Mar 12, 2016 | Blog, Fitness Articles, Tri-Fitness Athlete Spotlight
ATHLETES OF TRI-FITNESS
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 athletes Whitney Gladden and Chantel Schultz who achieved
success at the 2015 Tri-Fitness World Challenge.
BSR: Please tell the readers about yourself and your past:
Whitney: I’m a 39 year old mom of 7-year-old Tucker and 5-year-old Macy. I am a
former attorney and now Diamond Distributor with AdvoCare. I have never been
particularly athletic, but I have always enjoyed fitness; in high school I played softball
and was the captain of my cheer leading squad. Through college I taught fitness classes,
but had to stop upon admission to law school due to time constraints. It was exciting to
find a company like AdvoCare because it allowed me to have health and wellness back
as a focus in my life after putting it to the side for several years.
BSR: How long have you been doing the Tri-Fitness and what got you started?
Whitney: 2015 was my first competition! I didn’t know much about it until my friend
and fellow AdvoCare Diamond Liz Cort invited me to participate with her. I fell in love
with the training right away. After I was introduced to it by Liz, I found out that my
personal trainer, Laura Lord, was a multiple time Tri-Fitness Competitor and has been
featured in this very magazine! She helped so much with the training for that first event.
I could not have done it without her.
BSR: What do you like best about Tri-Fitness?
Whitney: I love that Tri-Fitness is all about personal empowerment. It’s not about being
the best or beating everyone else. It’s about being your best self. It’s about being better
at competition than you were at the beginning of training. It’s about commitment,
consistency, being brave and overcoming the seemingly insurmountable. It’s everything
I try to stand for in my own life!
BSR: How did you go about training for the Tri-Fitness?
Whitney: I leaned on the experience of those who had gone before me! I followed a
training program written by Liz, which called for more athleticism than I had ever been
asked to deliver. It was a challenge for sure, with sprints, pull-ups, box jumps, bench
presses, many many plyometric exercises, dive rolls – truly things I had not done since
high school and possibly even elementary school. It really awakened the athlete in me
and I loved every minute of it. I stuck with it and pushed my own limits 6 days a week. It
was worth it, because at the competition I performed better than I ever had in practice
and was stronger than I’d ever been in my life. At 39, that is a real treat.
BSR: Would you like to add anything else for our readers?
Whitney: After completing Tri-Fitness, I was in awe. I couldn’t believe the things I was
able to do as a result of consistent training and proper nutrition. I couldn’t believe I
conquered an overwhelming fear of heights and not only jumped a 5 foot wall, but also
scaled a 10-foot rope wall and even climbed a 15-foot cargo net wall…and flipped over
it! The feeling of accomplishment was real and cannot be overstated. The support from
Al Rosen, my fellow competitors, and friends in attendance encouraged me to do things
I was sure I couldn’t. They believed in me until I believed in myself. I am proud to be a
part of the Tri-fitness family.
BSR: Please tell the readers about yourself and your past:
Chantel: I am a 38 year old mom of 3. I have a step-daughter who is 18, a daughter who
is 14, and a son who is 6. We are a household of Athletes and are always on the go! I am
a personal trainer at various gyms in NY and a group fitness instructor at Fitness Fusion
of the Hudson Valley (FFHV) in Red Hook, NY. I teach bootcamps, TRX, CRT Method, Real
Ryder Cycle, and Kickboxing. I am a coach for Team Fit Mom/Team Fit Girl. I coach
hundreds of girls all over the United States with our online prep program. I have done
multiple fitness competitions, Tri-Fitness (my favorite), The NPC and The WBFF, where I
won my ProCard in back in April of 2012. I have always been athletic. Fitness is truly my
PASSION! I think the most rewarding part of what i do is watching my clients make
change….. The journey starts out with physical changes, but socially and emotionally my
clients grow as well and I love seeing them break out of their shells. I am also an Advisor
with a company called AdvoCare. We are a wellness and performance supplementation
company that focuses on clean eating with supplements to fill the gaps with nutrition
that our bodies need so that we can perform at top levels.
BSR: How long have you been doing the Tri-Fitness and what got you started?
Chantel: I did the Tri-Fitness Worlds Challenge for the first time last year in May 2015.
