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.
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?
