Our Athlete of the Month for December is John Greene! John recently made our 500 workout club here at FitTown! That is an even more amazing feat when you realize John rides his bike to and from almost every workout. If you’ve ever done a challenging bike erg workout at FitTown, you know how tough that must be to get on a bike to ride home. John said he’s only come to 16 workouts total at FitTown where he did not travel via his bike.
John is one of the kindest and welcoming people you’ll meet in our BeachFit classes. He’s always up for a good chat, and open to offering friendly advice. If you’d like to hear some of John’s “growth mindset” advice, he was a guest on The FitTown Show podcast on episode 47. He has a motto of saying “Today will be a better day than yesterday”, and he truly lives that out.
John is in incredible shape at 57 years old and tears up the mountain bike trails at Jonathan Dickinson State Park. He recently set a new personal record time on the course there. John says, “Before FitTown, I would cycle and swim, and was motivated to join because I recognized my body needed a more dynamic workout regime to provide a better quality of life as I matured. I’m stronger on the bike, have increased power, strength, and recovery.” And when pertaining to that person hesitant to start, John adds, “You’re not getting any younger, so why not start now. If I can do it, so can you, be patient with yourself.”
Thank you John for being a vital part of our FitTown family.
Here’s John to tell his story:
I was the firstborn of Lieutenant (USAF) John Greene and Mimi Greene(both native Floridians) and was born in Little Rock, Arkansas. We lived there for two years before moving to Orlando, Florida, in 1966. Once my father completed his six years in the service, he moved to West Palm Beach, and he purchased a franchise that eventually grew into his own business that sold office equipment in South Florida. As I grew up in Florida during the late ’70s, I enjoyed playing football, skateboarding, beach life, fishing, and playing golf.
I graduated from Kings Academy in 1982 (ran track, played football as a running back and middle linebacker, played on King’s first soccer team). I attended Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, receiving a BS in Business Administration and a minor in marketing. While in college, I picked up a love of photography, played club football, began mountain bike, fencing, ballet, and snow skiing. Once I graduated from college, I returned home to work for the family business until it sold in the late ’90s. For the last 20 years, I “earned and learned” my way through land and natural resource management, exotic-invasive weed control and public health mosquito control. I work for Clarke Aquatics as their FL Business Development Manager. (Side note: John loves taking pictures when out in nature, and had dreams of being a National Geographic photographer when he was young. From the pictures we’ve seen him take, he definitely has a special talent there.)
During the ’90s my sport of choice was mountain biking and road bike racing, and I competed in Mexico and the southeast and eventually won the Florida state championship.
My Wife Evelyne is from Haiti, and I have been married for 21 years and moved to Tequesta from Jupiter in 2017. In Jupiter, we raised our three children, Bella, Lion, and James. Criteria for living in Tequesta, everything we need is a bike ride away.
Little known fact about my parents is that they have a sports complex named after them at Palm Beach Atlantic University. My Father is the person I admire most. He grew up during a great time in Florida’s history. Worked hard as a boy (delivering papers to Ted Williams and the circus folks for Ringling Brothers), was a great baseball player at University of Florida, served his country in the Air Force, started his own business, and served Palm Beach Atlantic University.
Before FitTown, I would cycle and swim, and was motivated to join because I recognized my body needed a more dynamic workout regime to provide a better quality of life as I matured. I’m stronger on the bike, have increased power, strength, and recovery, and I PR’ed on the Jonathan Dickinson Mountain Bike course last month.
A perfect day for me would be an epic day of mountain biking then kicking back on a balcony overlooking the mountains with brew or wine in hand.
Memorable experience: I was a member for a few months when the dodgeball tournament was held. I showed up as White Goodman, believing other members attended in costume. Anyhow, I had to own it and played the part.
I also appreciate coach Amanda for helping me find my way back to the workout when I space out on movements.
I’m motivated to work out because of the positive energy I receive surrounding myself with like-minded individuals that keep me motivated. I feel better overall (physically, spiritually, and mentally) that the impact it has had on my mountain biking and the opportunity to be an advocate for fitness benefits by encouraging others.
My go-to advice for others: You’re not getting any younger, so why not start now. If I can do it, so can you, be patient with yourself.
What I love the most about FitTown… I love the individually unique talents of every coach/leader that help me see things from another perspective and will stand with me in and out of the gym.