My friend, Liz Cort whom I also work for at FFHV had taken a group of ladies down the
year before. Unfortunately, I could not make it that year but every single person had
raved about what an incredible experience it was. I started following the founder, Al
Rosen on Facebook. His dedication to this Tri-Fitness challenge and his competitors is
like NO OTHER you will find out there!! I was blown away last year when I competed….
the Rosen family is incredibly inspiring and they have a heart of gold.
BSR: What do you like best about the Tri-Fitness?
Chantel: I love how personal Tri-Fitness is. IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU……even though there
are a hundred other competitors. This competition is YOU vs. YOU. You leave there
feeling beyond accomplished. The friendships you make, the tears of joy you have, the
memories you make, the obstacles you overcome makes it an incredible experience! . As
far as the challenge itself I have 2 favorites, I loved the stage (it was so different than my
past experiences with other federations) and I had a love/hate relationship with The
Bench Press (this was by far the biggest challenge during training but the most
rewarding when I finished it on competition day)!
BSR: Would you like to add anything else for our readers?
Chantel: I challenge anyone to “friend” Al Rosen on Facebook and turn down his Tri-
Fitness Challenge …. haha! ….it just won’t happen! You will be so inspired and intrigued
at the level of professionalism, commitment, and dedication that him and his family
have. The friends that I made while in Tampa, Florida and the group of girls I went down
with – we just have a special bond that no one can understand, unless you have
experienced Tri-Fit. I refuse to miss another year! I cannot wait to see everyone and
beat my placings from last year! I have a feeling the competition is going to be extra
hard this year!!! I can’t wait for June 2016…. BRING IT ON!!
Feb 4, 2016 | Tri-Fitness Athlete Spotlight
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
Aug 10, 2014 | Blog, Fitness Articles, Fitness Models
Bernadette Schimnowski-Rosen (My 10 YEAR TRI-FITNESS JOURNEY)
By Bernadette Schimnowski-Rosen
Photography by: Ed Johnston, Greg VanderWel, Marianne Johnston, Sarah J. Porreca, R. Schaff, Anne S. Boyko
My mom’s nickname was Sunshine as she always made each day of my life seem brighter. In 1998, I read an article in Oxygen Magazine about a Fitness Challenge which included an obstacle course. Wow, how cool would that be, I thought. Unfortunately, I was in marriage at the time where there was no support. As my mom became sicker with cancer, she made me promise I would do this competition, the Tri-Fitness Challenge. She believed in overcoming obstacles, but unfortunately, she couldn’t overcome her cancer-ridden body, no matter how hard she tried. I promised her I would one day make it to Las Vegas to challenge myself in this event.
The only thing we had in Winnipeg, Manitoba was a fitness organization that included a figure round, as well as a fitness routine. As I was competing in this organization, the president told me that if I went to the States and competed I would be barred. In 2004 I contacted Al Rosen, Tri-Fitness president, via email about competing and about the barring that other organizations impose on other competitors and he laughed. He explained Tri-Fitness welcomes everyone and doesn’t care if one competes in anything else. I started thinking: I am being controlled in my marriage and even the organization where I have been competing is also trying to control me; wow, I finally found someone who doesn’t want to control me. I really needed to do this! Since it was in Las Vegas and my ex was a gambler, he informed me that if I did away with protein and the internet then he would allow me to compete. It was July 2004 and little did I know at that point my whole life was about to change.
“little did I know at that point my whole life was about to change.”
When I boarded my flight to Las Vegas, Bob Kennedy and Tosca Reno were on the plane as they too were headed to the Tri-Fitness event. The Tri-Fitness event was held at the Monte Carlo, but I was told I had to stay at the Luxor about a mile down the strip. When I went to the registration, I was made to feel very welcome and couldn’t believe how all the athletes (more than 200 of them) were so friendly! At the athletes’ meeting, Al Rosen addressed the entire group and I was able to see how passionate he was about the event. I thought to myself, how proud my mom would be of me. There I was, an elementary school teacher of 45 kindergarten children from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada sitting in a room with such great fitness athletes.
