A Member "TRIs" Something New and Finds Success
September 6, 2016
If you often start your day with a workout at the Sports Center, perhaps you have seen them: triathletes tearing around the club’s ¼-mile track at 6:00am, making waves in the 25-yard pool, or carefully wheeling high-tech bikes through the parking lot. These are the members of the Full Throttle racing team and they descend on the Sports Center at 5:30am five days a week to train in the three disciplines that comprise a triathlon. While the intensity of this team might translate into an intimidating prospect for some, one member proves that with equal doses of motivation and enthusiasm, anyone can proudly don the red, blue and yellow Full Throttle racing singlet.
As 2012 came to a close, Steve Borne crept past the 250 pound mark, was being treated for high blood pressure and felt generally uncomfortable doing most activities — even walking up stairs was difficult. So, Steve set a New Year’s resolution to start training for and competing in triathlons, a sport he had dabbled in during his early 20s, when an Internet search brought him to the Sports Center. Despite a number of years of inactivity, Steve literally jumped feet first into his Sports Center triathlon training endeavor. He became a member of the club on January 2, 2013 and joined the highly decorated Full Throttle Endurance Racing Team later that same week.
When Steve showed up for the first day of training, head coach Scott Berlinger admits he thought the newbie might have been lost. However; his initial surprise faded quickly when Steve’s immediate hard work and dedication proved that he was in the right place. In fact, Steve did not miss a single day of workouts for seven months, resulting in the loss of 63 pounds.
“A triumph of consistency,” as Steve calls it, which was made possible by the inspirational and high-level coaching he received from Scott Berlinger along with the support and camaraderie of his fellow teammates. “I could not have gone through the transformation I did working on my own,” concludes Steve, “and not for lack of will or desire. I needed the expertise of the Full Throttle coaches telling me when to go hard, when to rest and how to train safely. I needed to surround myself with teammates who lived healthy and fit lifestyles to help me change mine.”
The admiration goes both ways, according to Berlinger, who notes, “Steve has been inspirational and motivational to beginner and elite athletes alike.” The charismatic head coach of Full Throttle adds, “Steve is the best teammate you could hope for, as he is always there to cheer on everyone. His enthusiasm makes us all dig deep inside to get to the next level.”
In 2013, Steve competed in seven triathlons, ran a half-marathon in under two hours and earned Full Throttle’s highest honor of Most Improved Athlete. Steve’s life changed dramatically in one year and we can’t wait to see what lies ahead!