From the outside, the Pump House Fitness Center might appear unchanged. It’s the same gas pump in front of the door, the same sign hanging on the wall. But inside, new owners Mark and Mary Black are working to adapt the center so it can better assist local residents in meeting their fitness, nutrition and wellness goals.
The Blacks purchased the Pump House from Brian and Marcy Olsen this October. For years, the Blacks were perhaps best known for being owners of Black Magic Kennels where they trained and raced sled dogs. Mark had raced dogs for 34 years, Mary for 25 years. However, they’d decided they were ready to close the sled dog chapter of their lives.
Both Mary and Mark had always worked out in the past and had memberships at the Pump House. When the opportunity to purchase the business presented itself, it seemed like the right thing to do, Mark said.
“Now instead of training dogs we’ve changed to training people,” he said.
It’s a change Mark said they’re happy to have made, but still, he admitted, “Dogs are easier to train.”
That doesn’t mean the Blacks won’t try everything they can to get their human clients whipped into shape. As they take over the reins at the fitness center, Mark said they’re working to give the fitness center a more hands-on feel.
“One thing I noticed when I started working here was that quite a few people were using the equipment wrong,” he said. “They weren’t shown how to use the equipment properly. Now whenever we have a new membership, we walk around and give them an orientation on the equipment.”
With limited space, Mark said it’s a balancing act to meet the needs of all members. They’re hoping to replace some of the high-mileage treadmills, as well as add more free weights and other weight machines. They’ve already added a heavy bag in the back area of the gym, which Mark said has been receiving lots of use. As much as they want to update equipment, they know they need to keep open space available in the gym for fitness classes.
Fitness classes and personal training are two services they hope to offer in the future. Mark said he feels many people would benefit from having a partner, such as a personal trainer, when they workout at the gym.
“People are going to work much harder when there’s a trainer or workout partner pushing you,” he said.
One addition the Pump House has already made is Isagenix, a nutrition line that offers a body cleanse on a cellular level, said Mark.
While both Mark and Mary have day jobs which keep them busy, they staff the Pump House from 4:30 to 8 p.m., Mondays through Thursday, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Members have 24-hour access to the gym.
A grand opening celebration will be held on Saturday, Dec. 3. The event will feature Lori Harder, an Oxygen model and cover girl and Ms. Bikini Universe, among other guests. Harder will be giving seminars on motivation, said Mark.
“If you’re not motivated to work out, you will be after listening to Lori talk,” Mark said.
More information about the grand opening and the Pump House can be found at www.pumphousefc.com or by calling 218-387-3330.