ATTENTION ATHLETES

NSS IS NOW SIGNING UP ATHLETES FOR THE SUMMER STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING PROGRAM.

LET US KNOW TODAY IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SETTING YOURSELF APART FROM THE REST!!

“I decided to work with NSS to get some core body strength and balance back.  I had noticed a decline in my strength and balance as I grew older. I wanted to learn the strength training exercises from a “live” professional one on one rather than by DVD.  They listened to what I wanted to change and worked with me to learn the exercises.  There was always good advice on what to do next and the push to increase the weights was challenging but it proved I could do it.  I feel much better and my clothes fit better.  It was well worth the time invested!”

Pat K.

“With my desk being positioned right outside the Well(the gym at Tastefully Simple) I’ve watched NSS trainers working with Tastefully Simple team members for two years. Over time I saw enough results to motivate me to sign up and train with NSS. I’ve learned how to get in shape, and stay in shape, as I enter into the golden years. They say you need to keep your body moving, so that’s what I’m doing thanks to Noonan Sport Specialists. Their services not only help me to stay younger but keep me feeling  good about getting in shape and staying there!”

Gail S.

“I had never worked with a personal trainer before and was really nervous about my first session.  However, after the first session I immediately knew Dustin was nothing but professional and truly concerned about my goals, well being, and abilities.  I went into the sessions as a person who didn’t exercise, or at least not on a regular basis, and he took that into consideration when starting to get me into a routine.

I am amazed at how far I’ve come from where I started.  Those small baby steps, that I didn’t even realize, when Dustin was switching up my routine were moving me closer and closer to my goals.

At the start of each session, he would ask how I was doing and was truly concerned about my answer.  He would ask how I felt after the last session to ensure I was not aching or hurting anywhere in order to adjust my workout if needed.

I can’t begin to tell you how helpful, kind, professional, and knowledgeable Dustin is.  It’s not just about exercise, it’s about lifestyle changes and overall well-being.  Exercise is just one piece of it.  He helped to hold me accountable in regard to my nutrition, sleeping, and exercise habits.  Bottom line – Do It!!  You WILL feel better and look Great!”

Quick Stats:

Weight lost: 21.8 pounds

Inches lost: 12 5/8″  (including 8 1/2″ off her waist and 3 1/4″ off her hips)

“After carrying thirty “pregnancy pounds” around for 6 years, my body began to feel the effects of this additional weight, namely through intense knee pain, locking up of joints, and a general sense of fatigue. 

For 2 ½ years I worked by myself to lose the weight, combining exercise videos and a low carb diet.  I succeeded in losing 20 pounds by myself, but hit a plateau where I just couldn’t seem to lose any more weight.

That’s when I began working with Noonan Sport Specialists.  They have helped me lose an additional 15 pounds – 5 more pounds than my original goal!  A combination of training with kettlebells and cardiovascular exercise, along with dietary recommendations (that included eating carbs!), helped me to attain a fitness level I never dreamed possible.

I have gone from my knees locking up when I walked up the stairs to being able to run for 60 minutes straight with no pain!  I am in better shape as a 38 year old than I was as a teenager, all thanks to Noonans.”

Quick stats:

Weight lost – 15 pounds

Inches lost – 11 inches (including 4 1/2 off waist)

Noonan Sport Specialists adds new trainer Charlie Woida to work in Alexandria facility.

 Alexandria, MN (April 26, 2010) – Noonan Sport Specialists (NSS) is proud to announce the addition of a new trainer at their Alexandria strength and conditioning facility. Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Charlie Woida will be joining co-owners Mike Hawes and Dustin Schlichting starting June 2010.

Charlie, originally from Eagle Bend, MN, graduated from Northern State University with a bachelors degree in fitness management and continued on to earn his masters degree in exercise science from North Dakota State University in 2008. Charlie will be assuming the position of Director of Sports Performance for Noonan Sport Specialists at their main facility on Hawthorne Street in downtown Alexandria. Charlie’s responsibilities will include programming, implementing and administrating the athletic enhancement programs.

An avid baseball player himself, Charlie’s work experience includes two seasons with the San Diego Padres, working with minor league teams in Lake Elsinore, CA and San Antonio, TX. Charlie’s experience as a strength and conditioning coach at the university level has taken him all around the United States including North Dakota State University (NDSU), Indiana University-Purdue University of Indianapolis (IUPUI), University of Minnesota, and Colorado State University.  At the collegiate level Charlie has worked with nearly every sport imaginable.

Located at 503 Hawthorne St. Suite 145 in downtown Alexandria, Noonan Sport Specialists is a 4,000 square-foot, year-round training facility which caters to all levels of athletes from youth sports to collegiate players.

Over Easter weekend my wife, dog and I traveled back to my hometown of Ottertail. I love getting back there to the lake and woods of my childhood. This particular trip was especially enjoyable. Not only did I get to see all of my family for the holiday but I had a chance to create some homemade strength equipment. 

