My First Triathlon…

I had been training for a triathlon for a few months…biking one day, running another, and adding a swim in here and there.  However, on August 12th as I waited in line to register for the last Lake Terramuggus Traithlon I had committed to, I did NOT feel ready!!  Everyone else knew I was, but not me!  See, I have this sickness…”just finishing”…”having fun”  these are not phrases I can comprehend.  Every race, event, or competition I do I have one goal: to finish at the top.  I knew I wasn’t going to win this race, I am very new to the swimming (and not good at it) and the road bike is also a fairly new discipline for me (I just got a bike last October)  I have NEVER transitioned, and really never ran much after I biked (something that will change for next time!!!)  However, I know that I am above average in all three areas, and I have a will to win that is not “normal”.  I know that EVERY race I participate in I will push past that point of exhaustion, pain, and being uncomfortable.  Knowing all these things I had a goal for my first triathlon going into it: Top 5 Female.  I knew this would be a stretch, but I also thought it could happen.  Well, as I saw more and more people show up, and the bike racks FULL, I realized it may be tough!  Over 200 people were doing the race…a record number.

The good thing was, the part I was most nervous about was going to be done with first!!  The swim was not only something I am not comfortable with or good at, but something I was a little scared of.  I have heard horror stories of kicking, grabbing, and pulling at the start, and that made me nervous.  At about 3/4 of the way I started to calm down a little, but I definitely was not efficient by any means with the swim.  I got out of the water (to hear cheering from many, but the one that I heard most was my brother: “you killed it.  The hard part is over now.  Go get em”  The words bring tears to my eyes as I type.  My brother and I may have our arguments and our ups and downs, but making him proud and having him there reminds me of what we are all about)  As I get on the bike, I realize that my lungs are on FIRE!  The swim really took a lot out of me, but I feel so much better to be out of the water and on the bike.  This was my favorite part of the race, the first half mile on the bike.  I started to pass several people, “on your left, on your left” It was a lot of fun.  The bike went well.  it was tough being passed by some really good male riders (I think only a few females passed me on the bike)  but it just inspired me to get better over the next year. 

Last was the run.  This was what I was dreading the most.  There is nothing worse than a bad cramp, and that was what I was so nervous about.  As I started the run, my legs felt like Jello.  I had read in my traithlon book to expect this, but I just kept thinking, “how am I going to do a 5k pace on these legs?”  After the first climb, and a slight downhill  started to feel a little better.  I spotted to girls who seemed to be great runners about 100 yeards ahead and thought “catch

The girl in the back was the one I would try catching on the run!!

them”  Being so competitive, this is what I do at races and it always works.  I was so happy to see my brother on the top of the hill I was dreading, cheering me on.  It was JUST what I needed to get up the hill at a good pace.  By the time I did the side road loop, I had caught the two girls I set out for!  One of them died out, while me and the other one ran side by side, stride for stride, for a good mile.  As we ran something happened that happens at every event like this…it’s the thing that makes me LOVE this stuff.  I said to her “come on girl, we got this”.  It was from that point that we became an unspoken team.  We were in the same boat, hurting and fading.  We pushed one another durng the point we were hurting most.  After the race came the interaction that I love…the “nice job, thank you” part.  There is something about these races…fellow racers are your competition, but at the end of the day there is a special bonding that takes place…I LOVE IT!!

I have to say that having a good support group (Thank You Matt, Mom, Dad, Erik, Tanya, Tim, Roger, Sean, Shannon, Mel, and Bill) along the way was a HUGE help.  I kept thinking, I have to advance each time I see them!!  Having my Mom and Dad back at an event cheering me on was so great!  The fact that it was right in our neighborhood, on the Lake we grew up on was so awesome.  AND, my Dad really likes this type of spectating, he was able t drink a beer as he cheered me on!!  He could never do that at my basketball games :)   I have to say, sprinting to the finish line, ad seeing my Dad on the side, cheering me on made me feel so happy.  What a relationship him and I have created through the years!!  The amount of hours he has spent watching me play sports is unreal!!  It was nice to be out there again, and to have the fam right there watching me :)

I finished the race in 1:09 and change, and ended up 7th Female Overall.  I didn’t get my goal, but I have to say I am happy with my finish for my first one.  Time to start training hard for next year, where I hope to win the Lake T and complete an Olympic and half IRONMAN event!!

