We have a world record holder in powerlifting amongst us.
Herb Strange has been lifting for 60 years and has set both national and world records in bench press for his age group (75-79). No stranger on the fitness floor, you can find Herb training at the club for the World Championships in Las Vegas at the beginning of December. Herb is an inspiration, and is one of a core group of power lifters at Midtown.
So what is powerlifting? Is there a difference between powerlifting and weight training? Personal trainer (and dedicated powerlifter) Dylan Briggs has the answers.
Powerlifting involves lifting weights in three attempts: in a squat, in a bench press, and in a dead lift. Competitors can lift raw or equipped (that is, with or without certain supportive equipment).
It doesn’t really differ from weight training or weight lifting. The differences lie in the way the lifter trains. For example, body builders will focus on more reps, lighter weight, and higher volume, and powerlifters will focus on lower reps, heavier weight, and less volume.
Because each person is a little different and has a different approach to what works in training, Dylan suggests that a newcomer to lifting begins with a 3-day-a-week program focusing on the 3 main lifts.
“As with any sport proper technique is crucial, so make sure you practice and have someone knowledgeable critiquing you on form, hand placement, foot placement, etc. because those things will make the difference between a good lift and a bad lift,” says Dylan.
In October, Dylan along with members Liz Cline and Joyce Lynn competed at the Central States Fall Classic Powerlifting competition. In their respective age groups, both Dylan and Liz set state records whilst Joyce set an American record! Well done, all.
Dylan and Liz - October 2011
Who are these lifters?
Liz is a speech-language pathologist who has been a member at Midtown since it opened, and that’s where she met Herb. She played tennis at Fort Hays State University where she started weight lifting. In the past she has done figure competitions. Now she enjoys cycle classes.
Herb and Joyce at her first competition
Joyce also joined Midtown when it opened the athletic side, where she too met Herb. A year ago she started working with Herb and despite breaking her wrist last winter she was still able to compete and set her record!
“The best thing about any competition like this is that it’s just you and the weight and no one else,” says Dylan. “You either lift it or you fail, plain and simple. When you fail you just dig deeper and train harder to overcome it.”
Have you tried powerlifting? Tell us what you think of it!
Thanksgiving is a time to enjoy good company, great meals, and generally relax for a few days.
However, lots of food and relaxation are not particularly conducive to working out and staying fit! So, what can you do to stay on track with your fitness goals during the festive season?
We have special classes on Thursday and Friday, a Fit Tip, and a chance to give.
Thanksgiving Day 11/24/11
We are open from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. However, the Nursery and Snack Bar are closed. Try the new fitness machines, play some tennis with the family, or swim a few laps before sitting down to lunch/dinner.
Want to get your pre-caloric burn on in a class? Here’s what we’re offering on Thanksgiving Day:
Fit Friday 11/25/11
We are open 6:00 am – 6:00 pm, Nursery 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, and Snack Bar 10:00 am – 3:00 pm.
We also have a couple of specials for the day after Thanksgiving: Turkey-Busting Boot Camp for adults and Junior Thanksgiving Camp.
Turkey-Busting Boot Camp 9:00 am – 11:00 am is complimentary to members and guests.
Drill Sergeants Briggs, Rous, and Hannan have prepared a post-Thanksgiving Boot Camp guaranteed to work off those pounds and stay ahead of the game. Sergeant Wiedenfeld will be conducting a Cardio Tennis station for a fun new way to burn Thursday’s casserole calories.
Kids need something to do? Junior Thanksgiving Camp runs from 9:00 – 11:30 am providing tennis, fitness, and lots of fun and games, open to all ages and levels.
For adults on the tennis side we are running:
Here are a few tips that may help you be a little kinder to your bodies over the holiday season from personal trainer Jessica Porter:
Finally, the holidays are also a time of giving.
Midtown is collecting used racquets for the Stephanie Waterman Tennis Foundation. There is a drop-off box at the club for outgrown and unwanted racquets, which will help the foundation’s mission to help at-risk and/or economically disadvantaged children to have a better future through learning to play tennis. You can clear the clutter and help a child. The drop- off box will be available until December 19, 2011.
