| CBI Interview |
KR: It was a big adjustment—just than many of the people at the gym Then, obviously, the house—it’s
learning what we could and couldn’t who have full use of their bodies. I also made a huge difference; it just instantly
do. There was a lot of trial and error.
like to swim, to change things up; once changed our lives. Now, everything
Literally, when I first got hurt, I could
I’m in the water, I’m like everyone else. is wide open and accessible. Another
barely sit up for 15 minutes without
And I have a hand cycle that I use about thing: at the time, my daughter was
getting lightheaded. Initially, my goal
four days a week. There aren’t too many
15 months old and was uncomfortable
was just to sit on a table with my feet
things that I can do completely indepen-
with me in the hospital and, then, when
on the ground; I was trying to balance,
dently, but, with the hand cycle, I can
she saw that I was awkward in the old
without any abdominal muscles,
just go out for a ride, by myself, for a
house. The makeover changed things
without falling over. My husband, Tim
few hours. It gives me a huge sense of
between her and me. Once I was more
Pearce, who’s also a police officer, got
independence—the same sense I used
comfortable, she was comfortable—it
one of those workout vests and sewed
to get from running.
brought her back to me.
a bunch of straps onto it, so my trainer
could use it to help support my upper
CBI: Your experience and impres-
CBI: You’ve also become a spokes-
body—that was how we started. My
sive achievements have brought
person for NuStep, Inc., which, in
workouts have progressed, and I’ve
you to the entire country’s atten-
concert with Extreme Makeover,
gotten a lot stronger. One of the biggest
tion. You and your husband were
provided you with one of its recum-
tests was, if I fell out of a chair, being featured on an episode of Extreme
bent steppers, and have become
able to get myself back into the chair— Makeover: Home Edition, which
a prominent speaker on behalf
that took like six months of practice. was seen by more than 13 million
of inclusive fitness. What basic
message will you be sharing with
attendees at the IHRSA convention?
“I’m anxious to get the word out that
KR: The main things I’m going to be
focusing on are, No. 1, the importance
every gym should try to do more than that I feel exercise and fitness play in
simply be ADA-compliant; they also
people’s lives—you know, how important
they were to me before I got hurt; how,
need to have the equipment and be able afterward, they really saved my life; and
to provide the assistance that people
how, now, they’re helping me to continue
pursuing and enjoying my life by keeping
with limitations require.” me physically and mentally strong. It’s
important to prepare yourself, physically,
for the challenges that you’re going to
face tomorrow, and, believe me, every-
Before being injured, there was no way viewers. The producers demol-
one, eventually, faces challenges.
my upper body could have moved my ished and then rebuilt your home
And, No. 2, I’m anxious to get the
entire body, all that dead weight, but to make it handicap-friendly in
word out that every gym should try to do
now I can do full-ups, handle my whole just five days. What was that like?
more than simply be ADA (Americans
bodyweight.
with Disabilities Act)-compliant; they
KR: It was an amazing experience—
also need to have the equipment and
strange and rather surreal. The produc-
be able to provide the assistance that
CBI: What’s your workout regimen ers came to us when I was still in the
people with limitations require. For too
like at this point?
hospital, and said that they’d received
many clubs, compliance means having
KR: I still go to the same Gold’s Gym
a bunch of letters about us. Obviously,
an entrance ramp, and that’s about it.
five days a week, Monday through
we’d never thought that something like
The equipment itself needs to be acces-
Friday, and my trainer and I maintain
this would happen to us. The incredible
sible—wheelchair-friendly; different
a really intense level all of the time.
thing is that they really do it in just five
types of upper-body cardio equipment,
We try to put together a group of exer-
days. The crazy part is that these are
such as upper-body ergometers, should
cises. So, say, for back-and-biceps
just people from the community; they
be offered; and trainers need to have the
days, we’ll take four or five exercises,
don’t even know you, but they’re willing
proper background, or, at the very least,
and then we’ll take another four or
to come out, giving up a week, to do a the extra patience it takes to work—
five exercises, and we keep that circuit
lot of hectic, hard work. It’s wonderful in a cooperative, interactive way—with
going—I’ll do the first group, and then
to witness that sort of selfless love individuals with special needs.
go right into the second group, with coming from people; as police officers, My gym is great, but, for instance,
no rest. I push myself a lot harder we rarely see that. there are two stories, two levels, and
42
Club Business International | MARCH 2010 | www.ihrsa.org
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