Worcester Earth
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I decided to celebrate my one month heart attack anniversary with my
first visit to Worcester Fitness since then; how great to be back!!!
Did a very light treadmill and weights work-out and visited with
everyone. What a wonderful group of people. This is such a special
place.
Another good step in the right direction. Thanks again for the cards,
prayers and well wishes. See you soon.
Gene Kaczyk
Worcester Fitness, the leading health, fitness and wellness organization in Massachusetts, has partnered with West Boylston, Massachusetts based Mothers and Company.
Mothers and Company provides comprehensive, evidence-based prenatal education, breastfeeding and new parent support, toddler classes and groups, special events for women and families, and natural parenting products to childbearing families in Central Massachusetts and MetroWest.
The partnership with Worcester Fitness will primarily be focused on complimentary brand services as well as a strong focus on expanding each organizations market reach in the area of family services.
The partnership will be launched in October through a Swim Lesson program designed specifically for children ages 4 months to 3 years. Mothers and Company will be presenting their classes using their core design elements as well as a unique and intimate style that includes having the children’s parents in the water while their child is receiving the lesson. The lessons then become both a child’s swim lesson and a parents active training relating to calming and comforting their young child while in the water.
The lessons will be conducted at Worcester Fitness Grove Street location, which features a heated indoor swimming pool.
http://www.worcesterfitness.com/swimming-lessons.php
The classes are thirty minutes each and can support a maximum of twelve children. Sessions are six weeks.
The class schedules have been announced to be-
Thursday Classes
Beginning Thursday October 13
9:00AM – 9:30AM- Water Fun For Toddlers
9:45AM – 10:15AM- Intro to Water
Saturday Classes
Beginning Saturday October 29
10:15AM- 10:45AM- Water Fun For Toddlers
11:00AM – 11:30AM- Intro to Water
Registration is handled directly by Mothers and Company.
https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/ASP/home.asp?studioid=9024
Yesterday, this Rugged Maniac was teeming with adrenalin and grinning my way to the finish line.
I’ve never been to a race quite like this one. I made my way through wacky obstacles and shoulder-deep mud. I finally got some use out of the swimmer’s shoulders that have plagued my lady-like existence for years. Most importantly: I couldn’t have enjoyed myself more (and I didn’t even have to put slices of bread in my shoes). The Rugged Maniac course was like a grownup playground built for athletic nuts like me!
As for the boyfriend (the same arch-nemesis who never trains but always beats me in races), I think he’s finally met his match. On the starting line, he could be heard saying things like, “Don’t worry sweetie, I’ll wait for you so I can lift you up over the walls.” On the race course he could be heard saying things like, “Wait for me!”
Notable competitors consisted of the following:
Feeling empowered and reinvigorated, I am back in the fitness game. What’s next? Another half marathon? My first full marathon? An open water swim?
A triathlon? Perhaps, but at the forefront of my mind is a pending victory over my arch-nemesis at the yearly Turkey Trot. Watch out, here I come!
My name is Laura. I joined Worcester Fitness in January.
When I first joined I was thinking that it would just be for the winter months. However, I grew to love this gym and I have kept my membership open ever since. Here is a little background. Due to a great support system I began running last fall. It is not my favorite thing to do, but I started it for the exercise. Once the winter came I was leery about running outside.
That’s where Worcester Fitness came in.
I had checked out many places in search of the perfect gym for me. When I walked into Worcester Fitness I immediately felt comfortable. The staff was so friendly and accommodating. The facility was clean. It was everything I was looking for. So I signed up. I think I was here 4-6 times a week, if not every day during the winter.
With the help of Worcester Fitness I completed my first 5k in March. I then went on to train for The Warrior Dash throughout the summer. Warrior Dash is a race that takes place on Windham Mountain in New York. It is a 5k with 13-14 obstacles including jumping over fire, crawling through mud and climbing over cargo nets. I never thought I would be able to do anything like this, but I did and I can’t wait for next year’s race!
Worcester Fitness makes it easy and fun to work out. My routines include at least 20 minutes of cardio followed by weight training. I usually switch off legs and arms every other day and try to work core muscles every day I’m at the gym. I also participate in yoga, spin and zumba. If you haven’t tried it you should! I now look forward to going to the gym and thanks to Worcester Fitness I am in the best shape of my life!
About a week ago, I thought it would be cute and hilarious to sign the bf and I up for one of those adventure-races. At the time, I was picturing a little mud and maybe a hopscotch course along the way. After all, I didn’t sign us up for the “elite heat” and it’s only a 5k…
Yesterday I got this email:
Your friends think you’re crazy and your loved ones are concerned for your safety, but something restless stirs deep down inside – you won’t be constrained by temperate society. You’d rather break than passively watch life pass you by and you ask, “How can I know myself without knowing my limits?” Most shake their heads, content with vicarious existence, ignorant perhaps. Still, some hear you, and together you will gather. Your day draws near, glory impatiently waits. Soon you will have the right to declare, “I am a Rugged Maniac!”
