home safely, but all day I have been receiving stories about this workout that will live forever.
Please take a minute to see why the instructors trained under The American Boot Camp Company Training Program are the best in the country.
From an instructor: "Wow – that was intense. I think if you look at every other workout that we do, obviously the weather/workout combo today was the issue. If we had been doing cone sprints or even the PT test, getting back to the cars wouldn’t have been such an issue. But it was and thankfully nobody got hurt so we should be conscious, in the future, of what to do.
It’s funny – we saw what this instructor team is made of today. People hung in there and made sure that the campers got back to their cars."
From a boot camper: "This morning was awesome! I am registering for next month right now!"
From a boot camper: "I want to share with you what I went threw this morning. Ever since boot camp started, I park my car in front of that light poll that was struck this morning. I always lock my car and throw my key underneath the car inside my right tire. I have done this everyday since we began. This morning I got out of the car and ran to where we gather b/c I thought I was running late. I forgot to put my keys in the regular place which is underneath my car. I realized I still had my keys when I met up with the group so I placed them by the big tree by your car.
After our run and as we all got back to the parking lot, I was running towards my car b/c of the heavy rain and when I was about 20 yards from my car I realized that my keys are at the tree near your car, so I started to turn around to head in that direction when Suddenly that lighting struck twice at that poll where I was parked. I froze for a good ten seconds in shock b/c I have never been that close to lighting before. I then ran to the tree, got my keys and ran to my car.
I'm not the most religious person but that made me think... If I had placed my keys that morning underneath the car, I would have been there on my hands and knees in a puddle of water trying to get them when that lighting struck. But today, THANK GOD I forgot to put my keys there. Isn't that weird. I have always placed my keys there but today I did not and lighting struck that area.. What are the chances of that.... I would be fried chicken right now. "
From a boot camp instructor: "I am actually glad I was with the camper at the back--- she told me before the run she was trying not to psyche herself out about the long run. I responded with - of course- she could do it , that she would be surprised at how far she runs everyday at the park and she would be thrilled at the end when she found out how far she had gone. So, I was glad I was with her at the end.
She seemed fine until we were almost at the little grassy hill we ran up to cut through to the parking lot. Josh was there waiting and directing us and by this time I was actually holding under her arm as she kept saying she couldn't see very well. Josh grabbed her other arm to assist in helping her up on the curb and she seemed to start panicking a little. I told her she was fine and I could see everything and I just kept talking to her saying, Mother Nature is giving it to us but we are going to finish strong, we are almost there and I told her she should go home and sign up for next month b/c if she could run today she can do anything!
She seemd to get calm just as fast as she seemed to panic, which was good. I made sure she got right up to the door of her car and said - good job and I will see you tomorrow. Driving home I couldn't believe all the tree stuff on the road and nothing fell on us. ...Nice job by everyone."
Instructors - Thank you for all that you do. Thank you for caring about the clients as much as I care about them. Thank you for treating each other with care and friendship. I am so proud to be on your team!
It has never been more clear to me why I am traveling across the country for very little money to educate fitness professionals about leading outdoor workouts than it was this morning.
Around 6:35am the first cloud to ground lightening struck about 2 miles away from our group. Less than 10 seconds later the second bolt hit, but much closer this time. We had already made the decision to head back from our end of month long run early and were just a football field or so from the cars when the wind picked up and the sideways rain started pounding so hard and fast that we could barely see.
Branches were falling and more rain was coming down than I think I have ever seen. Just as the front of the group made it back to the cars the first bolt of lightening hit a nearby tree. It was still raining with such fury that we coudnt tell how close the tree was, but could hear the tree crack. In response we sprinted away from the tree above us and as that happened the second bolt hit the transformer less than 50 feet from me and much closer to several others just getting in from the run. We got everyone into the safety of their cars and home safely, but all day I have been receiving stories about this workout that will live forever.
Please take a minute to see why the instructors trained under The American Boot Camp Company Training Program are the best in the country.
