ATHLETES OF TRI-FITNESS
Sister’s Act!
By Bernadette Rosen
Photos by: Ed Johnston, Rick Schaff, Greg VanderWel, Jay Ronca, Marianne Johnston
Each month we will feature Tri-Fitness athletes who have competed and performed at the highest level. What is an athlete? Well, a Tri-Fitness athlete is one who demonstrates strength (bench press), speed (obstacle course , true grit challenge and shuttle run), flexibility (routine), agility (shuttle run and obstacle course), and endurance (box jumps, obstacle course, routine, shuttle and bench). Through a healthy diet (eating as an athlete) and extreme training, these athletes achieve a fit, athletic physique which enables them to succeed in our event.
This month we will feature sisters Angi Ishak and Cari Schlauch who achieved success at the 2015 Tri-Fitness World Challenge.
BSR: Please tell the readers about yourself and your past:
Angie: I am 43 years old and live in Helena, Montana. I was born in Kissimme, Florida but moved to Montana in 1990 and married my middle school sweethear Mike Ishak after we graduated high school. We recently celebrated our 25th anniversary. We have 6 children ranging in ages 24 years down to 12 years old and have 5 grandchildren with another on the way! I have always been into fitness in some way or another, starting with gymnastics and ballet. I was on the gymnastic and cheer leading teams in high school and cheered at Montana State University; cheer leading was my passion. After starting a family, my sister Cari and I decided to start our own competitive cheer team, the Pink Panthers, in Montana. After 3 years, it became too time consuming and we passed the team on.
BSR: How long have you been doing the Tri-Fitness and what got you started?
Angie: Even though I wasn’t coaching anymore, I still enjoyed going to the gym and lifting weights. I had always wanted to do a fitness competition, but to be honest, I didn’t think I would be able to get on stage with other women, who were passionate about exercise and fitness, and feel as confident as I should. I was more nervous about the diet part of it. My sister Cari and I had done a lot of talking about training for a fitness competition but never committed until Cari saw a post from one of her fitness friends and fellow AdvoCare teammates, Liz Cort, that said she was going to train a team of women for the 2015 Tri-Fitness World Challenge in Tampa, Florida! Cari and I jumped in with both feet and committed to each other to train for Tri-Fitness!
BSR: What did you like best about the Tri-Fitness Challenge?
Angie: There are so many things that I love about Tri-Fitness. Al Rosen (the founder and president of Tri-Fitness) was informative, encouraging, and supportive! He made it a point to know me by name and make each athlete feel important. I can’t imagine another competition being run with more passion and love! He made everything seem so easy and fun! The event is designed for “you verses you” kind of competing; a friendly competition with other people trying to better themselves and accomplish a fitness goal never thought possible. Everything and everyone is so positive! Although there is an optional swimsuit round, it just wasn’t a bikini contest because there were 6 fitness challenges for each athlete to challenge themselves! It pushed me beyond my limits and tested my endurance; when I thought I couldn’t jump another hurdle or sprint another step, there was someone right beside me yelling for me, cheering me and encouraging me to KEEP GOING! I absolutely loved it!
BSR: How did you go about training for Tri-Fitness?
Angie: The workouts were intense with track workouts, a carb cycling plan and 2 a day cardio for the last 4-6 weeks. It really challenge me and showed me what I was made of! But, I completed the 12 week program that included a meal plan, the workouts and an amazing Facebook group with tons of support from other competitors! Upon arriving for the event in Tampa, I have to admit I was nervous. But, I was so excited to start meeting the people I had connected with on Facebook; I was put at ease immediately as these women were amazing, encouraging and helpful.
BSR: Would you like to add anything else for our readers?
Angie: I honestly believe the Tri-Fitness Challenge is one of the best all around fitness competitions and if you ever get a chance to do this competition, I would highly recommend it. It was worth every sore muscle and every piece of broccoli! I can’t wait for June 10, 2016 and the 19th Tri-Fitness World Challenge! My sister and I will both be there!
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BSR: Please tell the readers about yourself and your past:
Cari: I live in Helena, Montana and have been married to my husband Brian for 16 years and we have 2 beautiful kids, daughter Saylor (14 yrs) and son Jaxsen (12 yrs). Both of them are very active in sports and keep us busy. I have owned my own personal training business for the past 15 years and over the last 4 years I have enjoyed helping others achieve their health and fitness goals as an independent AdvoCare distributor. Lastly, I have had the privilege to serve as a worship leader at our church for the past 12 years. Fitness and Music have been passions of mine since I was a little girl and it is so rewarding being able to help others and do what I love!
BSR: How long have you been doing the Tri-Fitness and what got you started?
Cari: May 2015 was my very first Tri-Fitness Challenge! I have always “talked” and “dreamed” about competing, but never had the courage to step on stage. At 37 years old and being a mother of 2, I made the excuses that maybe I was too old? Do I have what it takes to conquer this? What will people think? When my friend Liz Cort said she was competing and taking a group, I decided it was time! I then told my sister Angi that she was going to do it with me.
BSR: What did you like best about the Tri-Fitness Challenge?
Cari: I absolutely loved the Tri-Fitness Challenge event! The people, the encouragement, the physical challenge itself and the atmosphere were amazing! Al Rosen, founder of the event, truly has a heart of gold and it shows in every detail. He was there cheering on every athlete and making sure everyone knew the event was about you versus you!
BSR: How did you go about training for Tri-Fitness?
Cari: We trained for Tri-Fitness with a group of awesome ladies across the country, through Team Fit Mom! Our daily workouts consisted of cross training with weights and HIT cardio! We had daily meal plans full of egg whites, lean proteins, lots of veggies and whole grain carbs….and we incorporated amazing supplements! Everyday had challenges of it’s own, but doing this with my sister Angie, made for lots of laughs (and some tears); when one of us was ready to put our faces in the peanut butter jar or hide in a closet with some brownies…the other would be the voice of reason…lol. We made it through and we truly enjoyed the entire process!
BSR: Would you like to add anything else for our readers?
Cari: If you are reading this and thinking about competing again or maybe you’ve never competed before…. Tri-Fitness Challenge is a MUST! You are capable of anything you put your mind to! “Whatever Your Mind Can Conceive And Believe It Can Achieve” – Napoleon Hill
For more information on Tri-Fitness, see trifitnesschallenge.com
Article appeaers in Natural Muscle Magazine www.naturalmuscle.net