With our schedule back to normal for Saturday and Sunday, we hope to see you at Midtown sometime over the holiday weekend. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
How are you burning calories over the long holiday weekend?
At age 31, Petra Rampre is playing some of the best tennis of her life. I had the chance to talk to Petra, a seasoned pro on the Ladies Tour, when she was in Kansas City for the Women’s Pro Tennis Classic.
How long have you been playing tennis?
Petra: I started playing tennis at 10 with my family and developed a love of the game. At 14, I moved to Germany by myself and then to the U.S. 13 years ago. I took every opportunity to play tennis and develop my game while spending 8 years in the Atlanta area and more recently in Florida.
What is your typical day like?
Petra: I have tennis practice twice a day at the Club Med Tennis Academy. I include weights as well as running and sprints for training. I follow Vipassana Meditation, where I focus on the connection between the mind and the body. It helps me both on and off the court. With any free time I have I like to go hiking (especially high altitude hikes), biking, basketball, swimming, and watching movies.
At tournaments my day is determined by when and how long my match is. I like to do fitness as well at tournaments. I hit balls for 2 to 3 hours then do 30 minutes of core and quick feet drills, and I jump rope. Then if I have a long match, I just cool down and do stretching. At 31 and playing consistently, I need to stretch often and get the occasional massage.
What is it like on the tour?
Petra: I like tournaments a lot. I am able to travel and have a chance to catch up with old friends (or rivals) and meet new ones. The hardest part is being alone. I don’t have a traveling coach with me. With no one for support and guidance it can be tough on and off the court. At some tournaments I am lucky enough to stay with a family; it is nice to live “a normal life” for a few days.
What is your proudest moment on tour?
Petra: Attending the Wimbledon awards ceremony in 1998. When I reached the junior doubles final, the Duke and Duchess of Kent were watching.
How have you kept going?
Petra: I am consistent with my practice and training routine. Tennis gives me freedom, the ability to travel to different places and it puts food on my table. I don’t know where I would be if it wasn’t for tennis.
What would you say to our aspiring juniors?
Petra: Be patient and persevere. Work on fitness because that is a great base. On court be positive, play in the moment. If you hit a bad shot let it go and move on. Never be content what’s “good enough.”
Any retirement plans?
Petra: No, not yet. 2011 has been a very good year, probably one of the best in last 15 years. I have been able to almost halve my ranking from 380 to 206. Highlights have been 2 wins, and I’ve been a finalist and a semifinalist. This year I was lucky enough to play in the US Open qualifying matches. I won my first match but lost the second, I was happy considering the last time I was playing in the US Open was 11 years ago.
Our season is long with 20-25 tournaments. It keeps us busy. Next year I am planning on going to the Australian Open qualifying matches and playing in more WTA events.
Thank you, Petra!
Our front desk associates are known for providing warm, welcoming smiles, remembering members’ names, and their readiness to help.
Greg Oborny has been working at the front desk for the past 21 years, long before we were Midtown Athletic Club. That is a lot of Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings.
Who is this guy behind the smile?
Greg serves as the principal of Regency Place Elementary in Olathe, Kansas, a school with a population of 586 students. He’s been known to answer the phone, “Midtown Racquet Club, may I help you?” while at school, something which greatly amuses his secretary!
An avid tennis player, Greg played the Thursday night men’s 4.0 singles league for nearly 18 years. At one point he had a two-year winning streak. (Thanks, Tim Smith, for stopping the insanity!). He is pictured here playing singles during USTA HOA District Championships 2010.
His tennis idol is Chris Evert, after whom he patterns his game and approach to life:
Attending the 2011 US Open was one of the most thrilling experiences of Greg’s life. He was able to see Roddick, Serena, Nadal, Fish, Ivanovic, Tipsaravic, Schiavone and lots of world-class doubles as well as junior players. Other than walking on the grounds of Wimbledon, the US Open was his first Grand Slam.
Greg says, “It was life-changing! Motivating! Inspiring! It makes you appreciate WHY you play the game.”