From an instructor: "Wow – that was intense. I think if you look at every other workout that we do, obviously the weather/workout combo today was the issue. If we had been doing cone sprints or even the PT test, getting back to the cars wouldn’t have been such an issue. But it was and thankfully nobody got hurt so we should be conscious, in the future, of what to do.
It’s funny – we saw what this instructor team is made of today. People hung in there and made sure that the campers got back to their cars."
From a boot camper: "This morning was awesome! I am registering for next month right now!"
From a boot camper: "I want to share with you what I went threw this morning. Ever since boot camp started, I park my car in front of that light poll that was struck this morning. I always lock my car and throw my key underneath the car inside my right tire. I have done this everyday since we began. This morning I got out of the car and ran to where we gather b/c I thought I was running late. I forgot to put my keys in the regular place which is underneath my car. I realized I still had my keys when I met up with the group so I placed them by the big tree by your car.
After our run and as we all got back to the parking lot, I was running towards my car b/c of the heavy rain and when I was about 20 yards from my car I realized that my keys are at the tree near your car, so I started to turn around to head in that direction when Suddenly that lighting struck twice at that poll where I was parked. I froze for a good ten seconds in shock b/c I have never been that close to lighting before. I then ran to the tree, got my keys and ran to my car.
I'm not the most religious person but that made me think... If I had placed my keys that morning underneath the car, I would have been there on my hands and knees in a puddle of water trying to get them when that lighting struck. But today, THANK GOD I forgot to put my keys there. Isn't that weird. I have always placed my keys there but today I did not and lighting struck that area.. What are the chances of that.... I would be fried chicken right now. "
From a boot camp instructor: "I am actually glad I was with the camper at the back--- she told me before the run she was trying not to psyche herself out about the long run. I responded with - of course- she could do it , that she would be surprised at how far she runs everyday at the park and she would be thrilled at the end when she found out how far she had gone. So, I was glad I was with her at the end.
She seemed fine until we were almost at the little grassy hill we ran up to cut through to the parking lot. Josh was there waiting and directing us and by this time I was actually holding under her arm as she kept saying she couldn't see very well. Josh grabbed her other arm to assist in helping her up on the curb and she seemed to start panicking a little. I told her she was fine and I could see everything and I just kept talking to her saying, Mother Nature is giving it to us but we are going to finish strong, we are almost there and I told her she should go home and sign up for next month b/c if she could run today she can do anything!
She seemd to get calm just as fast as she seemed to panic, which was good. I made sure she got right up to the door of her car and said - good job and I will see you tomorrow. Driving home I couldn't believe all the tree stuff on the road and nothing fell on us. ...Nice job by everyone."
Instructors - Thank you for all that you do. Thank you for caring about the clients as much as I care about them. Thank you for treating each other with care and friendship. I am so proud to be on your team!
Monday, February 25, 2008
The Fear of the Known
So this week is a big week for me. Not only is this the last week of our February Camp where we want everyone to make big strides and end their 4-Week Camp on a high note, but it is the big sales week for our March Camps that begin on Monday, March 3rd.
Additionally, this week is our first brush with The American Boot Camp Company as a national brand. I have been working for the past year gaining additional certifications and tweeking our program offering so that nationally accredited companies ACE (American Council on Exercise) and AFAA (Aerobics and Fitness Association of America) could bring me on as a faculty member. I have also been working on a business model to take The American Boot Camp Company national by licensing our program, brand and web based tool. Wednesday, February 27th will be my first presentation of our Instructor Training Program and Friday-Sunday is our first trade show to sell the Licenses in the Philadelphia, New Jersey and Deleware area.
It is a very exciting time, but also a very scary time. I sort of image that this is how the campers feel after orientation. They are very excited to get started, but have no idea what is coming. I sort of like it that way better because you can only prepare for the worst or hope for the best at this point. Without knowing what lies ahead, there is room for excitement and hope.
