Octane Fuels Students and Changes Lives in San Marcos Community

BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. – Nov. 9, 2009 – Passionately committed to fueling fitness with its award-winning elliptical cross trainers, Octane Fitness, LLC (www.octanefitness.com) partnered two years ago with a visionary principal at San Marcos Middle School near San Diego to help transform the health of students, families and staff. Today, the success of the fitness program has been dramatic and ongoing, with the school recently winning the bronze medal in the California’s Governor’s Challenge on Physical Fitness.
“Since Octane was founded, our mission has been to fuel lives with the best fitness equipment available, and we are privileged to fulfill that by participating in extraordinary programs like that at San Marcos Middle School,” said Dennis Lee, president of Octane Fitness.
Pioneer on a Mission
Principal Brian Randall purchased 20 Pro350 Octane Fitness elliptical cross trainers as a way to push students along the path of physical, emotional and academic success, in a student population of 1200 6th to 8th graders, 85% of whom are Latino and 72% of whom are in the free and reduced lunch program.
Originally housed in a portable room, the fitness program, called Club 49, now occupies three buildings. Describing the program’s growth as “like wildfire,” Randall garnered significant support throughout the school district, PTO and private corporations so that the fitness facility now also houses 24 exercise bikes, four virtual reality bikes, a 20-station strength training circuit, exercise balls, yoga mats, heart rate monitors, dumbbells, flat panel TVs and workout data collection capabilities. Students use the fitness center during physical education, and those who do not pass the State Fitness Gram are identified as at-risk and undergo daily semi-private cardio, strength, flexibility and nutritional training.
All students have daily access to the facility from 2-6 p.m., and parents can exercise for free on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-8 p.m. Furthermore, the school added free yoga classes for students and parents, and purchased 40 mountain bikes and helmets for use during PE and in a newly formed bike club where students are taught to ride a bike for the first time, do pace lines and conduct team time trials.
Of 185 at-risk students, 175 (95%) have reduced their Body Mass Index and/or significantly improved their cardiovascular fitness, as evidenced in their time on the mile run. State fitness scores in cardio and strength have skyrocketed as well.
“The response to this has been wonderful, and we couldn’t have done it without Octane’s support,” Randall said. “Our goal is to focus on healthy lifestyle choices and improved fitness, with the end result a healthier child; improved academic achievement; and a connected, healthier parent community.”
Octane Fitness Background
Fueled by a relentless passion to offer the best elliptical machines, Octane Fitness is committed exclusively to delivering breakthrough, performance cross training—unlike any other fitness equipment manufacturer today. Low-impact, effective cardiovascular equipment is the sole focus of Octane Fitness’ extensive research, development, testing and manufacturing—all ultimately to benefit exercisers with superior quality products; innovative, effective workouts and unparalleled personalized service.
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Images are available; contact Julie King at 847.638.1582 or jking@octanefitness.com. For more information, contact the company at 888-OCTANE4 or www.octanefitness.com. Octane Fitness is a registered trademark of Octane Fitness.