Anytime Fitness Franchisee Climbs Mount Kilimanjaro with Club Member

Travis Hunsicker (left) and Mark Stevens reached the top of Mount Kilimanjaro on Sunday. Stevens owns the Anytime Fitness club in Tupelo, MS, where Hunsicker is a member. Photo courtesy of Anytime Fitness.

Anytime Fitness franchisee Mark Stevens’ relationship with one of his clubs’ members extends outside of the club to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. Stevens, who operates multiple clubs in Mississippi, and Travis Hunsicker, a member at one of Stevens’ clubs, began their climb on Mount Kilimanjaro on July 31 and reached the top Sunday in Tanzania, where they revealed a banner featuring the Anytime Fitness “running man” logo. For Hunsicker, the adventure was years …Anytime Fitness franchisee Mark Stevens’ relationship with one of his clubs’ members extends outside of the club to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Stevens, who operates multiple clubs in Mississippi, and Travis Hunsicker, a member at one of Stevens’ clubs, began their climb on Mount Kilimanjaro on July 31 and reached the top Sunday in Tanzania, where they revealed a banner featuring the Anytime Fitness “running man” logo.

For Hunsicker, the adventure was years in the making. He fail to reach the peak during his first attempt. He got a second chance through a radio station that invited Hunsicker to share his story on air and offered to send him back to Mount Kilimanjaro.

Stevens was listening as Hunsicker shared his story and says he knew immediately that he would join his member and friend on the trip.

Climbing a large mountain became a life goal for Stevens after hearing a colleague share his experience at the Anytime Fitness franchisee conference several years ago. It was a “yeah, I gotta do this” moment, Stevens wrote before his trip. And the risk paid off, he says.

“I’m not sure if fun is the right word, but it was really rewarding,” Stevens told Club Industry on Tuesday during a phone interview from Tanzania.

The pair’s preparations in and out of the gym helped make the climb successful. While Hunsicker favored high-intensity cross training, Stevens continued with his normal full-body workouts and added interval cardio training. They also both went on practice hikes.

One of the biggest challenges was adjusting to the altitude, but Stevens says the summiting process, which took about five hours, was particularly grueling.

“I think the summiting camp day was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but it was an incredible experience,” he says.

The experience taught Stevens a lesson that he will bring back to his clubs when he returns home this week.

“One of the things I learned on summit night was that I had to actually forget about the big picture for a while and just focus on the next step,” Stevens says. “I did that for hours and hours on end. For most of that, I was simply focused on the next step. That’s what it took to not be intimidated by how difficult it was. When you’re starting a business, you see the big picture and see what you want to do, but you can’t try to wrap your mind around everything all at once.”Anytime Fitness franchisee Mark Stevens’ relationship with one of his clubs’ members extends outside of the club to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Stevens, who operates multiple clubs in Mississippi, and Travis Hunsicker, a member at one of Stevens’ clubs, began their climb on Mount Kilimanjaro on July 31 and reached the top Sunday in Tanzania, where they revealed a banner featuring the Anytime Fitness “running man” logo.health club news ABC Billing Company,health club news AMERI SHAPE,health club news amerishape,health club news anytime fitness,health club news ASF Billing Company,health club news asf international,health club news butterfly life,health club news contours express,health club news curves for women,health club news enroll members,health club news fitness ,health club newsfitness center,health club news fitness life marketing,health club news fitness marketing,health club news fitness promotions,health club news golds gym,health club news world gym,health club news gym,health club news Gym Marketing,health club news Gym promotions,health club news health,health club news health club,health club news health club for sale,health club news Health Club Marketing,health club news  Health Club Promotion,health club news  fitness Consultants,health club news health club promotions,health club news Health Clubs,health club news join health club,health club news Ladies Fitness,health club news Ladies Workout Express,health club news lady of america,health club news NAC Billing Company,health club news Peak Performance,health club news planet fitness,health club news Powerful Promotions,health club news powerhouse gym,health club news Professional Fitness Marketing,health club news Raise EFT $6,health club news Slim and tone,health club news snap fitness,health club news spa studio owners,health club news Targeted fitness,health club news marketing that generates new fitness,health club news  Thousands of health clubs,health club news   world health club,health club news workout express,health club news join,health club newshealth club closed,health club news health club opening,health club newsclub solutions magazine,health club news s,health club news24 Hour Fitness,health club newsAnytime fitness,health club news  Bally Total Fitness,health club newsHealth Club Management ,health club newsCrunch Fitness,health club newsClub One,health club newsCurves,health club newsEquinox,health club newsHealth Fitness Corp.,health club newsLifestyle Family Fitness,health club newsPlanet Fitness,health club newsPlus One Management,health club newsPowerhouse Gyms,health club newsSnap Fitness,health club newsSpectrum Athletic Clubs,health club newsSport & Health,health club newsTown Sports International,health club newsSports Club Co.,health club newsUrban Active,health club newsWellbridgeHealth Club,health club newsWestern Athletic,health club newsWorld Gym,health club news virgin active,health club newsworkout anytime,health club news la boxing,health club news 9 rounds fitness,health club newsweight lifting gym,health club news health spa,health club news attorney general,health club news health club contract,health club news club enhancement fee,health club news health club billing,health club news health club fraud,health club news health club franchise,health club news gym franchise ,health club newsbreaking industry news,health club newshealth club news,health club news

For Hunsicker, the adventure was years in the making. He fail to reach the peak during his first attempt. He got a second chance through a radio station that invited Hunsicker to share his story on air and offered to send him back to Mount Kilimanjaro.

Stevens was listening as Hunsicker shared his story and says he knew immediately that he would join his member and friend on the trip.

Climbing a large mountain became a life goal for Stevens after hearing a colleague share his experience at the Anytime Fitness franchisee conference several years ago. It was a “yeah, I gotta do this” moment, Stevens wrote before his trip. And the risk paid off, he says.

“I’m not sure if fun is the right word, but it was really rewarding,” Stevens told Club Industry on Tuesday during a phone interview from Tanzania.

The pair’s preparations in and out of the gym helped make the climb successful. While Hunsicker favored high-intensity cross training, Stevens continued with his normal full-body workouts and added interval cardio training. They also both went on practice hikes.

One of the biggest challenges was adjusting to the altitude, but Stevens says the summiting process, which took about five hours, was particularly grueling.

“I think the summiting camp day was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but it was an incredible experience,” he says.

The experience taught Stevens a lesson that he will bring back to his clubs when he returns home this week.

“One of the things I learned on summit night was that I had to actually forget about the big picture for a while and just focus on the next step,” Stevens says. “I did that for hours and hours on end. For most of that, I was simply focused on the next step. That’s what it took to not be intimidated by how difficult it was. When you’re starting a business, you see the big picture and see what you want to do, but you can’t try to wrap your mind around everything all at once.”