I trained with Ed O’Donovan for almost a year. Over that time, I dropped from 195 lbs to 185 lbs, while becoming stronger and faster than I can ever remember. At 51 years old, years of ice hockey, downhill and cross-country skiing, and mountain trail running left my body a broken, asymmetrical mess. I was 30 lbs overweight, my knees were aching and swollen, and I couldn’t bend over in the morning because of a herniated disc.
I was on a break from physical activity and wondering whether my days as an athlete were over. I started a strength and conditioning program at a local gym where I met Ed. Although the gym was full of capable trainers, Ed had a special dedication to helping people overcome chronic injuries regardless of their age, gender, or physical ability. For example, he modified and adjusted his programs to meet my needs regardless of how many other people were in a class. His classes and programming always seemed a bit more interesting (i.e., fun!) and logical for what I needed at the time. As an educator myself, I really appreciated how Ed took the time to explain why I was performing certain movements in a particular way and with a particular weight – this was critical to avoiding training injuries. He also pointed me to several valuable resources for training and rehabilitation so I could learn on my own. I am now training by myself and really enjoying the challenges of adapting programs to my particular needs. This just would not be possible if I hadn’t spent those 6:00 AM sessions with Physical Ed!
Sean Cox, Ph.D.
British Columbia, Canada
British Columbia, Canada