Greg is known for his fitness. Only his trainer (Slayton Rous) and tennis pro (Kevin Torline) know his weaknesses! Shhhhhhh! (Just make him volley or use that darn ab incline machine where the blood rushes to the head!)
If he’s not working out, playing tennis, working late at school, or working the Midtown front desk, you might find him practicing music as he’s a church organist/pianist. If it is Wednesday night or Saturday morning, be sure to stop by and say hi to Greg!
Slayton was the first trainer hired at our club. In the last two years, he has seen us morph from a tennis club into a full-service tennis and fitness center.
Here, Slayton talks about his background, the evolution of our club, and how a fitness floor-phobic tennis player might make the bold first step into a new workout routine.
What types of sports did you participate in while growing up?
I was a very active kid. You could always find me on my bike riding somewhere. I was involved in baseball, basketball, wrestling, football, soccer, track, and dance until middle school. From middle school on, I was involved in football, wrestling, baseball, powerlifting and track.
I was a state qualifier in wrestling and received 4th place at state in powerlifting. I went on to play football in college for a semester until injuries took me out. I powerlifted on my own, competing in many events and qualifying for collegiate nationals. I also have competed in mountain bike races.
When did you get the desire to go into personal training?
I knew I always wanted to be a coach and teacher. After tearing my ACL and breaking my wrist in sports, I had the chance to work with some great physical therapists, which led me to pursue a degree in Pre-Physical Therapy. I changed my degree to Health Promotion once I went to Emporia State University. Personal training never even crossed my mind until one day I was working out in the gym and the recreation director at ESU came up to me and ask me about my experience with coaching and what my major was. I started personal training soon after that and this led me to where I am today.
As our first personal trainer, how has the fitness floor changed in the last two years?
The fitness center has changed a lot. We have a lot of new equipment and are still getting more. This is the ideal place to be a personal trainer with the floor plan we have. Our equipment is spread out so that you could train in about any corner and never get in the way of anyone. We also have the nice functional room where we can work more with small apparatus, like the TRX bands, ladders, and small hurdles.
What is your personal fitness target for this year?
That’s a great question. I am always telling people to set goals but I rarely set goals for myself. I really enjoy exercise and I like to try new things all the time. I enjoy staying fit and healthy and that’s my goal. I would like to stay injury-free so that I can continue to coach and educate people as well as take care of myself and do the things I love.
What would you say to someone like me who is afraid of going on the fitness floor?
You do not have to be an athlete to be fit, and you do not have to do everything the person next to you is doing.
Be smart about what you are doing. Learn why you are doing or not doing something before you start a program that you read in a magazine or online. Keep your workout simple so that you will enjoy it and continue to do it. Work on form and fundamentals before you work on any other goals.
Thanks, Slayton.
Do you have a question you would like to ask Slayton?
Have you ever been to a dance, party, or wedding and watched others glide across the floor? Do you have a partner who refuses to get his or her groove on?
Midtown is offering beginner swing dance classes on Friday nights starting in October. This class is designed for newbies to introduce you to the fun world of dancing.
Dancing is now seen as an activity for the general public. We have to thank television shows such as “Dancing with the Stars” and “So You Think You Can Dance” and movies such as “Mad Hot Ballroom” and “Shall We Dance” for helping to create this media phenomenon.
Teaching these classes is Emily Copeland.
As person of diverse interests, she combines her passions and education for a unique perspective on dance, personal training, group exercise, and healthy living.
Here’s the 411 on Emily:
Midtown Swing Night is an introduction to East Coast Swing.
You’ll learn:
Each class will begin with a short warm up, review of the previous classes steps, and an introduction of at least one new pattern.
Learning to dance can be not only fun but also a great way to burn calories. One hour of moderate ballroom dancing will burn on average of 270 calories!
Mark your calendars for Friday September 30th at 5:30 – 6:30 pm for a fun, complimentary dance class. Once you try it, you will want to sign up for the October session! What better place to try something new than at Midtown amongst your friends.
Don’t know what to wear? Something comfortable. If you don’t have non-marking shoes, you can just bring a pair of socks to slip on for the class.