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admin, August 24th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Lake Placid IRONMAN 2010

Throughout my life I have witnessed and experienced several emotions through sporting events.  Honestly, it is these emotions that drove me to pursue my business, mission FITNESS.  When looking back on some of the best moments and emotions I have experienced in my life, almost all of them have stemmed from athletics, fitness and competition.  It is so much a part of my life that at times I think it is what makes me feel alive.  After I left collegiate basketball, I had a few years hiatus from competition.  It is during this time I felt the most empty, as if I was missing something in my life.

I realized what I was missing was the drive to be better…the feeling of pushing yourself past what you think are your limits…the camaraderie of a team…the feeling of accomplishment when you achieve your goals, break records, win competitions.  This is when I knew I had to pursue our dreams of mission FITNESS, and ever since I have filled that emptiness.  I now have a TEAM of clients, and I am back to pursuing my passions.

One of the many things that I love about mission FITNESS, is the people I am able to meet through it.  Lately, Matt and I have been introduced to several TRIATHLETES, an area of fitness that I have never been real familiar with.  I have been a mountain biker for several years now, and Matt and I dabbled in Adventure Racing, however, triathlons always scared me because of the swimming….NOT my thing!!  However, as we met more and more of these triathletes we saw something in them that we loved: DEDICATION, passion, and camaraderie.  Three amazing things.  So, we decided to take a ride to New York, and check out the IRONMAN at Lake Placid.

WELL, I knew that it would be a great experience, but who knew what this race would do to me!  For starters, the day before the race we decided to bike the race loop (one time).  The scenery was UNREAL, and the experience just the same.  There were bikers everywhere, and an energy in the air that just screamed…”we are athletes”.  I usually feel like I am in above average shape…out there, I felt OUT OF SHAPE!!  As we rode, I stopped several times to take pictures of the amazing rivers, mountains, etc….however, I had to put the camera away because so many people were stopping to ask, “you good?”  What an amazing group of people these triathletes are.  There is an unspoken respect between everyone that is so rare in the “regular” world.  Another phenomenon of the fitness world.

RACE DAY!!  We woke up at 6am to jog down to the swim start at Mirror Lake.  You could just feel that aura of “race day”  It is almost tangible.  We found a spot up on a hill, and waited for the start.  Inevitably, I started to get butterflies….I’m not even doing the race, but this is how I am.  After the butterflies, came some more emotions.  As the 2000+ swimmers enter the water, the announcer says “Ladies and Gentlemen, let’s give these athletes a round of applause.  We know how hard you have been working, we know the countless hours you have put into training, THIS IS YOUR DAY”  As I sit here I am literally tearing up.  Anyone who has worked hard, through blood, sweat, tears, pains, and pushed through them, knows why this brings tears to my eyes.  IT IS NOT EASY!  These athletes didn’t just get here without commitment, dedication, and sacrifices.  When most of us were out partying on  friday night, they were in bed because they a 5am wake up call for a morning swim/bike/run.  I KNOW I work hard, however, I also KNOW that I don’t even know what hard work is compared to these athletes.  I RESPECT THEM MORE THAN ANYTHING.  I also hope to be there one day, waving at the crowd as the applaud ME, knowing that I DESERVE that applaud….I worked my ass off for it.

As the gun goes off, the anxiety shot through me…all I see is white water, arms flailing, etc.  The swim is what scares me most.  We make our way to the alley where the swimmers run to the bikes.  The crowd goes wild as, one by one, the top swimmers run to their bikes…what a rush!  We then make our way to “Baby Bear” one of the many hills on the 112 mile bike.  It was amazing to watch the power these athletes had on the hill….also very cool to have done that same hill the day before :)  

One of the most emotional moments of the race for me was when we made our way to the oval track that lead to the finish line.  We got there around hour 11.  I hear the announcer and I almost instantly start crying.  Maybe it was the emotions of the day, maybe the thousands of people cheering, or maybe the thought of ME DOING THIS!  Regardless, it was these words that got me, “Jon Smith from Providence, Rhode Island…for the first time YOU are and IRONMAN!!!”  Forget about it…I lost it. 