I was talking with Steve before I left for the weekend about equipment we could use at NSS and he mentioned he would love to have a strongman log. So I figured I wasn’t going to get a much better chance to build one than when I went home, to the woods, for Easter. 

With a lot of help from my dad Dave, we were able to get the log finished, minus the handles, in about five hours. We started by heading out to find an appropriate piece of wood, something about 10 inches in diameter and 6 feet long. In short time we came across a red oak tree that had already fallen. Luckily this one had snagged in another tree so it had started drying but wasn’t on the ground rotting.

After dragging the log from the woods we began stripping the bark. Bark removed, the next step was to start cutting handle holes. We used a combination of chainsaw, hatchet and grinder to notch out the holes. This step took by far the longest, we had to be careful not to cut too deeply as well as keep our cuts even for both handle holes.

Some sanding to smooth out the log and we were ready to ship it over to Neil, Dustin’s dad, for some custom welded handles. As he always does with our NSS projects, Neil did a great job creating, fitting, and securing the handles.

Less than one week later the 115-pound log was completed and we were ready to test it out. After test number one…lets just say it does the trick! For more photos of the log at work visit our Facebook fan page.

Noonan Sport Specialists recently launched their very own Facebook page and would love nothing more than to have you as a fan!

Follow the link to become a fan of NSS and check out new pictures, see upcoming events, and post your own training pictures and videos!

Stephanie with her medal.

NSS is proud to congratulate and welcome back Stephanie Heseltine. Stephanie completed the Disney Princess Half Marathon on Sunday March, 7th. Finishing with a time of 2:22:00.

She did a fantastic job training and preparing for her first ever half marathon. As stated by Stephanie after the race  ”once I started running it was like my body knew what it was supposed to do”. That is one of the luxuries of a quality training program. When your body is prepared for your event it’s as simple as showing up on race day and letting all the hard work kick in and enjoying the moment.

Preparing for a half marathon can be difficult as there are many different aspects to consider. It becomes an even greater challenge when you throw in work and family life on top of training. Luckily, Stephanie has an enormous support group starting with her family (whom all but one member participated in race events at Disney) and continues with her friends and co-workers.

Congratulations Stephanie!

Dustin

While on vacation in Jamaica last week I was able to experience one of the most interesting runs I have ever been on. After 5 days of sitting on the beach eating and drinking as many calories as I wanted I was anxious to get active again.

Antonio and I after the run back at the resort.

Knowing I didn’t want to go off the resort and into the city of Montego Bay alone (reasons being getting lost and my own personal safety) I started asking around the resort for employees who were runners and would be willing to guide me on a run. After a few dead ends I met up with Antonio, a hotel worker who himself enjoys running, and he agreed to help me out. We met in the lobby after his shift finished at 5 p.m.

We jumped in his car and drove through Jamaican rush hour traffic for forty minutes to a MegaMart, the Jamaican equivalent of Wal-Mart, but with a shotgun toting guard posted outside the

Sign warning drivers about leaving cars parked in the MegaMart lot.

front doors.  This was the best place to leave the car while we were gone. We ran inside, grabbed a few bottles of water for the run and were on our way.

Our first maneuver was to cross a bustling 4 lane road. I learned that in Jamaica as long as you don’t get ran over it doesn’t matter where you cross the road, no matter how busy.  As we made our way on the 5 mile out and back we passed by huge cruise ships blowing their final boarding calls, large factories where men finished with their shifts were outside playing soccer, Jamaican gated communities, a massive resort under construction, and down a deserted gravel road riddled with abandoned cars.

While running, Antonio, a 22 year old school teacher by trade but currently working for the hotel tourism department, did a fantastic job explaining where we were, what I was looking at and giving me a truly unique view of the tourism capital of Jamaica.

One of the roads we ran along.

We made our way back to the car after dark but before we went back to the resort Antonio had a few errands to run. We headed deep into a neighborhood of Montego Bay. As narrow and busy as the roads were we still made very good time. As Antonio would tell me later, Jamaicans do two things, talk fast and drive fast.

As we drove deeper and deeper into the neighborhood I got a true look at inner city Jamaican culture. A bustling area riddled with uniform clad primary school students heading home, stray dogs roaming, and something being sold on every corner.

Our last destination was to a Montego Bay dead end road. As we got to the end of the road Antonio parked and to my surprise, shut the car off.  Getting out of the car I realized why Antonio had taken me here. Although unspoken Antonio had picked up from me during our run that I wanted to truly see Jamaica, not just a tourist’s view of the city. His errand running was more of a favor to me than a necessity to him. As I looked one direction I could see ocean waves crashing up on the rocks, another direction displayed the distant lights of the airport, another turn revealed university dormitories filled with Jamaican students and behind, back by the parked car, were local Jamaicans listening to rap and reggae music doing what they do best… enjoying life. Right then and there I truly realized how lucky I was, not many tourists are able to travel to the areas of the city I had, able to get a first hand view.

Getting back to the resort (45 minutes later than my wife expected me…she was worried) in short time I parted ways with Antonio but it will be a long time before I forget this remarkable experience.

 Mike