What have I gotten myself into? I’m going to be honest, my training and preparation consist largely of listening to Pop Culture Happy Hour while leisurely jogging on a treadmill and dropping on the occasional Zumba class. (Side note: If there was a ratemyzumbainstructors.com I would give the Friday night girl a perfect score for pep and enthusiasm!)
To make matters worse, everyone I tell about the Rugged Maniac gives me terrifying advice like, “I heard that the secret to those races is duct taping your socks to your legs.” Or, “I heard that if you put a slice of bread in your sneakers, it will soak up all of the mud.”
With school back in session, my students haven’t been much more help. “So, if you don’t make it back, does that mean we won’t have any homework?”
At any rate, by this time next week, I plan to be a Rugged Maniac. The only question that remains is Wonder Bread of Country Wheat?
Hi all, my name is Gene Kaczyk and for those of you who don’t know me,
I am a personal trainer and Director of Corporate Wellness for
Worcester Fitness…and I am VERY GLAD to be writing this today.
I had a heart attack on 8/29/11.
The cardiac medical community has identified episodes of this nature
as “Widow Makers”, due to the 60% blockage of a major artery. My wife,
Penny, didn’t know that when she started CPR compressions at 4am on
8/29…just as well.
Next up that morning were the First Responders; Worcester’s finest
firefighter’s and EMT’s; thank God for these wonderful men and women.
Now, neighborhood estimates vary on the number of responders….I have
heard 12 and I have heard 113…let’s just say it was dark, we live on
a small street and many of my neighbors are elderly (reliable sources
say 10-12). This fabulous team rushed me to UMass Medical on Lakeside
in minutes.
The 3rd batter that morning on my own very special fantasy team was
the UMass Cardiac Response Team lead by Dr Nsidinan Okike. Competent,
efficient, respectful and nice people giving of themselves everyday. I
was at UMass for 13 days. Surgery was 9/7 and I was home 9/10.
So…why does a fit 60 year old have a heart attack? I am not certain
anyone will be able to answer that one completely, ever. I have some
family heart disease history and my diet will improve (I call it
“Clean Eating Events”…blog to follow), but I was not your typical
heart attack guy. I guess you really do “play the cards you are
dealt”, exercise and eat well. AND, when you do experience a medical
emergency, the flu or even a cold; bounce back from it safer and
faster because you are FIT!!!
Two quick thank-yous:
-Joe Santa Maria…Joe has this ability to make a splash without
making waves. How does he do that? He was RIGHT THERE day one helping
me and my family. He continues to assist daily.
-My wife Penny…she saved my life. Never saw her sweat it, just smile
sweetly and reassuringly; while feeling the terror and tears inside.
This Blog officially kicks off my Comeback 2011…thank you Worcester
Fitness Nation for the cards, thoughts and prayers. SEE YOU SOON AT
WF!!!!
Please help Halloween Outlet, 540 West Boylston Street, Worcester MA 01606 make sure that the children of Friendly House programs have a costume for this Halloween through their “Gifts For Little Goblins event!
Who: Everyone
What: Visit Halloween Outlet and pick a needy child’s name and Halloween costume wish from our Spooky Giving Tree.
Purchase costume to fulfill the need of the child and receive $10.00 in Boo Bucks to be used that day or towards a future purchase. Donations of any denomination towards Gifts For Little Goblins can also be given at Worcester Fitness,440 Grove Street,Worcester, MA 01605.
Where: Halloween Outlet, 540 West Boylston Street, Worcester MA 01606 (508)852-4500
When: Now through October 22, 2011
I suppose as the Worcester Fitness Superhero, I should have been blogging all along. But with a busy life, school and work it has been a tough go. This summer was about getting outside and that is what I did.
I hiked every weekend and 2-3 times during the week (after work hikes at Wachusett) until the end of July. July 20th, I was in Maine and planned months prior that I would be climbing Katahdin, I looked for people to hike with, but either they couldn’t or just didn’t want to make the 6+ hour trek to Baxter State Park. The night before my hike was a normal pre-hike night, bed by 8pm and then up at 4am. I was out the cabin in Island Falls, ME at 4:14am and pulled into Roaring Brook Trailhead at 6:00am. On the trail within about 20 minutes after discussing with the Ranger why it would be a bad idea for me to want to take Knife’s Edge up and down. I hate, really hate the first hour or so of a big hike, I went from thinking I was doing 8 miles RT to 11 miles RT, and was notified of my 14 hours of daylight. With the normal snack breaks, one bathroom break at Chimney Pond and chatting with some Conservation Corps kids on the Saddle Trail it took me 4 hours and 55 minutes to summit. Once I reached the top the view of Knife’s Edge was more than I could handle on my own, I would most likely have freaked out halfway across and then what do you do, when you have no moral support. So I took the same route down as I went up, took me about 5 hours to make my descent because the Saddle Slide is a pretty scary route back down, not as much as the Dudley or Cathedral Trails but still very STEEP. This hike more or less ruined my knees for about a month, and my workouts and hikes suffered.