Everyone has their passions, everyone knows what makes them tick.  For me, there is no doubt in my mind, and never has been…competition is what I live for.  Testing my boundaries, the feeling of accomplishment when you push past that feeling of being uncomfortable.  “Pain is temporary, pride is forever”  In my book, if you complete an IRONMAN, you can be damn PROUD of yourself!!

Congrats to Melanie Melecowsky, Bill Honeck, Ashley Diana, and Bob Macfarlene….YOU ARE AN IRONMAN (and my inspiration)

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admin, August 3rd 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
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Not Enough Time To Work Out!?!?

I have always heard excuses about why people don’t work out, however, it wasn’t until we started a fitness company that it started to get nauseating how often we hear “I just don’t have enough time.”  It isn’t even like we ask for it…we aren’t the types to make people feel guilty for not working out, or ask them why they don’t.  (There are instances that this may not be true-people that we are extremely vested in..ie. family, close friends, clients that have paid us money to get them in shape) but for the most part, we don’t ask.  It’s NOT that we don’t care about all of you and that we DON”T care if you work out…we have just realized that it does NO GOOD to try to convince someone to work out.  Same thing with losing weight….ultimately we can say whatever we want, but if YOU are not ready to make big changes in your life then we are wasting our breath.  We can tell you until we are blue in the face how exercise and good nutrition can prevent many diseases, reduce stress and anxiety, help you sleep, increase energy, etc…but, people just refuse to realize how important it is.  It usually takes that ONE MOMENT that it finally clicks (i.e someone asks you when you are “due”, you see a picture of yourself and wonder, “who is that person”, etc) when people decide they are ready to make a change.  Until then, when YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A LIFESTYLE CHANGE, it is hard to help you.

However, I have realized that people have mistakenly mixed up “not being ready to make a lifestyle change” with “I don’t have enough time”  I am guilty of it!!  There have been times I have said, “I would love to train for a marathon, I just don’t have enough time”  However, I know myself well enough, and I am able to not LIE TO MYSELF and realize what that really means is, I don’t want to MAKE THE TIME to train for that.  People think that working out is something I love.  I have to laugh when people say, “it’s easy for you because you like to run”  EXCUSE ME?!?!  I HATE to run…I dread it just like the rest of you.  I will say, that the more I run, the more I like it and the less dreadful it gets, but I by NO means love to run!!!  This is why “I didn’t have time to train for a marathon”  See, what I really should have said was, “I would rather sleep then go running”  I LOVE sleep.  What I should have said is, “I don’t want to wake up at 5am to go running, I want to get up later” 

I understand that people have busy schedules.  I GET that there are people out there working 2 jobs, going to school, being a Mom, working crazy hours, etc.  I will say there is a small percentage of people who really can’t find time to workout.  However, the other 99% of you choose to NOT MAKE TIME!  Again, I am not here to fault you, drag you , or yell at you to work out.  Just PLEASE stop lying to yourself and saying you don’t have any time.  All you need is 2 hours a week (minimum).  You cannot tell me that you don’t have 2 hours a week!  How many hours is the average person on Facebook?  Watching TV?  Out to dinner or having drinks? 

I will never say it is okay to not work out.  I cannot tell you how passionate I am about the benefits of working out and how important it is to be a part of your lifestyle.  However, we are all pretty aware of these facts.  There aren’t too many people who have not heard of all the benefits that come with a healthy/fit lifestyle.  I wish that everyone could feel the difference between working out regularly and not.  It would change a lot of peoples lives.  Maybe they would start MAKING TIME for it.  It’s time to make a change people….

