Long time runner in Fairfield County, Connecticut, is leaving the pavement for this.

For years, Larry Heron would run down the streets near his home in Wilton, Connecticut. As he left his home in the wee hours of the morning, he would tell his wife that he was “off to pound the pavement”. 20 years later, he is feeling the effects of all that pounding but is thankful to have found his new community of exercises seeking to live a longer more functional life through no impact cardio and concentric focused strength exercise.

Proponents of running would always tell Larry that his running was good for him - and it did strengthen his muscles and tendons, keep his weight in check, and increase his bone density - but that came at significant cost. The negative effects of all that running really began to show on his body in his late 40s. Running had caused:

Joint Stress: Over time, the repetitive impact lead to wear and tear on cartilage, increasing the risk of osteoarthritis, particularly in the knees and hips.

Injury: The chronic running without proper recovery lead to overuse injuries, including runner’s knee, iliotibial band syndrome, and plantar fasciitis.

Biomechanical Issues: Poor form and over worn footwear had exacerbated stress on his joints and lead to imbalances in his body and injuries that actually impeded his daily activities.

Inflammation: Long-term running had lead to chronic inflammation in his joints and an incessant throbbing sensation in his back.

But through these challenges, Larry continued to insist that running was good for him. Then he found FitSpan Studios, a community of adults in Fairfield County, Connecticut, that was intent on getting the same great workout but without the impact caused by running. He didn’t think anything could ever replace the high he felt from “pounding the pavement” but the unique combination of rowing and vertical climbing he found at FitSpan Studios more than fit the bill.

With the vertical climbing he benefitted from:

Full-Body Workout: The contralateral motion engaged multiple muscle groups simultaneously, including the legs, arms, core, and back, leading to a balanced strength workout.

Cardiovascular Fitness: Climbing is an excellent aerobic exercise that elevated his heart rate, thereby improving cardiovascular health and endurance.

No Joint Impact: Vertical climbing was so much easier on his joints compared his years of running.

High Caloric Burn: Even compared with his beloved running, Larry would burn more calories in a shorter amount of time, making it effective for maintaining his weight.

Improved Coordination and Balance: The nature of the movement requires coordination between the upper and lower body, enhancing overall body awareness and balance.

Muscle Tone and Definition: Regular use helped tone and define his muscles, particularly in the legs, glutes, arms, and core.

Time Efficiency: Because it combines strength and cardio, workouts on a vertical climber can be shorter while still delivering effective results.

Variety of Workouts that Never Got Boring: He was able to adjust resistance, handle height and speed, keeping his workouts fresh each day so it was never boring.

Functional Movement: Climbing mimics natural movements used in everyday activities, improving overall functional fitness which - at the end of the day - was why he had been so committed to exercise throughout his life.

With the rowing, he benefitted from:

Full-Body Workout: Rowing engaged multiple muscle groups, including his legs, back, core, and arms.

Cardiovascular Fitness: Rowing is an excellent aerobic exercise that improves heart and lung capacity, enhancing overall cardiovascular health.

No Joint Impact: Rowing is gentle on the joints, making it making it much easier on his joints and completely accessible even on days when those old running injuries reared their ugly head.

High Caloric Burn: Rowing burns a significant number of calories in a relatively short time which helped Larry maintain a healthy weight.

Muscle Tone and Strength: Regular rowing helped build and tone Larry’s muscles, particularly in the legs, back, and core, contributing to overall strength.

Improved Endurance: Consistent rowing workouts enhanced his muscular and cardiovascular endurance, beneficial for athletes and fitness enthusiasts.

Posture Improvement: Rowing - thanks in large part to the excellent trainers he met at FitSpan - encouraged proper posture and alignment, which can helped counteract the effects of prolonged sitting that he’d been doing in his office each day.

Versatility: Larry was able to adjust the resistance and vary his rowing speed and intensity, allowing for a range of workouts from steady-state to high-intensity intervals.

Mental Focus: Often overlooked, Larry was keen on keeping his mind sharp. Rowing required concentration and coordination, which helped improve mental focus and mindfulness during his workouts.

Overall, while he loved “pounding the pavement”, it wasn’t hard for Larry to hang up his running sneakers when he found FitSpan. The fact that the community was based not far from his home in Fairfield County, CT and he met new friends from across Wilton, Weston, Easton, Norwalk, Fairfield, Westport, Stamford, and Ridgefield, was a huge bonus.