Well October is a BIG hiking month for me so using September to get back to the condition to handle that. I am a lucky girl as I have Worcester Fitness’s two clubs, the gym at work and this month I cashed in my Groupon from January for Boot Camp, Circuit workout 3 times a week, it is kicking my butt but a good push back into working on my fitness.
As the weather gets cooler most of my workouts move indoors, but as I wrote about last winter, hiking all winter is a great cardiovascular workout. I am going hiking with a friend next weekend at Monadnock just to test my knees out for my Cardigan, Cannon and Jefferson hikes in October.
I’m Lindsay Reilly, the newest member of the Worcester Fitness Personal Training Team!
Email me directly at lindsay@worcesterfitness.com
Our friends at Toni & Guy hairdressing Academy are putting their hearts and souls into their work on Thursday September 22, 2011.
The Team at Toni & Guy are holding a massive Cut-a-Thon on an effort to raise money for the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition.
The mission of the NOCC is to raise awareness and promote education about ovarian cancer. The Coalition is committed to improving the survival rate and quality of life for women with ovarian cancer.
More than 20,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year, and approximately 15,000 women die annually from the disease. Unfortunately, most cases are diagnosed in their later stages when the prognosis is poor. However, if diagnosed and treated early, when the cancer is confined to the ovary, the five-year survival rate is over 90 percent. That is why it is imperative that the early signs and symptoms of the disease are recognized, not only by women, but also by their families and the medical community.
There is currently no early detection test for ovarian cancer. Pap tests do not detect ovarian cancer. Until there is a test, the key to early diagnosis is awareness. And the key to awareness is knowing the subtle symptoms of ovarian cancer and urging women to take early action and live. Through national programs and local Chapter initiatives, the NOCC’s goal is to make more people aware of the early symptoms of ovarian cancer. In addition, the NOCC provides information to assist the newly diagnosed patient, to provide hope to survivors, and to support caregivers.
The Cut-a-Thon will be between the hours of 4:00PM and 7:00PM at the Toni & Guy Academy at 6 Park Avenue. Their telephone number is 508-756-6060.
They have announced that the following services will be done for discounted prices:
Nails- $10
Make-Up-$10
Hair Cuts- $10
Style Out- Starting at $10
Support a great group of people and a great cause!
For more info on Toni & Guy, check out their web site- www.toniguy.com
If you have been at Worcester Fitness for any length of time you will recognize Tom. He is the guy with the colorful bandannas. If you have not seen him it is because he is there EARLY in the morning. I am not sure but I think he is there before the gym opens.
Tom has been a member of the club for 27 years. When he started the club was called The Worcester Court Club. I have been there for a long time and do not remember the club being called by that name!
Tom works out seven days a week. His week day workouts are about two hours and the weekend workouts last three hours. A typical work out consists of strength and balance training as well as cardio. The heavy ropes are now part of his daily routine.
The many things Tom likes about the club are the increased hours of operation, the upkeep of the equipment, the friendly atmosphere created by the staff and other members, and in his words “of course MacDonald’s Tavern.”
Being in the best possible shape at all times is Tom’s top fitness goal. He is cautious when he works out because he doesn’t want to injure himself.
I asked Tom for some words of wisdom for other members. His said that, “It is proper etiquette to clean up after yourself when working out in the weight rooms. It is a common courtesy to put the weights back after you use them. Chances are your mother does not work at Worcester Fitness so she won’t be there to clean up after you!’
It is great when we have members as faithful as Tom. Tom and other members like him make Worcester Fitness the best club in town!
This summer, warrior-spartan-extreme-adventure style races have popped up all over America, and I want in.
The first person to tell me about one of these muddy 5k’s was a very talented friend of mine who runs (much too fast) for Central Park Track Club. “Full contact,” she informed me. I thought, ‘Ok, new elite running trend. Wish I could keep up.’
Then, I heard it on the radio. Ramiro was raving about the Warrior Dash in Amesbury. “Flaming obstacles!” he said. I thought, ‘Ok, new celeb trend. I need my own reality show.’
Last week, I heard it from my mother. “One of my wild friends talked me into it,” she explained. ‘Ok, if Aquamom can do it, so can I!’
So, I’ve got my eye on the Rugged Maniac race in Southwick, MA on September 24th. How does one begin to train for something like this? The Rugged Maniac website suggests “full-body workouts” and distance running.
Expect to see me at the gym a lot in the coming weeks. As for my boyfriend, who I also signed up to “Climb over walls up to 7’ high, crawl through mud under barbed wire, hop from stump to stump over a pit of water, slide down a 60’ water slide, navigate a web of pipes, jump over fire and face many other challenges,” I say: You’re on your own dear and you’re going down.
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