High performance training comes to Libertyville
A new sports training facility opened Monday in Libertyville, but it's not meant for doughy, middle-agers looking to shed a few pounds.
Athletic Republic, a North Dakota-based franchise making its first appearance in northern Illinois, is designed to give those already involved in athletics an edge.
That's done in part with specialized and patented equipment, like a treadmill used by hockey players that moves up to 18 miles per hour at a 30-degree incline.
"When we say we're the intersection of science and sport, it's really true," said Jon Palmen, a Kenosha man who has invested in a concept established in 1990. "Our core, per se, is sports performance training."
Staff members are required to hold master's degrees in exercise physiology or kinesiology and have experience in college athletics.
Palmen is a former Division III college athlete who currently coaches boys basketball at The Prairie School in Racine. He bought the franchise for northern Illinois and southeastern Wisconsin and has a 13-year lease for space on the second floor of the Libertyville Sports Complex.
The sports complex, which is owned and operated by the village, features a fitness center with the traditional workout equipment. But the new business is a level removed.
"I've never seen some of the stuff they have before," said James Zych, who heads the village's parks and recreation department. "For the sports saturation that's in this area for youth sports ... this is a nice fit for us."
The official opening is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13 at the Libertyville Sports Complex, Route 45 and Peterson Road.
The complex is a center for volleyball, soccer and basketball leagues and the area has a growing level of participation in organized sports, Palmen said.
Athletic Republic establishes training protocols organized by age, ability level and individual goals. The personalized regimen can apply to a 13-year-old Little League baseball player or a 30-year-old professional hockey player who wants to gain a stride on the ice, according to Palmen.
"It's acceleration, speed, agility and strength training for athletes of all ages," he said.
He acknowledges this isn't the best of times to start a new business but thinks a sound product in a growing industry will attract a following.
"In times like these, you need to feel good about yourself. What we provide takes a lot of that stress away."