Veteran campers have the hard because of this reason. Many clients will come through our system and get into great shape after a couple of months of boot camp. Then they head out on their own to try to stay healthy and life hits them head on. They really want to workout, but can't fit it into their day. Then the excuses pile up and become weight. Then they say - I am too out of shape to come back to boot camp. Why? I think that is ludicrous. Crazy even. But it is really fear of the KNOWN. They know how hard boot camp was the first time when they didn't know what was coming. They know how sore they will be. They know it will be harder than it was the first time.
But what they forget is that the rewards are HUGE. It's easy to forget the achievement when you can't see it. One wise boot camper turned instructor once said - 'Expect boot camp to be harder than you think, but expect the rewards to be greater than you can imagine."
I will hold onto that as I venture out this week into uncharted territory and hope for rewards beyond my imagination.
Additionally, this week is our first brush with The American Boot Camp Company as a national brand. I have been working for the past year gaining additional certifications and tweeking our program offering so that nationally accredited companies ACE (American Council on Exercise) and AFAA (Aerobics and Fitness Association of America) could bring me on as a faculty member. I have also been working on a business model to take The American Boot Camp Company national by licensing our program, brand and web based tool. Wednesday, February 27th will be my first presentation of our Instructor Training Program and Friday-Sunday is our first trade show to sell the Licenses in the Philadelphia, New Jersey and Deleware area.
It is a very exciting time, but also a very scary time. I sort of image that this is how the campers feel after orientation. They are very excited to get started, but have no idea what is coming. I sort of like it that way better because you can only prepare for the worst or hope for the best at this point. Without knowing what lies ahead, there is room for excitement and hope.
Veteran campers have the hard because of this reason. Many clients will come through our system and get into great shape after a couple of months of boot camp. Then they head out on their own to try to stay healthy and life hits them head on. They really want to workout, but can't fit it into their day. Then the excuses pile up and become weight. Then they say - I am too out of shape to come back to boot camp. Why? I think that is ludicrous. Crazy even. But it is really fear of the KNOWN. They know how hard boot camp was the first time when they didn't know what was coming. They know how sore they will be. They know it will be harder than it was the first time.
But what they forget is that the rewards are HUGE. It's easy to forget the achievement when you can't see it. One wise boot camper turned instructor once said - 'Expect boot camp to be harder than you think, but expect the rewards to be greater than you can imagine."
I will hold onto that as I venture out this week into uncharted territory and hope for rewards beyond my imagination.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
The importance of cheerleaders
Today we played a small part in changing the lives of several people and they may not even know it yet. Just like many years ago when Mrs. Kravoch change mine.
Aside from my mom, this woman single handedly set me on a different path. I was in 5th grade and got it in my head that I could try out for cheerleading. I always had a big mouth, but was never "the pretty one" or "the cool one" or "the cheerleader type". I did have some coordination and so I went for it. Out of all the girls that tried out, they only picked three. And for some strange reason for which to this day I do not understand, I was one of them. The experiences I learned from my grade school cheer days are a big reason why I have the confidence that I have today. Someone believed in me. Someone saw something in me, that I didn't see in myself. That changed my life.
For those people that know me today, I am still a cheerleader, but in a different manner. I don't do basket tosses or human pyramids (except at the instructor olypmics) or support cliques or gossip. I cheer for all of the people that never got to be "cool". I cheer for all of the people that don't have anyone to believe in them and that may not believe in themselves.
So today was extra special for me because I am certain that my cheers and belief in others made a difference. Today The American Boot Camp Company sponsored the Chastain Chase 5K and we encouraged all of our campers and instructors to come out and run the 3.1 miles around Chastain Park and help us kick off our "Regular Guy" race team. My goal with this race team is to encourage people of all fitness levels to get out and run. To try their best. I want them to feel like they are part of something and by being part of our team they will get the support they need to better themselves.