You will never find time for anything. If you want time, you must make it.
– Charles Buxton
Those who think they have not time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness.
– Edward Stanley
Much may be done in those little shreds and patches of time which every day produces, and which most men throw away.
– Charles Caleb Colton

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admin, July 15th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Health & Fitness

Question and Answer with Matt!

1.  What do you think makes your gym different from other gyms?  Our studio has an atmosphere that people seem to want to be a part of.  We have an energy and it comes from the pure passion we have for what we do.  Me and my sister both quit good jobs because we weren’t happy and felt we were missing our calling.  We have found it now and our clients feel it.  I take on my clients goals as if they were my own, and I try to step into each one of their shoes.  This helps me better understand what makes them tick and what I can do to help them reach their goals.

2.  What makes you different from other trainers?  There are too many trainers out there that do these cookie cutter routines and they are so stagnant. I think outside of the box and I try to keep the sessions fun, diverse, and challenging.  I have kettlebells, undulation ropes, sledgehammers, and you should see their faces when I lay a 15 pound chain across their legs when they are doing leg lifts.  Don’t get me wrong we also have the dumbbells, benches, stability balls, squat racks, etc. but the point is I keep it interesting.  I’d say among everything, my clients feel that they are being listened to, being treated like an individual with very specific goals, and that I have their best interest in mind.

3.  What effect does your athletic background have on your training?  My athletic background and my upbringing has everything to do with who me and my sister are as business owners and trainers.  Our work ethic is second to no one, that goes for our workouts or our business responsibilities.  We were taught no matter what you go 110% all the time whether it’s practice or a game.  Why would you do anything less?  You work out for usually a hour a day, why wouldn’t you just go all out for that hour?  When you walk away you can hold your head up and be proud that you gave everything you had.  The other thing that was instilled in us was no excuses!  My father was a Marine that went to Vietnam and when I feel like things are hard or I’m tired I think how hard it was for him or others like him and how trivial my issues really are.  We are not all elite athletes and not all of us want to be, but we should all give 100% when we show up for a workout.  That’s all I ask, just work hard and leave with your head up high.

4.  Upon seeing somebody can you tell right away what training routine you want to put them through?  I never try to judge anyone upon seeing them.  I let them sit down and tell me their story.  Why are they here, what do they want and how are they going to get to that point.  We as trainers are only a part of the solution.  It is up to them how quickly they will hit their goals.

5.  Do you always agree with what they feel are thier strengths? How do you work with a client if you don’t agree on their strengths and weaknesses?  There are very few clients that I have in which we don’t see eye to eye on what it is they should be focusing on.  In that situation it is extremely important to keep a very good open communication with that person.  After all if the trainer and client don’t gel then the process might not be as effective as it should be. There needs to be a chemistry and I have been fortunate to never lose a client because that chemistry wasn’t there

6.  Talk about your craziest workout.  I have gone to the Glastonbury Pistol Range which is a big sandpit and trained with a kettlebell.  I ran sand hills with a 44 pound kettlebell.  Came down and went right to pullups on the overhangs then immediately to burpees in the sand.  Cycled through this for 30 minutes straight, threw up and then did a 5k run through the woods.  That was fun!Mission Fitness Bootcamp.  Seriously, it’s such a great way to get some new ideas and to get out of that rut your in.  There’s a great quote that goes something like “if you keep doing the same thing you’ve always done then you’ll keep getting the same thing you’ve always gotten.”  Change things up, hire a trainer, try out a new class.

7.  And craziest workout for clients?  As far as clients I think there are several circuits I’ve put together that the clients have finished and with a smile on their face asked if there was something wrong with me. That’s not for everyone though, but there are some that love that push.

8.  What artist(s)/song(s) always work to put you in the mood to work out?  Hardcore, in your face music.  Slipknot, 5 Finger Death Punch, Rage Against The Machine, Tool, Fear Factory, Korn, old Metallica, Killswitch Engage, Mudvayne to name a few.

