A BIG thank you to Riverfront Federal Credit Union for being the Title Sponsor for our 2nd Annual Call To Action Challenge on October 28th! Riverfront has proven to be a dedicated supporter of First Responders and the Badge 27 Program here at Corps Fitness. We thank them for their generous support of all that we do to help serve the first responders who protect all of us!
We hope you are getting your team of 4 together!!! This is shaping up to be a great day!!! Stay tuned as many new announcements about the Challenge continue to roll in!
What a day!!
Another fun filled weekend with festive Easter classes and the inaugural In Game Marathon/10k at the Reading Fightin Phils! 4 person teams completed 58 1/2 mile laps for the marathon and 13 laps for the 10k. Different kind of running race with traversing around the stadium with spectators cheering once the game was underway. Festive atmosphere we plan to replicate again!
Thank you to Kelly Haldeman A Running Start - West Reading Isaiah Danner and all of our volunteers for making the day run ever so smoothly! Penn State Health St. Joseph - Reading, PA
From the pages of “I’d never be able to handle your schedule!” comes another weekly update on the activities of Chris Kaag. Doing more in one week than most do in a year!
Did you see this national article by Fox News - a huge shout out to all we’re doing here in Berks County!! Click the photo below to be linked to the article:
Attending Berks Catholic’s Career Day this Friday
Indoctrination of IM ABLE / Corps Fitness principles with Alvernia students at Hogan Learning Academy
All Out In Berks - Volunteers Needed
We’re in need of volunteers for the All Out In Berks competition we’re hosting on April 1st. The event will run from about 8 AM - 1 PM, and will be a fun time encouraging some awesome athletes and seeing some incredible feats of athleticism! A bunch of other local gyms are participating, so it’ll be a great way to meet some others who share your passion for fitness. If you’re in, sign up at the front desk today! If you have questions or would like to volunteer, email Melissa. We have a few more team slots open, so spread the word and sign up today if you want a spot!
Landon Weaver Fundraiser
After the AOIB, grab a bite to eat and support a family in need. A fundraiser for fallen PA State Trooper Landon Weaver will be held at Clinger’s at the Airport on April 1.
April Challenge
Our April attendance challenge is gearing up!! See the previous post for more details. A lot of names are on the sign-up sheet already - be sure to add your name to the list before the challenge begins!
CrossFit Open
The CrossFit Open workouts are a great way to sharpen your skills at recognizing good and bad movements / reps. One more workout remains in the Open, to be released Thursday evening at 8 PM. If you’ve got a little time to spare after Friday PM class, Saturday 9:15, Sunday, or Monday’s PM class, please stick around!
Nutrition Seminar
We’re hosting a nutrition seminar with Weik Nutrition April 5th at 6:45 PM. Pre-registration is required; at least 10 atttendees needed to hold the seminar. See previous post for more detail.
In-game run with the Fightins!
Get a team together and run with Corps Fitness and the Reading Fightins during the game on April 15th. More details in yesterday’s post!
Got the Nerve Triathlon
A great race for beginners and seasoned athletes, Got the Nerve takes place May 20th this year in beautiful Mt Gretna, PA. Not interested in racing? Consider volunteering your time - locally in Wyomissing May 17th / 18th, or at the race site May 19th / 20th. This is a great event for HS students to gain some community service hours, as well! More info and links are available at gotthenerve.org
Free Intro and Ongoing Open Gym Times
The next FREE INTRO will be Saturday 3/25 at 9:15 AM with Chris
Open gym times are continuing thanks to our PSU student trainers!
We have added:
Mon-Fri 6:30am - 1pm and 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Sat 10:30 - 11:30am
Sunday 9:30 - 10:30am
Motivator of the Month!
Who motivates you? It can be a trainer, staff member, or fellow class participant. Ballots and the ammo can (where completed slips should be placed, are located in the Cafe area. Fill one out to nominate a Motivator of the Month! First drawing will be March 31st!
New: Membership Rate for College Students!
We understand full time college students are strapped for cash, so we’re introducing a student rate for full time students (12+ credits per semester) to attend Corps Fitness for $70 / month (unlimited membership). Must present a valid school ID when purchasing.