Racing boot camp style - we yell, hoop and holler the entire race. Many people think we are crazy. Someone even told me to save my breath today. Little did he know that I couldn't win the race even if I wanted, I am not the fastest in my age group or the fastest female. But I am Ok with that. I have other things I do well - like cheering. I would rather support the people that I knew could win the race. I would rather cheer them on, encourage them to run faster and remind them to breath and use proper form on the hills. I would rather represent the heart of The American Boot Camp Company - believe that everyone can give a little more with support.
And we seriously represented today. Thank you to everyone that came out and participated, cheered and showed everyone that The American Boot Camp Company is the most positive, most fun boot camp and that we don't quit until EVERY person in our group crosses the finish line.
The best news of this entire day is that many of us WON! As I write this, I get tears in my eyes because I am so proud of everyone that came out. Boot Camp is hard. Running 3 miles is hard. And neither of these things are part of most "normal" peoples lives. But each morning we get out of bed before the crack of dawn and give it our all so that we can feel better about ourselves the rest of the day. We smile through muddy workouts and grunt up grueling hills. We are determined to not quit. And today NONE of you did!
A special mention goes out to my boot camper that didn't believe she did well today. She broke 40 minutes. Now, in comparison to the atheltes that win a 5K distance in professional competitions this seems slow. But and I mean BUT, this woman isn't 23. She has a full life behind her. But every morning she gets up with a postive can do attitude and doesn't quit. She might not be the fastest, but today she won a GOLD horseshoe medal in her age group. Today she WON the race. I have never been prouder and never been believed more in the importance of cheerleaders.
Do You Boot Camp? I do. I boot camp with The American Boot Camp Company.
Aside from my mom, this woman single handedly set me on a different path. I was in 5th grade and got it in my head that I could try out for cheerleading. I always had a big mouth, but was never "the pretty one" or "the cool one" or "the cheerleader type". I did have some coordination and so I went for it. Out of all the girls that tried out, they only picked three. And for some strange reason for which to this day I do not understand, I was one of them. The experiences I learned from my grade school cheer days are a big reason why I have the confidence that I have today. Someone believed in me. Someone saw something in me, that I didn't see in myself. That changed my life.
For those people that know me today, I am still a cheerleader, but in a different manner. I don't do basket tosses or human pyramids (except at the instructor olypmics) or support cliques or gossip. I cheer for all of the people that never got to be "cool". I cheer for all of the people that don't have anyone to believe in them and that may not believe in themselves.
So today was extra special for me because I am certain that my cheers and belief in others made a difference. Today The American Boot Camp Company sponsored the Chastain Chase 5K and we encouraged all of our campers and instructors to come out and run the 3.1 miles around Chastain Park and help us kick off our "Regular Guy" race team. My goal with this race team is to encourage people of all fitness levels to get out and run. To try their best. I want them to feel like they are part of something and by being part of our team they will get the support they need to better themselves.
Racing boot camp style - we yell, hoop and holler the entire race. Many people think we are crazy. Someone even told me to save my breath today. Little did he know that I couldn't win the race even if I wanted, I am not the fastest in my age group or the fastest female. But I am Ok with that. I have other things I do well - like cheering. I would rather support the people that I knew could win the race. I would rather cheer them on, encourage them to run faster and remind them to breath and use proper form on the hills. I would rather represent the heart of The American Boot Camp Company - believe that everyone can give a little more with support.
And we seriously represented today. Thank you to everyone that came out and participated, cheered and showed everyone that The American Boot Camp Company is the most positive, most fun boot camp and that we don't quit until EVERY person in our group crosses the finish line.
The best news of this entire day is that many of us WON! As I write this, I get tears in my eyes because I am so proud of everyone that came out. Boot Camp is hard. Running 3 miles is hard. And neither of these things are part of most "normal" peoples lives. But each morning we get out of bed before the crack of dawn and give it our all so that we can feel better about ourselves the rest of the day. We smile through muddy workouts and grunt up grueling hills. We are determined to not quit. And today NONE of you did!
