At our club, we think of tennis as an indoor game, but in reality, most tennis matches are played outside. The question of how to transition to outdoor tennis comes up every year. I talked to Eric Nelson, Adult Tennis Coordinator, 
about how to adjust to wind, sun, and other distractions of outdoor tennis.
Spring has arrived and the great outdoors is waiting to welcome you with blue skies, swirling winds, and honking horns. How are you supposed to adjust to all of those obstacles?
I’m not going to lie to you; it’s going to be ugly the first few times you step outdoors. The sky will swallow every high ball. The winds will make the ball dance like Baryshnikov. Just remember that your opponent is playing in exactly the same conditions, so don’t panic. Patience and practice will help you overcome your fears and hesitations.
Here are a few tips to handle the elements while playing outdoor tennis:
Be patient and aware at all times of any changes in the elements. If you make better adjustments than your opponent, you have a great chance of taking the “W” in the end.
Front desk associate 
Shari Hockenbery is a tennis player. Tennis runs in Shari’s blood. She’s taught at John Newcombe tennis camps and more recently on a USTA team that competed at Nationals.
But there is more to Shari than tennis.
Shari has become an avid runner.
I recently sat down with Shari to learn what inspired her move off the courts and onto the pavement.
Marichi: Why did you take up running?
Shari: Running is therapy for my soul, my alone time, my break from reality. It’s also great endurance training for tennis. I also have a weight-training class with personal trainer Dylan and the girls, which is great for leg and core strength. It’s a win-win for heart health, physical health, and overall conditioning too.
Yes, I’m a better tennis player because of all the cross-training. But you know what? Running is great for emotional health, too.
Marichi: How are the two sports different for you?
Shari: Unlike tennis, which is a roller coaster of joy and frustration, there is no “loser” in running. Life for me right now is like the 16th mile of the New York City Marathon (my favorite race of all time): one mile straight uphill on the Queensboro Bridge! Since the year 2000, I’ve run three full marathons, 14 half-marathons, and countless shorter races. Not one time, in any of those races, did running ever fail to lift my spirits.
Marichi: Which particular race has been your most memorable so far?
Shari: I doubt that any race can beat the perfection of the NYC Marathon for me. I ran it surrounded by some of my best friends, on my 50th birthday, celebrating my 20th wedding anniversary, and both my boys were there to watch the race and hug me at the finish. Some things you just can’t top!
Marichi: What’s next for you?
Shari: I’m looking forward to another year of running. The Ragnar Relay in Key West is this weekend, and the Lincoln Marathon in May. I keep hoping that I’ll get to the top of that uphill climb and not only be a better athlete but also a better person, too.
Thanks, Shari! Good luck this weekend.
New to exercise? A seasoned fitness enthusiast? The new year is almost upon us, and there are plenty of ways your Midtown membership can contribute to a revitalized fitness routine.
New Equipment
Our fitness floor has recently received FreeMotion weights, specifically their top-of-the-line product,“The Epic.” The club now has 20 Keiser Bikes (for cycling classes) in the Cycle Studio, and a new Techno Gym in the function room. If you haven’t checked out this state-of-the-art equipment, please contact one of our personal trainers. They would be happy to take you through an orientation.
New Classes
For the group ex enthusiast, why not try something new? In addition to Yoga, Body Pump, and Zumba, we have Total Body Conditioning, Step, Cardio & Strength Conditioning, mat Pilates and Kickboxing. We have also introduced a Boot Camp in response to our members who enjoyed our “one off” group ex bootcamp over Thanksgiving.
Boot Camp takes places on Thursday nights at 5:30pm and Saturday mornings at 8:00am in the Group Ex room. You can expect a high-intensity, total-body workout. Most of the class will be without weights, using your body for pushups, lunges, squats, plyometrics and core work. We’d love to see you there. The more the merrier!
Crossing over from tennis to fitness? Slayton offers a tennis fitness class that combines the challenges of TRX and the tennis-specific footwork. This class not only improves your core strength, but also looks at balance and weight transference to help court mobility.
“New to You” Classes
Want to add some time in our pool? If you don’t like lane swimming how about trying our Aqua Fit class on Wednesday nights? You can bring the kids to the pool during family swim times on Fridays and Sundays. Our heated pool will be just the place to escape our winters and remind us of the summer that is coming.
Are you a fitness person wanting to try tennis? We have a cardio tennis class just for you. Jump Start Cardio is an intro-level tennis cardio class to get you moving to music on the tennis court! Once you start, you will be hooked and ready for either Cardio Tennis or Game Building Cardio Tennis. Both are set to music. Cardio Tennis uses transition balls and Game Building will use yellow balls. Did you know an average female will burn 400 – 600 calories per hour and a male 600 – 800 calories per hour? These are both great workouts!
The New Year is a time when many of us make resolutions about our overall fitness and wellbeing but, let’s face it, often times these fall by the wayside by the end of January! Trying something new is a good way to maintain the interest and keep going with your resolutions!
Please try one of our new classes and Happy New Year!
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?
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!
