PitFit Conditioning: Don't Stop, People Are Watching

Despite our reputation as the cornfield state, Indiana has it going on. Our state flower is the peony - quite possibly one of the prettiest and most elegant flowers; we produce more than 20% of the United States’ popcorn supply; we host the nation’s largest half-marathon; and we are the birthplace of James Dean, Kurt Vonnegut, Michael Jackson and John Mellencamp (how is that for diverse?).

But you can't write about Indiana without mentioning the Indy 500. No other race in the world has the traditions and statistics like the Indy 500. Needless to say, the Indy 500 is kind of a big deal.

So you can imagine my excitement when I heard about PitFit Training, a facility on the Northside of Indianapolis that trains Indy 500 drivers and also offers conditioning classes to the public. Since Jim Leo started PitFit in 1993, and opened his new facility in 2010, PitFit has been a game-changer in the development of motorsports-specific human performance training. The facility hosts chiropractic medicine, physical therapy, rehabilitation, massage, yoga by HTL Yoga and a training center filled with numerous fancy tools and machines to train race car drivers as well as people like me who just want a challenging, fun workout.

When I took my first PitFit Conditioning class last week, Jim didn't hesitate to announce my rookie status to the rest of the group and henceforth referred to me as "Amanda The Rookie." Totally fine. I knew I would successfully graduate from that status within an hour. Jim recorded my height and weight into his computer system and gave me a Polar heart rate monitor to strap around my chest. He then gathered the group around a white board to explain the different circuits and if needed, especially in the case of rookies like myself, demonstrate how to perform the exercise (if you have never done a Turkish Get-Up, yes, it is as difficult as it sounds). And then it was game time.

Jacobs Ladder, treadmills, flat screen with heart rates on display and other contraptions at PitFit.

Each circuit lasted one minute and had something unique to offer: CrossCore 180, battle ropes, Jacobs Ladder, kettlebells, Indo Boards, rowers and Concept 2 Ski Ergs to name a few. Jim even makes his own equipment, adding a steering wheel to a TRX to simulate the strength and coordination it takes to drive a race car. And because the group's heart rates were displayed on a flat screen the entire time, I was extra motivated to not let my heart rate dip lower than the average. Don't stop, people are watching...right?

Don't stop.

One of the coolest parts of the workout was seeing the names of J.R. Hildebrand, Scott Dixon and Pippa Mann on the various white boards throughout the room, and knowing that I was doing similar exercises as Indy 500 drivers and working out on the very same equipment they use on a daily basis. Not to mention, I took class alongside Charlie Kimball who drives the No. 83 car for Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing in the IZOD IndyCar Series (though I'll admit I didn't know this at the time).

PitFit is truly the real deal.

Following class, Jim gave me a personal lesson on the Dynavision D2, a fancy name for essentially a five foot board with lots of little squares that light up. When the light comes on, the user quickly taps it with one hand. The data - instantly displayed on a computer - shows if the user has better vision in a certain quadrant of the board. Jim explained that the board helps improve the driver's reaction, vision and peripheral skills. This reaction training is done after the driver's heart rate is elevated to simulate what really goes on inside a race car.

By the time I got home, Jim had already emailed the class a training session report with all our names and our training results including maximum heart rate, average heart rate and calories burned (all the more reason not to let your heart rate dip too low). My average heart rate was 148, my max heart rate was 179 and I burned 566 calories. Now why would you ever do a boring treadmill workout when you can have this much fun and burn almost 600 calories?

What? You don't practice changing tires everyday?

PitFit Conditioning classes are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 5:30-6:45pm. Walk-ins are $20 or you can purchase five sessions for $75 or one month unlimited for $99. Do your body and mind a favor: get off the treadmill or elliptical and go have some fun!

The pit crew - 47 circuits complete on Jim's 47th birthday!