A special mention goes out to my boot camper that didn't believe she did well today. She broke 40 minutes. Now, in comparison to the atheltes that win a 5K distance in professional competitions this seems slow. But and I mean BUT, this woman isn't 23. She has a full life behind her. But every morning she gets up with a postive can do attitude and doesn't quit. She might not be the fastest, but today she won a GOLD horseshoe medal in her age group. Today she WON the race. I have never been prouder and never been believed more in the importance of cheerleaders.
Do You Boot Camp? I do. I boot camp with The American Boot Camp Company.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Tag Team Mud Ball: Mud=Fun!
Today, on the last day of the third week of our February boot camp at Blackburn Park, it rained. A long sopping rain. Today, I felt sorry for those people that wussed out and didn't show up because it was raining. Because today was fun. Mud is fun. Tag Team Mud Ball was awesome, beautiful even.
What I discovered today is that the instructors and thier love for intense, hard core, muddy, crazy, out of the box workouts is what makes boot camp such an amazing experience. We use terms like squat thurst and hell raiser on a daily basis. And rather than be scared of the meaning, we embrace it - we are even enthusiastic about it.
So last night when one of my instructors asked, "What is mudball?" I simply replied, "It's a surprise!" You see, sometimes when trying a new workout, the element of surprise for the entire team, including instrutors is important. That way I can get a true read on whether the workout is effective, challenging and fun. And by the smiles on their faces afterward I think it worked.
Now every workout is not meant to completely fatigue each person to the point of exhaustion. Sometimes fun has to be the number one initiative. And especially on days like today - 45 degrees, raining, muddy. Many campers chose to stay in bed, so even admited that they were not tough enough. But those that did show up now have a badge of honor to wear today and all days to come. They showed up on a less than perfect day and have great attitudes and did something that they would NEVER do on their own. And they even had fun.
The lesson to be learned is the same one our moms taught us when we were kids. When you are given lemons, make lemonade. It is the endurance through workouts like today that make the celebration at the end of boot camp even sweeter.
MUD=FUN! Do You Boot Camp?
What I discovered today is that the instructors and thier love for intense, hard core, muddy, crazy, out of the box workouts is what makes boot camp such an amazing experience. We use terms like squat thurst and hell raiser on a daily basis. And rather than be scared of the meaning, we embrace it - we are even enthusiastic about it.
So last night when one of my instructors asked, "What is mudball?" I simply replied, "It's a surprise!" You see, sometimes when trying a new workout, the element of surprise for the entire team, including instrutors is important. That way I can get a true read on whether the workout is effective, challenging and fun. And by the smiles on their faces afterward I think it worked.
Now every workout is not meant to completely fatigue each person to the point of exhaustion. Sometimes fun has to be the number one initiative. And especially on days like today - 45 degrees, raining, muddy. Many campers chose to stay in bed, so even admited that they were not tough enough. But those that did show up now have a badge of honor to wear today and all days to come. They showed up on a less than perfect day and have great attitudes and did something that they would NEVER do on their own. And they even had fun.
The lesson to be learned is the same one our moms taught us when we were kids. When you are given lemons, make lemonade. It is the endurance through workouts like today that make the celebration at the end of boot camp even sweeter.
MUD=FUN! Do You Boot Camp?
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
The pain of being injured
The month before I started my first outdoor fitness boot camp session at Blackburn Park, I tore my hamstring. The night it happened, I will never forget. Nor will I forget the sound of the muscle tissue tearing. I was in a kickboxing class and threw a sliding side round double kick. On the second kick the muscles just tore. It was like slow motion. Partially because I had never had a major injury like that, but mostly because I knew what it meant - I was going to be out of action. The next day, I thought, "I will just try to run." I got up, walked down the stairs of my condo and tried to take a step. I remember the pain and the fact that not only could I not run, but I couldn't walk. I was supposed to head to Piedmont Park that day and begin instructor training for all of the instructors in the groups for our old business partners. I was so excited and honored to be doing that. And in a very short second, I realized it would not be my turn. I cried all day.
You see, at that time, I didn't have a group of instructors to support me. It was just myself and my husband Chris. And although we had business partners, they had their own groups to run.