9. Would you get bored at a typical gym? What would be your best tip to tell someone who is sick of the normal gym routine.  I would get bored in a gym, and I would tell anyone who is bored in their routine to come to a

10.  No doubt you push your clients and yourself hard, which is a good thing. Is that challenge your favorite part of this type of training?  My favorite part of training is seeing my clients reach their goals or do an exercise that they couldn’t do or didn’t think they could ever do.  I started training a particular client over a year ago, and at that time he was 70 pounds heavier then he is now.  I brought him to the track and he could not complete 1 lap around without stopping.  Last October he ran his first 5k and as he crossed the finish line in the pouring rain I don’t know who was smiling more, me or him.  I love my clients, and I take pride in my work and I do it to see the smiles on their faces as they achieve what they once thought was impossible.

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admin, July 6th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , ,
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Thanks to DARREN at Examiner.com

Matthew Mund: A-Plus Trainer

Matthew Mund is a AFPA certified personal trainer at Mission Fitness in Glastonbury, CT.  Matt is very interested in fitness and he has an athletic background.  He takes this interest and previous experience and relates it to all different people who want to be trained by him.  As he says not everyone is an elite athlete and not everyone wants to be one either. 

Matt sits down with the client, asks their goals, and works with them.  Trainer and client are a team and Matt sticks to this line of thought.  “If the trainer and client don’t gel then the process might not be as effective as it should be. There needs to be a chemistry, and I have been fortunate to never lose a client because that chemistry wasn’t there,”  Matt says.

From talking to Matt you can tell he lives for fitness.  He could talk about it all day.  He also exudes confidence and a positive attitude.  “Our studio has an amotsphere that people seem to want to be a part of.  We have an energy and it comes from the pure passion we have for what we do,” he says.  He tries to step into his clients shoes and takes their goals on as his.  

Matt’s gym is very different than the typical gym.  In order to run this type of gym you need a different type of trainer.  Matt knows he is not the typical trainer and is proud of it.  “There are too many trainers out there that do these cookie cutter routines and they are so stagnant. I think outside of the box, and I try to keep the sessions fun, diverse, and challenging.  I have kettlebells, undulation ropes, sledgehammers, and you should see their faces when I lay a 15lb chain across their legs when they are doing leg lifts,” he says.  Matt doesn’t disregard the more common exercise equipment.  He notes that the gym does have dumbbells, benches, stability balls, squat racks, among other more conventional equipment. 

The work being done at the gym is not the norm.  But attitude really sets this gym apart.  “Our work ethic is second to no one, that goes for our workouts or our business responsibilities. We were taught, no matter what you go 110% all the time,” Matt says.  Matt has his client’s best interest and doesn’t waste a minute of their time at the gym.  “You work out for usually an hour a day, why wouldn’t you just go all out for that hour?  When you walk away you can hold your head up and be proud that you gave everything you had.” 

Trainers are meant to push you hard, motivate you, help you reach your personal goals, and have your best interests.  Matt Mund fits all these criteria 100 percent-or is it 110 percent?

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admin, June 28th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Boot Camp

June First Timers Boot Camp!!

SATURDAY, JUNE 19TH AT 1030 A.M.!!

Hurry! Space is limited. Due to how popular our first timer classes are, we are only accepting the first 20 boot campers who sign up.  The class is ONLY $5. To sign up email us at missionfitnessllc@gmail.com

Take advantage of this exciting opportunity!!  This may be your first class, but we guarantee it will not be your last.  Come see what everyone is so excited about over at missionFITNESS!!

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admin, June 10th 2010 | Posted in Uncategorized

Bench Press for Breast Cancer 2010!

Our very own, Matt Mund, is participating in this years BENCH PRESS FOR BREAST CANCER in Middletown! All proceeds collected through sponsorships and donations are given to the CT Affiliate of Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. The event is Saturday, June 26 at 10:00 a.m. at The Refuge (180 Johnson Street, Middletown, CT). It’s a GREAT cause and we encourage all of our clients to help Matt raise money for breast cancer and come out to support missionFITNESS!

Donations can be dropped of at the missionFITNESS studio on 80 Commerce Street, Glastonbury, CT. Email missionfitnessllc@gmail.com with any questions.

