Geared Up Issue 1 2018 | Page 18

Recognitions ECP-PF Holdings Group Helps Local Woman Drop 235 Pounds I n 2010, Planet Fitness® member Annamarie Rivera stepped on the scale and was appalled by what she saw. Weighing roughly 400 pounds, Rivera decided at that moment to change her life for the better and get a gym membership. At the beginning of her weight-loss journey, Rivera would visit the Planet Fitness in Trumbull, Connecticut, twice a day, once in the early morning around 4 a.m. and again after work around 5 p.m. Now Rivera is down 235 pounds and comes to Planet Fitness on the weekends as well. “One thing I can say is that a lot of members always stopped Annamarie to ask her for advice; she’s like the mayor of our PF® Trumbull location,” said Jon Garcia, regional manager with ECP-PF Holdings Group. “I personally was very impressed with the dedication she brought into our location.” Rivera starts her workouts with a heavy dose of cardio and goes straight into strength exercises. Jon Garcia describes Rivera as dedicated, ambitious and inspiring; all traits that Rivera radiates throughout her journey. “The staff and I would, at times, mention her success on our tours, and she would often praise Planet Fitness to our potential members,” said Garcia. G Since first joining PF in 2010, Rivera has dropped 235 pounds and continues to keep pushing forward. Members Train for 100-Mile Endurance Run at Planet Fitness H 16 ard work, dedication and hours of training at Planet Fitness® is what got Kasey Kerley and Hannah Anthony-Mitchell ready for the Yeti 100-Mile Endurance Run. Last fall, the duo competed in the 100-mile foot race along the Virginia Creeper Trail in southwest Virginia, but the success of finishing the race didn’t come without much preparation. In the weeks and months leading up to the race, Kerley and Mitchell spent several long nights at a PF® in Iredell County, North Carolina, training for the race, which takes some runners over 20 hours to complete. Kerley has been a member of Planet Fitness since the spring of 2016 and often brings Mitchell in as a guest to accompany her for workouts and training. “Kasey does cardio when she comes in,” said Melanie Shumaker, general manager for the PF location, which is owned by Frank Kindler’s Argonne. “She typically runs and does the stair climber for about 45 minutes to an hour.” While an hour may not seem like an excessive workout, Kerley and Mitchell would sometimes run for an entire night while preparing for the endurance race, and Shumaker describes the duo as being incredibly inspiring, driven and energetic. “Kasey has proven that you can do anything you set your mind to,” said morning supervisor Kayla Madison. “Kasey and Hannah’s race was both inspiring and empowering to woman of all ages. Not only is it inspiring physically but mentally, showing us to never give up and that we can succeed.” G