I also didn't have a wonderful soft tissue chiropractor to go see. Just some sucky MD that didn't know shit about athletic injuries and prescribed two weeks complete rest and two months to heal to 80%.
And so I waited for the leg to heal. In two weeks I could jump rope and jog lightly, but my hopes of ever sprinting again were left behind. A week later, on a rainy day in March, I was leading a warm up and the pavement was wet. Now at this point, Chris and I were still working with our old business partners in Piedmont Park the month before we were to start our first group at Blackburn. Chris had the fast group, I had the slower group. My foot slipped out from underneath me during a lunge in the warm up and my hamstring tore again. It was so bad that I couldn't walk. I hopped out of the way, over to the curb. The really dissappointing thing wasn't that an instructor stepped in and moved the group away, or that I couldn't lead. It was the way the other instructors handled the situation. Everyone left. There was even a doctor in the group that was an instructor and he didn't even ask if I was OK. At that moment when I was sitting on the curb waiting and praying that someone would find my husband and have him come help me to the car, I decided that I would NEVER treat my instructors like that. At that moment, I made more progress as an instructor than I had ever made. It defined me. My ability to not give up. My determiniation to make my new business succeed. And my new found respect for other instructors. That day molded my vision of the type of instructor I wanted to be surrounded by. And NOONE at Piedmont Park fit the bill.
I went to the hospital when someone finally found Chris and cryed again that day.
My hamstring eventally got stronger and Blackburn quickly grew into a great camp. We met a bunch of really great people and by 2006 we paved the way for Fitness Boot Camp in Atlanta to explode. But once again I found my self injured. Not with a torn muscle, but with an overuse injury for running up Freedom Hill at Blackburn too many times. My calves and solues were very weak. So much to the point where it hurt to take a step.
This is about where Dr. Steve came in. Dr. Steve is a soft tissue chiropractor and his office used to be at 2669 Osborne Road (yes, where the studio currently is located). And one day, Lauren (an instructor at Blackburn at the time- now the owner of the Midtown Territory of TABCC and our first licensee) told me that this doctor fixed her knee. An injury she had for a long time. So I went to see him about fixing my hamstring. I had always wanted to be able to sprint and jump again and thought this might be my chance. Little did Dr. Steve know, but that encounter would change both of our lives over the next years. Dr. Steve did some tissue work on my hamstring breaking up the scar tissue and he also did acupuncture. Then he sent me out to give it my all. He had no idea what that meant. The next day I was in his office and couldn't walk. That was his introduction to boot camp and giving it your all. He quickly learned that the boot camp mentality was much more intense than any other fitness organization and that 50% for us is like 100% for most people.
He did fix my hamstring. Today I am almost as fast as I was in short distance and four times as fast in longer distances. I can jump and throw double kicks almost as powerfully as I used to. He also fixed my calf problem. I am not longer afraid of the hills, but rather attack them now. And what I learned from all of these injuries is that you can never give up. That an injury is not a curse, but rather a blessing from which to learn about yourself, your fellow instructors and those around you. Now, when I get injured there are four or five wonderful instructors that step up. "How can I help? What can I do?" For that I am forever grateful. I am also grateful for Dr. Steve and the certainty that no matter what injury I face, he will give me an honest diagnosis and do whatever he can to get me healthy as quickly as possible.
So when last week my knees started bothering me, I knew I should have got in to see Dr. Stever, but my schedule was just so busy. And then Tuesday, my body forced me to make that appointment as my knee gave out and the pain was too much to handle on my own. So just when things for the 2008 season were coming together and falling into place, the balance in life caught up to me and I find myself in that familiar seat at Dr. Steves table. And yes, when I found out it was torn tissue and that I would be out for a couple of days I cried (not in front of Dr. Steve of course - he thinks I am tough). Just like every boot camper, I don't want to be injured, I want to continue making progress, to continue giving it my all.