The next morning, I walked, by myself, down the strip to the Grace & Physique event; I was awed by how the stage at the Lance Burton Theater looked so elegant and large. I made it through the Grace & Physique event as I thought of Sunshine and I couldn’t wait until we went out to the Obstacle Course on that Friday night (even though my total training preparation was only my school’s monkey bars and running through some tires). The first obstacle on the course was the 10 foot wall and I took a penalty since I couldn’t get over it; the next major obstacle was the incline- decline monkey bars with 16 rungs. I dedicated each rung to one of my 13 siblings plus my mom and dad and saved number 16 for me. I made it through, but slow isn’t the word as I double grabbed each bar (with a smile on my face).
Next I climbed up the cargo net and stepped over it (most people flipped over) but it didn’t matter (I was over it). I made it through the course, ok so I knocked over the under bar and over bar but I did made it through! My time: One minute and fifty four seconds! I was in the bottom 10% but it didn’t really matter, because I crossed the finish line! My ex then said, let’s go, you embarrassed me. I said but I can run it again, yet he wouldn’t let me. The next day, I competed in the bench press, shuttle run and box jumps (oh well, I got last place in box jumps despite being a good jumper since my days as a high school point guard in basketball).
In my heart, I knew I had to escape my dysfunctional marriage of 17 years. I had found a new home in Tri-Fitness. I competed the following year (2005) in Tampa and went back to Vegas in 2006. By the fall of 2006, I was separated and decided to do a camp in Tampa to actually learn the Tri-Fitness the correct way from the expert himself, Al Rosen. Little did I know, October 6, 2006 would be a special day. Within one hour and 20 minutes of practice, I was able to fly over the wall, flip over the net, and actually learn how to run hurdles. The following weekend was the Fall Challenge and I did the Obstacle Course in one minute twelve seconds. In addition, I found someone (Al Rosen), who truly believed in me. A friendship/relationship followed and on October 10, 2010 (10-10-10) we were married!
My passion for Tri-Fitness grew even more as our lives evolved around all the athletes. Each time a new girl or guy starts, I tell them of where I started in 2004 – dead last on box jumps! On November 16, the Tri-Fitness held it’s Sunshine State Challenge in Tampa. Despite the threat of rain, the event went on as scheduled. The first event became the Box Jumps (in 2004 my time was 1 minute and 46 seconds) and I accomplished them (50 jumps) in 36.3 seconds (perfect score is 37.5). As it was raining (forecast of 80% chance of rain all day) my brother James, sister Anne, texted me and said “Sunshine will stop the rain, everyone will run the course.” As soon as the last competitor did their box jumps, Coach Al declared: “Everyone on the field, it has stopped raining and we will go for it (the Obstacle Course)!” After I ran (did a 53.6 seconds), I was able to cheer on all the new athletes and tell them my story.
My time held up for first place as did my time in the True Grit. Some of the new people asked me when was the last time I won this event. Never…the last time I won an event was a 3rd grade spelling bee! But, to be honest, the smile on my face was the same as it was in 2004 when I was last. When I was last, I still felt the Power of Accomplishment, as I did now being first.
What is Tri-Fitness? It is an event which empowers people. It makes people believe that they can do anything they put their heart and mind to. Al Rosen convinces 60 year old women to flip over nets, jump on boxes, and dive roll over 40 inch bars. Why….because he knows they can. It is an event which has changed my life and it can change anyone’s life. During the past 10 years of competing I have encountered many obstacles including: vicious divorce, immigration problems due to my ex husband’s control, my dad’s death, diverticulitis prior to an event, shingles, lump in breast (surgery) and being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease. But, I keep telling myself that life is just like the obstacle course – keep on attacking each one and stay positive. I have every intention of improving my performance despite any obstacle which might stand in my way and I encourage others to do the same!
I will continue training with intensity and use clean eating (stay away from foods with hormones, antibiotics, etc) and using my Advocare Sports Performance Supplements. I’ve learned that you can’t control the wind, only the direction of your sails. I think, how did I, a 45 year old woman from the prairies of Winnipeg accomplish the Tri-Fitness Challenge? The answer is: Believe you can, fear no obstacles and have some Sunshine looking down on you!
Check out youtube.com/trifitnesschallenge
Along with Dan Brienza, I have been able to create wonderful videos for https://trifitnesschallenge.com
http://advocare.com/130826085