…In like a lion!
Tuesday 6:30 PM Functional Fitness for Runners
New Class Tuesdays at 8:30AM. Hybrid class….a blend of either all or parts of the CrossFit workout programmed for that Tuesday fused with our Corps Fitness style high intensity circuit. Omitted will be the strength/skills portion of the CrossFit programming. Class will stay on the schedule as long as attendance warrants it.
We’re one week in to the CrossFit open! A few reminders for this 5-week event:
Judges - NEW this year. You only need to be an “official” judge (i.e. passed the CrossFit judges course) if
- you are the affiliate manager
- the athlete is likely going to regionals
- you want to judge at regionals
- you are judging videos
This opens the opportunities for everyone to step up and help out in the next few weeks. We’ll be holding group sessions for athletes to come in and complete the WODs on Saturdays from 10:30 - 11:30 AM and Sundays around 9:45. Please help out and help everything run smoothly!
AOIB
The All Out In Berks is changing over to a PURELY CrossFit competition this year. Workouts have been announced - check the link for more info, and recruit some friends to partake!
Ongoing Open Gym Times
Open gym times are continuing thanks to our PSU student trainers!
We have added Mon-Fri 6:30am - 1pm and 6:30pm - 7:30pm,
Sat 10:30 - 11:30am
Sunday 9:30 - 10:30am
Personal Training
Our very own Jay V is now a certified personal trainer! Check out the info above for a great opportunity for someone looking to get started on a fitness journey….or for someone looking to achieve specific fitness goals!
CF Market
Michelle’s kimchi is in the house!! Sign up and purchase a quart today!
AND…we have Raw Honey!!! Fellow CFer Emily Bundy brings to us raw honey from her family business, The Honey Bee Tree. There are delicious and beautifully packaged jars of honey for sale in the cafe (and information as well).
Even MORE Talented CFers
Also, did you know CFer Nancy is newly into the knitting business? Knits by Nance is open to orders for her awesome beanies and scarves!
The CrossFit Open will take place from Feb 23 - Mar 27. If you want to register (gives you access to website to see how you’re ranked among others nationally), visit https://games.crossfit.com/
Throwdown with XF Ephrata! Friday, February 10th, any interested CFers wishing to participate in a CrossFit style throw down, we will be heading to CrossFit Ephrata to join their gang at 7:00PM. This is just a friendly CrossFit style workout done with CrossFitters from nearby. So that we can get a decent head count, please give [email protected] a shout to let her know if you’ll be able to attend.
Also, the All Out In Berks is changing over to a PURELY CrossFit competition this year. CFers have visited other CrossFit “Boxes” in the past for similar events. Spread the word to the CrossFit community and bring others in!
Other ongoing special events - reference last week’s updates!
Jay’s personal training
Kimchi and honey at CF
Free Intros
Stay tuned to the Corps Fitness Facebook page and blog for a special Free Intro announcement later in February!
The CrossFit Open will take place from Feb 23 - Mar 27. If you want to register (gives you access to website to see how you’re ranked among others nationally), visit https://games.crossfit.com/
It’s not required to register online - you can still do the workouts at Corps Fitness during the times we’ll set up. Corps Fitness does not get anything for you registering; it’s a personal thing if you want to.
We WILL need judges for the workouts - the judges course is available online. I haven’t tried it yet, but it appears to be open and ready at any point (and a good way for XF to make $10 a pop…). No doubt it’s a good way to learn the movements and what IS vs ISN’T a rep in CrossFit. We’ll gather a list of all who take the judges course and can then score workouts when they come up.
Have ??, Will Travel
Friday, February 10th, any interested CFers wishing to participate in a CrossFit style throw down, we will be heading to CrossFit Ephrata to join their gang at 7:00PM. This is just a friendly CrossFit style workout done with CrossFitters from nearby. So that we can get a decent head count, please give [email protected] a shout to let her know if you’ll be able to attend.
Functional Training for Runners
Are you a runner, or do you want to become a runner! Check out our great new partnership with A Running Start!