See you there!
Lines?
What lines?
If you’ve played tennis here since the beginning of August you have probably seen faint blue lines on the courts (if you haven’t seen them, be sure to look now!).
If you look hard enough the lines themselves look a little like marks left by sticky tape, but they are much more important than that.
These lines are marking out the short courts for junior tennis as part of the new USTA initiative to help the Junior Development program. The Junior Development program has been successfully running at our club for the past 6 years using QST methodology, also used throughout the other Midtown clubs across the country.
Why do we need these extra lines?
Tennis is a game for life, but it can be difficult to learn for kids 10 and under, especially when they are starting out on a full-sized court with regular tennis balls.
What is the methodology behind the “Quick Start” format, also known as “10 and Under Tennis“?
This summer USTA Junior Team Tennis (JTT) Heart of America used the Quick Start format for their under 10 players. The duels between other local clubs were based on both doubles and singles play with 4 game sets, best of 3 sets with a tie break in the event of the first 2 sets being split.
The exciting news is Midtown’s JTT team recently became the 10 and under Heart of America District Championsplaying this format! Congratulations to: Sam Rydberg-Cox, William Wang, Owen Vander Ark, Hannah Tadros, Payton Carlson, and Lauren Reddin!
JTT is awesome for our kids many of whom are multi-sport athletes. This approach gives them a great introduction to the world of competitive tennis. Tennis is often an individual sport and being able to play it in a team setting provides great social interaction too. By next summer we will have at least 2 teams, as well as an “8 and under” team playing on the red court (36 foot court with a red ball).
The team also demonstrated their skills on the 60 ft court at a KC Explorers match this summer, in front of 1,500 people and under bright lights!
To make the most of this new idea, our tennis pros have been to Chicago for training to ensure we are making best use of the technology. So the next time you walk on court, or are staring at that ball from your opponent to see if it really was out, take a look at the “blended lines” that are now on all courts – they are there to help our juniors develop into great tennis players!
Want to sign up your child for lessons in our top-rated Junior Development Program?
Check out the schedule on our home page.
Is your child taking tennis lessons at the club? What do you think of the program?
Whether it’s a favorite shampoo brand, the way we take our coffee, or the tried and true route we take to work, we all like what we are used to because it is comfortable and we know what to expect. For better or for worse, this also applies to our workouts.
In recent discussions with our trainers, the importance of cross training came up. As an avid tennis player, I would rather be on-court working on my strokes and running after a ball than doing anything else in the club.
Kendra Harbaugh, one of our Pilates Instructors, decided to take up tennis and joined the TNT class. I then decided to try something new as well.
Full disclosure: The only time I am on the club floor is to take photos.
However, after hearing about the benefits of cross-training from Kendra, I opted to try a group exercise class. I was a bit apprehensive, as I didn’t want anything to impact my ability to play tennis every day.
I chose Kendra’s Pilates Mat Class. Kendra told me that Pilates could help my tennis game by stabilizing the large muscle groups through small muscle involvement. She ensured me that we would work to increase my core strength, which would ultimately help me play better tennis. Entering the Group Ex room filled me with fear, but within minutes I was relaxed.
With 10+ hours per week on-court, I thought my legs were in good shape. We were doing simple leg lifts, but I felt all my muscles engage as I counted down from 20. Not only was I working my inner thighs, but also my obliques and my abs. I tend to hold my breath during exercise, and this class taught me the importance of breathing properly. Fortunately for me, Kendra offered varying levels of exercises for those of us who are “core-challenged.”
Our Pilates Mat Classes are offered on Thursday at 6:30pm with Kendra and Wednesday at 10:00 am with Emily or Mandy.
I was pleasantly surprised to find how quickly the time passed. Before I knew it we had gone through a series of leg and ab workouts. Maybe Group Ex isn’t so scary after all. I’ll be back to Pilates Mat next Thursday at 6:30pm.
Which class would you like me to blog about next?
It is hard for new members to get a grasp of all the things that Midtown offers, but there are also things that long-time members might not know as well. My curiosity led me on a quest to find out our best-kept secrets.MORE