But unlike in the past, I now know that if I rest a few days, I will be back to 100% in a fraction of the time and that in the mean time I have a team of kick butt fitness boot camp instructors to support me. I also know that this injury could only mean one thing... 2008 is only going to get better. Watch out Atlanta. Watch out America. The American Boot Camp Company is ready to show you how fitness boot camp is done.
See you at the park with the best fitness boot camp instructors around. What a team we make.
You see, at that time, I didn't have a group of instructors to support me. It was just myself and my husband Chris. And although we had business partners, they had their own groups to run.
I also didn't have a wonderful soft tissue chiropractor to go see. Just some sucky MD that didn't know shit about athletic injuries and prescribed two weeks complete rest and two months to heal to 80%.
And so I waited for the leg to heal. In two weeks I could jump rope and jog lightly, but my hopes of ever sprinting again were left behind. A week later, on a rainy day in March, I was leading a warm up and the pavement was wet. Now at this point, Chris and I were still working with our old business partners in Piedmont Park the month before we were to start our first group at Blackburn. Chris had the fast group, I had the slower group. My foot slipped out from underneath me during a lunge in the warm up and my hamstring tore again. It was so bad that I couldn't walk. I hopped out of the way, over to the curb. The really dissappointing thing wasn't that an instructor stepped in and moved the group away, or that I couldn't lead. It was the way the other instructors handled the situation. Everyone left. There was even a doctor in the group that was an instructor and he didn't even ask if I was OK. At that moment when I was sitting on the curb waiting and praying that someone would find my husband and have him come help me to the car, I decided that I would NEVER treat my instructors like that. At that moment, I made more progress as an instructor than I had ever made. It defined me. My ability to not give up. My determiniation to make my new business succeed. And my new found respect for other instructors. That day molded my vision of the type of instructor I wanted to be surrounded by. And NOONE at Piedmont Park fit the bill.
I went to the hospital when someone finally found Chris and cryed again that day.
My hamstring eventally got stronger and Blackburn quickly grew into a great camp. We met a bunch of really great people and by 2006 we paved the way for Fitness Boot Camp in Atlanta to explode. But once again I found my self injured. Not with a torn muscle, but with an overuse injury for running up Freedom Hill at Blackburn too many times. My calves and solues were very weak. So much to the point where it hurt to take a step.
This is about where Dr. Steve came in. Dr. Steve is a soft tissue chiropractor and his office used to be at 2669 Osborne Road (yes, where the studio currently is located). And one day, Lauren (an instructor at Blackburn at the time- now the owner of the Midtown Territory of TABCC and our first licensee) told me that this doctor fixed her knee. An injury she had for a long time. So I went to see him about fixing my hamstring. I had always wanted to be able to sprint and jump again and thought this might be my chance. Little did Dr. Steve know, but that encounter would change both of our lives over the next years. Dr. Steve did some tissue work on my hamstring breaking up the scar tissue and he also did acupuncture. Then he sent me out to give it my all. He had no idea what that meant. The next day I was in his office and couldn't walk. That was his introduction to boot camp and giving it your all. He quickly learned that the boot camp mentality was much more intense than any other fitness organization and that 50% for us is like 100% for most people.
He did fix my hamstring. Today I am almost as fast as I was in short distance and four times as fast in longer distances. I can jump and throw double kicks almost as powerfully as I used to. He also fixed my calf problem. I am not longer afraid of the hills, but rather attack them now. And what I learned from all of these injuries is that you can never give up. That an injury is not a curse, but rather a blessing from which to learn about yourself, your fellow instructors and those around you. Now, when I get injured there are four or five wonderful instructors that step up. "How can I help? What can I do?" For that I am forever grateful. I am also grateful for Dr. Steve and the certainty that no matter what injury I face, he will give me an honest diagnosis and do whatever he can to get me healthy as quickly as possible.