Personal Training
Our very own Jay V is now a certified personal trainer! Check out the info above for a great opportunity for someone looking to get started on a fitness journey….or for someone looking to achieve specific fitness goals!
Delish
You like kimchi? What is it? Never had it?
Kimchi is a Korean fermented vegetable dish (mainly cabbage) that has oh-so-many benefits.
First, it is super tasty.
Second, it is rich in Vitamins A, B1, B2 and C. It’s also full of essential amino acids and minerals such as iron, calcium and selenium.
Third, it is brimming with beneficial gut-boosting lactobacilli bacteria, and a happy gut, is a happy YOU.
And fourth, it assists in digestion, it’s low calorie, and has healthy functionality (as reported by Journal of Medicinal Food) such as anti-cancer, anti-obesity, anti-aging, and beneficial effects on cholesterol among many other things.
CFers, you are in luck! CFer Michelle Gauby is a terrific kimchi-maker, and she will be providing samples to taste available this Wednesday (after 9:30AM class) thru Saturday. Please take a moment to try some (it will be staying cool in the fridge….ask front desk for help). After anyone interested has had a taste, Michelle will be taking orders for purchase (details on sizes and cost will be coming soon!). In the meantime, be sure to give it a taste-test. Many CFers can already attest to its deliciousness!
AND…we have Raw Honey!!!
Fellow CFer Emily Bundy brings to us raw honey from her family business, The Honey Bee Tree. There are delicious and beautifully packaged jars of honey for sale in the cafe (and information as well).
Why honey, and why RAW honey? Raw honey is unprocessed, pure, unpasteurized which helps to retain all its natural vitamins, enzymes and phytonutrients. Additionally, honey is a good source of anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties!
Check out the display in the Cafe. Purchases can be made at the front desk. Thanks Emily Bundy for bringing this to CF!!
Our friends and teens from Bethany’s Children’s Home will be coming to celebrate the holidays with us on Dec. 16th, and we’d love to have a big group of CFers there to help spread some holiday cheer to them. There are still a few Angels hanging on our tree by the front desk. On these Angels, are a name, age, and a few ideas for perfect gifts for these young guys and girls. Wrapped presents with Angel affixed to package should be returned to CF Front Desk by 12/12/16. If you are unavailable to attend the party that evening, you can still choose an Angel and give a gift that we are sure will be much appreciated!
And, if you ARE available to party with us on 12/16, would you consider bringing a dish to share? The request list is as follows:
Entree: BBQ, Meatballs, Mac n Cheese
Drinks: Cider, Water, lemonade, * non alcoholic Egg Nog
Desserts: Cookies, Brownies, Cupcakes
Sides: Pasta Salad, Macaroni Salad, rolls/buns
If you are planning to bring any of the above items, please email either [email protected] or [email protected] and indicate what you are planning to bring.
We know this is a busy time of the year for everybody, and we appreciate your help in making this a nice evening for our Bethany Children’s Home guests.
Saturday’s event was so much more than who came in first, second and third place. It was an event to showcase our local first responders and to give a shout out to them for all they do as a part of their jobs. For all you do, we thank you!
4 person teams starting off at Corps Fitness with a cumulative 100 pull-ups, 200 pushups & 300 squats there out the door to cover 5 1/2 miles ending at the Law Enforcement Memorial at Grings Mill with mental, physical & tactical challenges of a total of 13!
Emergency personnel deal with unanticipated challenges daily so these challenges were meant to task competitors to feel the pressure along with the physical to accomplish the tasks at hand.
So many thank you’s are due to so many. To our business sponsors (see facebook links below): you ROCK, and we are so very grateful! To our many volunteers: you are some FANTASTIC people who know how to get the job done! And to our competitors: what would we do without YOU???? You were motivating, inspiring, hard-working and gracious. And another HUGE thank you goes out to Melissa, Sandy, Aimee, Chris, and everyone who organized this outstanding event!!
Finishing times are posted at the bottom of this post, for those who are curious.