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admin, June 10th 2010 | Posted in Uncategorized

FITNESS ADVENTURES!

COME AWAY WITH US ON A FITNESS ADVENTURE!

Here are just a few of the ideas we have…..

Boot Camp/Camping at Hammonasset State Park:  Bring your tent, your exercise close, and your bathing suit.  We will go down to Hammonasset, set up the tents, and get a workout in at night.  We will use the benches, the beaches, and the scenery for this workout!!!  Spend the night hanging out around the campfire, wake up to a 2nd boot camp in the morning, and then a relaxing day at the campsite, or at the beach.  Who said working out can’t be fun!?!?!?

Deerfield Zipline Adventure: ”Adventure on a Deerfield Valley Canopy Tour in Charlemont Massachusetts.  Our 3-hour-long zip lAne canopy tour leads adventurers on an aerial trek through the woods by means of 11 zip lines, 2 sky bridges and 3 rappels suspended in the trees in the northern Berkshires and connected through platforms that sit high above the forest floor.  Zip line canopy tours originated 20 years ago in Central and South America as an exciting and unusual way to experience the forest canopy.  Deerfield Valley Canopy Tours is the first canopy tour in southern New England and in MA” -http://www.deerfieldzipline.com/

Overnight Hike:  There is something very empowering about living off of what is on your back….if you have not done an overnight hike, when you have to hike several miles to get to your sleeping accomadation (a tent site or a lean-to site) you have to try it at least once.  The scenery as you walk through the quiet woods, the feeling of accomplishment when you reach the summit and your camping destination, and the peacefulness of being away from the everyday grind is a feeling hard to explain.  After doing my first overnight hike, I came back to the “real world” in depression….I wanted the simple life back.  And by the way, the workout you wll get will be like no other :)

RAGNAR RELAY:  You and 11 of your closest friends running day and night, relay-style, through some of the most scenic terrain North America could muster. Add in live bands, inside jokes and a mild case of sleep deprivation. The result? Some call it a slumber party without sleep, pillows or deodorant. We call it a Ragnar Relay.  How about a mission FITNESS team?  Connecticut Race? Washington DC?  How about the Florida Keys?!?!?!

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missionfitnessllc, May 21st 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in mission fitness team

WHAT OUR CLIENTS ARE SAYING…..

  • “Before training with Matt I hated the gym and working out.  Now I love it. I never thought I could do any of what I do now.  Matt has shown me that I am A LOT stronger than I ever thought I was.  I never thought I could run, now I look forward to it.  Pretty much he changed my life!  I lost 30lbs with him and now have a new healthy life style.  I couldn’t of done it without his motivation and encouragement.”

  • “The dual effect of the group atmosphere, support, and direction from the trainer is much stronger than working out alone.  When I see someone exercising at a higher level than I am able to sustain, it gives me encouragement that I can get there too as long as I keep working at it.  There is a team effect where everyone is struggling together, and at the end there is a common sense of accomplishment”

  • “Age should be no barrier,  Mission Fitness boot camp lets me go at my own pace.  I find myself pushing harder to be part of this great team.  I have been a gym member for more than ten years and I never got the workout that boot camp gives me.  I look forward to each and every class!”

  • I want to say thank you for boot camp! I am going through a tough time right now and although I am out of shape and not up to par with many in the class, it does wonders for me emotionally. With such a busy schedule, its a way for me to see my friends and I feel sooo good when I finish. You guys have a great thing going and I’m lucky to be a part of it!


WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR….JOIN THE MISSION FAMILY!!!

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missionfitnessllc, May 3rd 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in mission fitness team

FIRST TIMERS BOOT CAMP IN APRIL

SUNDAY, APRIL 25th at 1030am

Space is limited.  Due to the overwhelming response last time we offered this class, we are only accepting the first 21 boot campers who sign up.  To sign up email us at missionfitnessllc@gmail.com

This is your chance to try this amazing workout with a room full of people who have never done it before.  This may be your first class, but we guarantee it will not be your last.  Come see what everyone is raving about!!

 

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missionfitnessllc, April 11th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , ,
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