So when last week my knees started bothering me, I knew I should have got in to see Dr. Stever, but my schedule was just so busy. And then Tuesday, my body forced me to make that appointment as my knee gave out and the pain was too much to handle on my own. So just when things for the 2008 season were coming together and falling into place, the balance in life caught up to me and I find myself in that familiar seat at Dr. Steves table. And yes, when I found out it was torn tissue and that I would be out for a couple of days I cried (not in front of Dr. Steve of course - he thinks I am tough). Just like every boot camper, I don't want to be injured, I want to continue making progress, to continue giving it my all.
But unlike in the past, I now know that if I rest a few days, I will be back to 100% in a fraction of the time and that in the mean time I have a team of kick butt fitness boot camp instructors to support me. I also know that this injury could only mean one thing... 2008 is only going to get better. Watch out Atlanta. Watch out America. The American Boot Camp Company is ready to show you how fitness boot camp is done.
See you at the park with the best fitness boot camp instructors around. What a team we make.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Bittersweet victory
11:58pm - 2 email messages from boot campers not coming on Monday. 1 is sick, the other just won't be there. 4:02 am - 8 more messages came in overnight. 8 more campers not coming.
Why does this upset me so? I don't know, I guess it's because I know what is coming on Monday. Maybe it's because I think that midway is the best day of the month. I am positive it is because I love to see people reach their goals. To blast away preconceived notions that they are not runners and that they are out of shape. I love to show people that THEY CAN DO IT. That they can run faster and in only two weeks.
But this morning was bittersweet. Everyone that showed up beat their initial times as predicted. Why can I say that with such confidence? Because The American Boot Camp Company's program works. No that is not bragging, just plain fact. The unique style of high end customer service combined with corporate training for our instructors combined with a blend of workouts designed to constantly push each camper out of their comfort zone - every day. The program works. And it works every time. I just like to take one day a month to show that off. To really win the new campers over.
And it makes me sad when I don't get that opportunity. When campers are sick or injured or just can't make it. Those people I understand. It is the people that pay their money and don't respond to emails or don't make the effort to make the program a priority. It makes me sad.
I really and truly wish that every day, everyone would be as in love with boot camp as I am. I just want to show every person in America that they have more in them than they believe. I want to show them that I believe in them and that together progress is a given. I live to inspire the beginner to start moving, to push the intermediate to the next level and to show the true competitor that life is just beginning in their 40's. Today 15 people saw that with a lot of hard work, careful attention to what they put into their body in terms of food and beverage and some positive motivation from a group of awesome instructors that in only two weeks they could become better.
I just wish that all 33 could have seen that today. So I guess I will just have to show up tomorrow and try and drag it out of them.
Why does this upset me so? I don't know, I guess it's because I know what is coming on Monday. Maybe it's because I think that midway is the best day of the month. I am positive it is because I love to see people reach their goals. To blast away preconceived notions that they are not runners and that they are out of shape. I love to show people that THEY CAN DO IT. That they can run faster and in only two weeks.
But this morning was bittersweet. Everyone that showed up beat their initial times as predicted. Why can I say that with such confidence? Because The American Boot Camp Company's program works. No that is not bragging, just plain fact. The unique style of high end customer service combined with corporate training for our instructors combined with a blend of workouts designed to constantly push each camper out of their comfort zone - every day. The program works. And it works every time. I just like to take one day a month to show that off. To really win the new campers over.
And it makes me sad when I don't get that opportunity. When campers are sick or injured or just can't make it. Those people I understand. It is the people that pay their money and don't respond to emails or don't make the effort to make the program a priority. It makes me sad.
I really and truly wish that every day, everyone would be as in love with boot camp as I am. I just want to show every person in America that they have more in them than they believe. I want to show them that I believe in them and that together progress is a given. I live to inspire the beginner to start moving, to push the intermediate to the next level and to show the true competitor that life is just beginning in their 40's. Today 15 people saw that with a lot of hard work, careful attention to what they put into their body in terms of food and beverage and some positive motivation from a group of awesome instructors that in only two weeks they could become better.
I just wish that all 33 could have seen that today. So I guess I will just have to show up tomorrow and try and drag it out of them.
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