If any one has pictures, feel free to share. Many are available on the event facebook page, and we’ll be posting the link to view pictures taken by our photographer, Jason Hugg, of Hugg Media Group, soon!
At the afterparty we had numerous emergency vehicles on hand for kids to explore as well as great food from our sponsor Mission BBQ Wyomissing!! Thank you to all those in uniform who joined us and provided equipment and all of our sponsors who made this 1st year event a success to benefit the Deputy Kyle Pagerly Memorial, Kyle Pagerly Memorial! Esterbrook Pharmacy, All About Women, Wyomissing Borough Police Department, PA, PA Dutch Farmers Market of Wyomissing, West Reading Fire Department, Wyomissing Fire Department, Life Lion Critical Care Transport, A Running Start - West Reading, inov-8 All Terrain Running
Team Nawata: 1:58:30
Organized Chaos: 1:37:00
Rock Solid X 2: 1:39:53
We Aren’t That Creative: 1:48:55
Algeos/Stichter/Gonzalez: 2:07:32
Slow & Steady: 1:41:18
Fitness Pizza In My Mouth: 1:52:17
Vision 911: 2:11:55
Vicious and Delicious 4.0: 1:38:46
Jacked Unicorns: 1:57:53
Hit Squad: 1:34:00
Queen Bee +3: 1:46:27
SPECIAL EVENTS AND NEW CHALLENGES HEADING YOUR WAY!
REMINDER - NEW CLASS TIME
Starting this week we’re offering a Monday / Wednesday / Friday NOON class slot. Take a break from work and jump in!
SUMMER KIDS CLASSES
Second Session of our Kids camp is next week! 10:45 to Noon each day for one week. There’s still time to sign your child up for this motivating week, but please do so as soon as possible so we may get a head count and order t-shirts. First child $50, additional kids from same family are $45. The first session was a huge success and we thank all who participated!! A very motivating bunch of young CFers!
CHALLENGES / SPECIAL EVENTS
- July’s Challenge is DOUBLE UNDERS! 7/25 - 7/30: Grab a jump rope and a timer, do as many as you can in 2 minutes. Record your results on the chart on the white board. Even if you’re not great at DUs (read: need to practice more), give it a try and you can have a baseline to improve on!
- Mark your calendars and reserve your spot! We are excited to host an Introductory Self Defense class on Friday, August 5th from 6:45 - 8:45PM open to ALL, ages 12 and up. Check out the flyer is posted on website and at gym for details. This intro class is led by Keith Neff and an RSVP to Melissa is required to reserve your spot. Non Corps Fitness members are welcome, so spread the word.
- The Kaag Challenge is extended indefinitely, so be sure to get in touch with Chris or Melissa for a time slot! CFers have been gettin’ it done week after week - congrats!!
SPECIAL WORKOUTS:
- Long time CFer, turned Soul-Cycle Instructor Sam Scaffidi will be offering a class at SoulCycle in Ardmore, PA as a fundraiser for her IM ABLE participation in the 2016 TCS New York City Marathon in November. Sam was a die hard CFer when she was in the area, and speaking from personal experience, she will kick your butt in her Soul Cycle class too! So get your sweat on for a good cause and to support a great CFer! Details and registration for Sam’s SoulCycle event can be found at this link
REMINDER - SPECIAL RATES
- Know any teachers or nurses who want to join the CF family? Check out the top of CF’s fees page for more information! The availability of these offers is limited, so get in today; they won’t last forever.
- A reminder to check out the CF Loyalty Program and Incentives we announced April 1st. You can also earn points via membership and merchandise purchases! Check out the link for full details, and start earning today! For newbies looking to take advantage of the incentives, remember you must attend an intro class first. After that, you’re be eligible for 2 weeks of free membership and then an additional month at $70.
- We’re in the process of rolling out a new way of introducing newbies to CF! Stay tuned for details!!
SPIN / KRANK
– Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday SPIN classes are all on hiatus for summer.
FREE INTRO CLASSES
Next Free Intro will be Saturday, July 23rd.
WEEKEND INSTRUCTORS
Friday PM - John
Sunday - Ed