Rob Gardenier
WAC Member Since: 2007
My Story:
My story at the WAC may be familiar to many members. Every member of the WAC has a story of goals, resolutions and hoped for accomplishments. These stories have much in common even though each is unique. I believe that each of us is driven to maintain, improve our physical and mental well-being. For some, their drive alone compelled to them seek and often achieve their goals singlehandedly. For other members, the goal alone was not compelling enough to get us in the door often enough to have a realistic chance of success. For those, we needed outside guidance.
I had belonged to various health clubs on and off for nearly 30 years. In the early ‘80’s, I had even been a member of the WAC when the WAC was defined by just 2 things - racquetball and a magnificent bar!
Rough Start:
Work and family slowly eroded my workout habits. After the WAC opened on the North Shore – just a half-mile from our house, my lovely wife, Sandi joined – and began with a Personal trainer – Nikki Wille. Soon Sandi gave me a birthday gift of a few personal training sessions. Since these sessions required appointments, it required a certain commitment to get off of the couch! My first session was truly ugly. You can easily forget how far south you can go when your exercise routine is random and generally unfocused. The fact that I continued to go was even more amazing. Week after week for more than three years, Nikki cajoled, pressed, pushed, encouraged and mentored, my workouts. The results are physically apparent, the self-confidence enhanced. Adding a bit of muscle here, taking away some fat over there, reducing my resting heart rate, waistline, helping to control my blood pressure.
I Thought my Running Days were Over:
In late February of this year I had been looking for new options for exercise. Running was a possible option. But I had though my running days were long gone since I could only run a mile or so without some significant pain in my legs. However, after some ‘consultation’, my trainer came to the rescue. With a quick, “I can fix that”, Nikki proscribed certain stretching exercises to solve this problem.
1 week later, I was running 2 -3 miles on the treadmill. In less than 3 weeks, I was running 6 miles. I had begun to think that perhaps, my 57 year old body could reach a bit and do something that I thought was clearly impossible just a month or so earlier – run a half marathon. This was an amazing challenge that I decided to try. With Nikki’s solid backing and encouragement and a momentary loss of sanity - in just 6 weeks of training, I successfully ran the half-marathon on May 1st! And ended with a time in the top quarter of the finishers. Running the half was emotionally energizing in a way that gave me the confidence to run in the Lakefront marathon this fall. Now empowered with a 20-week training plan from Jen Zdroik – Personal trainer and Princess extraordinaire of Running FIT. 26.2 miles is a very long way. I don’t know how I will finish – but I know that the encouragement and gentle pushes from Nikki and Jen – that I will FINISH. My goal next year is to compete in a Triathlon!
Personal Trainer was the Key:
Personal trainers are not just for those that wish to reach new heights or compete if some future IronMan. Anyone can figure out how to lift a weight. Most of the machines are intuitive and easy to use. Yet having a personal trainer – even occasionally, lets you tap into their deep knowledge of what can work for you, how you should do it, and do it while avoiding injury. A Personal Trainer will increase your interest in exercising, make your routines efficient and safe, and show you methods you never knew existed. In short – every Trainer can show you how to make your membership more worthwhile. The WAC Personal trainers are for each of us, no matter your ability, challenge, age, - since each of them are highly trained – Trained in improving what you wish, where you can, when you are able.
Thank you WAC:
My deep appreciation for Nikki, - who I can call a friend. And also for other Personal trainers that have helped me along the way; Sara Ashenden, Jen Zdroik, Melissa Churchill. And I can’t forget the terrific front desk - always ready to help or lend a kind word.
Rob Gardenier
