FitnessBusinessPro Blog

Soldier Stages Extreme Trail Run in Iraq

Stephanie Bloyd — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:04:34 +0000

I received an e-mail last week about an interesting way one sergeant in Iraq boosted morale while encouraging fitness for his troops.

First Sgt. Gavin McIlvenna organized a trail race called “Scramble in the Sand” on Nov. 9 to boost morale for soldiers stationed at Camp Victory, Baghdad, Iraq.

As an Oregon native, he previously participated in many trail runs sponsored by X-Dog Events in the States and decided to stage his own race at the base in Iraq. So McIlvenna contacted X-Dog about sponsoring the event, and the company agreed to help.

Known for organizing extreme trail runs back home, X-Dog had some cheeky requests, including a camel and some flash bangs (hand grenades) for the course. X-Dog reportedly was dismayed to discover that camels aren’t as easy to come by in the desert as they’d hoped, and that explosives and running courses weren’t the best mix either!

Still, McIlvenna set up a grueling 7.5 K race. But the run was more about having fun and forgetting the war for awhile than finishing first, he says.

“You’re really not out to beat the clock, you’re out to have fun in these types of races,” McIlvenna says.

The 300 soldiers got to participate in the event for free and even received goodie bags with T-shirts and homemade cookies.

Some soldiers joined the spirit of the race by painting themselves blue or dressing like superheroes. Reportedly, many shoes were lost on the course that day as well. Here’s a link to a video of the event.

Kudos to Sgt. McIlvenna for staging a fun fitness run in the sandy land of Iraq!

Heads Up on “The Biggest Loser” Episode

Stephanie Bloyd — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:44:35 +0000

Be sure to watch “The Biggest Loser” in the next few weeks. I got a note from Ian McGriff, head trainer and fitness director at Tipton Lakes Athletic Club (TLAC) in Columbus, IN, that says Allen Smith, a current contestant on the show, got the TV crew to come and check out its local “Battle of the Bulge” weight-loss competition. (more…)

Bally in Indy Update

Stuart Goldman — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:05:09 +0000

You may remember our story last week about how two Bally employees in Indianapolis got a developmentally disabled man to sign a contract that he could not understand. (more…)

Strength and Alzheimer’s

Pamela Kufahl — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:19:59 +0000

I’m always on the lookout for stories related to fitness and Alzheimer’s disease, so when I saw this one, I thought I’d share it with you. It’s about how seniors with strong bones are less likely to have Alzheimer’s. Definitely a point to make with your members as strength training builds in popularity. Watch for a story on strength training (not related to Alzheimer’s) coming in our December issue.

Club Industry Quiz Contest

Stuart Goldman — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:42:22 +0000

Time for a quiz! The first 10 people to correctly answer all three questions will receive a commemorative October 2009 cover of Club Industry magazine, featuring an autographed photo of Jack LaLanne. (more…)

Hitting the Links

Stuart Goldman — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:51:34 +0000

We found so many good stories this week that it would take us forever to put them all together in a reasonable amount of time. With that in mind, here are links to a few of those stories: (more…)

A Man in Drag

Stuart Goldman — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:47:33 +0000

Some people will do anything to work out in a luxurious gym.

Take the case of one unemployed man in Hong Kong who used his dead wife’s identity to enter the gym. (more…)

Photos from the Club Industry Show

Pamela Kufahl — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:34:13 +0000

If you didn’t attend the Club Industry 2009 conference (or even if you did and want to relive those wonderful memories!), then you can get a feel for the show by going to our photo gallery. We’ve posted photos of Jack LaLanne and Mark Mastrov, plus the Best of the Best winners and some of the exhibitors who were on hand for the show. Click on each image to make it larger and to read the caption.

We Hammed It Up with Jack LaLanne

Pamela Kufahl — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:11:36 +0000

Before the Jack LaLanne keynote at the Club Industry show two weeks ago, the editors went in the back room (a so unglamorous little kitchen area with dirty red tile floors, a sink, several large trash cans and some plastic chairs on which Jack LaLanne sat, waiting to be called on stage) to meet and say hi to Mr. LaLanne. We’d had dinner with him and his wife the evening before, but we hadn’t taken any pictures. (No one remembered to bring a camera!) So, the show photographer kindly took a few images. I debated whether to ever let this photo see the light of day, but I thought is was fun, so why not? Here, the editors (me on the left, Stephanie in the middle and Stuart on the right) flex our muscles with Jack LaLanne!

Hooping It Up

Stephanie Bloyd — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:51:09 +0000

Hula hooping, or hooping as it’s come to be known, appears to be the next hip fitness trend, especially after First Lady Michelle Obama recently was seen hooping on the White House lawn for the Healthier U.S. School Challenge. The trend is trickling down to college campuses, too. West Virginia University hosted a hooping class at its rec center last Sunday, and the University of Maine is reportedly following suit. Not only are you working your core muscles when you’re hooping, but the weighted hoops make it easier for adults to get into the swing and keep it moving—plus it’s fun!