GOAT Training celebrates a decade of fitness by giving back
Take part in the 20-minute Max Meter Team Bike Challenge for The Cycle Effect on Tuesday
The Cycle Effect/Courtesy photo
GOAT Training is celebrating its 10th anniversary doing something that it does best: helping others. The Edwards-based gym whose name, GOAT, is the acronym for Greatest Of All Time — a phrase often associated with athletes who have reached the peak of physical success — holds the value of community in high regard and strives to teach their clients that fitness is more than climbing a mountain, it’s building connection.
“From the beginning, our gym has always been about community and stepping outside of ourselves. Our members come from all walks of life — from restaurant servers and nurses to millionaires and ski bums. But in our space, everyone is on the same playing field: we’re all here to get stronger and embrace the outdoors for as long as we can,” said owner John Mark Seelig.
To help celebrate this milestone anniversary, GOAT Training will be doing a fundraiser for The Cycle Effect.
“As we celebrate our 10th anniversary, we wanted to make sure the focus wasn’t just on us. Instead, we felt it was more fitting to collaborate with one of our partners, The Cycle Effect, and celebrate them as well. We are hosting The Cycle Effect Challenge because it has been a tradition for us each year around this time, so it only seemed natural to continue that tradition and honor the incredible work they do alongside our own,” Seelig said.
The Cycle Effect was founded in 2010 by Brett Donelson and his wife, Tamara Donelson. The Cycle Effect empowers women and girls through biking, using the bike as a tool to teach transferable life skills and promote fun outside. When the nonprofit isn’t training outside, it can be found at the GOAT gym.
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“GOAT runs super fun and challenging team workouts every Friday and Saturday. We took the team concept on a stationary bike and turned it into a fun, community-oriented event to raise money for our young women,” Brett Donelson said.
On Tuesday, sign up for a 20-minute Max Meter Team Bike Challenge, which is being offered throughout the day. Teams of four can sign up in different categories to do a 20-minute team bike challenge that can be as relaxed or intense as they want. For those not wanting to get on a bike, they can come watch, enjoy a beverage and cheer on teams. The funds will go directly to supporting the young women at The Cycle Effect and their equipment needs like bikes, helmets, gloves and more.
“It will be tough — you’ll probably push yourself harder than you would on your own — but that’s what makes it so special. It’s an opportunity to discover just what you’re truly capable of,” Seelig said.
“We’re so grateful that GOAT Training decided to support us during their 10th anniversary celebration,” Donelson said. “Tam and I have worked out with GOAT Training since the beginning. They are good friends, amazing trainers and have built an amazing community that we love to be a part of. This year, they have donated their facilities to allow The Cycle Effect to run programming there. They love our community and we love theirs!”
When Seelig, who started GOAT Training with his wife, fellow fitness expert, Laura Seelig, reflects on the decade and the years building up to its beginning in 2015, the philosophy behind GOAT Training still rings true.
“Over the years, our methods and programming have evolved, but one thing has remained constant: our belief in meeting people where they are,” he said. “We understand that living here isn’t easy for everyone. Some people move to this area driven by a passion for the outdoors, only to find that injuries or a loss of strength and power prevent them from performing at the level they once could. When outdoor pursuits become out of reach, it can lead to feelings of loneliness and a lack of purpose. Connection matters. When you workout with others, you become more motivated and more accountable. In our space, you’ll find people who will push and inspire you in positive ways.”
Push yourself while giving back and become part of the community by participating in The Cycle Effect’s Challenge on Tuesday. For more information and to sign up, go to TheCycleEffect.org/events. To learn more about GOAT Training, visit GOATTraining.com.
