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During his Ultraman Competition, a three-day event in Hawaii that includes a 6.2-mile swim, a 261.4-mile bike ride and a 52.4-mile run, Steve Hare listened to Yes, Rush, Def Leopard and Styx. Races like this are standard for Hare, who owns Vermont Sun Fitness Center with his wife Shelly. He continues to compete today, but warns that he does much of his training indoors because he will not run or bike outside if it is less than 45 degrees.
With about 1,300 members (and approximately 100 more at Vermont Sun’s new location in Vergennes), the Middlebury fitness center has been open since 1985. Hare and his brother Peter grew up in Philadelphia, and were raised in an active household. Their father was a coach during the school year and the owner and director of Keewaydin Camp on Lake Dunmore in the summer. Hare considered the camp his second home, and he and his wife actually met as counselors. Peter owns the camp today, which is affiliated with two others, Camp Songadeewin, also on Lake Dunmore, and Camp Temagami in Ontario, Canada. All three are tripping camps, and Hare used to take one “wilderness trip,” lasting as long as six weeks, each summer.
A Physical Education, Recreation and Heath major, Hare gradated from Florida Southern College before moving to San Diego in 1980. He began working for Jack LaLanne, a bodybuilder and fitness pro, and discovered his own passion for fitness and training. When he moved back to Vermont, he and Shelly opened Vermont Sun and operated out of a 1,000 square foot room before expanding the space in 1989.
“When we first opened, everyone was confused,” said Hare. “A fitness center in Middlebury, Vt. was a foreign concept.”
But Hare remained passionate about bringing his personal fitness ideals to others on the East coast, even if he calls California the “Mecca of triathlons.” Living on the West coast lured Hare into the world of swimming, biking and running competitions. While Shelly loves to workout, she tells her husband she is not a competitor, and even he says it is not as exciting to race anymore.
“My best time was about nine hours and 45 minutes,” said Hare of his Hawaiian Iron Man, a 2.4-mile swim and a 112-mile bike race, followed by a full marathon.
“My strength in triathlons was my lack of injuries,” said Hare, who may have cursed his luck.
Due to a hamstring injury, Hare has been running less frequently, but his favorite route, an eight-mile loop, weaves behind the College, past the horse farms and up Rt. 23.
Vermont Sun, situated at 812 Exchange Street, has 15 to 20 different instructors and six personal trainers. The teachers lead classes that include zumba, spinning, yoga, ballet, aqua aerobics and body pump, a new exercise involving barbells. Spinning workouts take place on the second-floor of Vermont Sun in a large open space. Hare said a curtain closes off the area, and aside from the string of Christmas lights above the mirror, there is no other light source, which Hare believes gives the room an “ambient feel.” He said a group of about 30 Middlebury students come to spinning class on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5:30 to 6:30 and each gets gym credit for the class. The Middlebury women’s varsity hockey team has also been taking classes in preparation for the season.
“It gets spiced up when the college students come because they bring so much energy,” Hare said.
The fitness center actually runs its own triathlon, which started in 1986. In 1991, the event expanded, and now includes a sprint triathlon (a 600-yard swim, a 14-mile bike-ride and a threemile run) and an Olympic distance triathalon (a 0.9-mile swim, a 25-mile bike-ride and a 6.2 mile run). Hare also organizes a Half Ironman competition, but he thinks he is going to stop this particular event.
“People love us and they love the area, but this is not going to be a world-class triathlon competitor’s big race of the year, even though the route is so pretty,” he said.
The series attracts people from across New England, Canada, New York and some “odd balls” from Florida or California, who vacation here for the summer.
In addition to the fitness center and the multi-purpose room with a climbing wall and punching bags, Vermont Sun also has an Olympic-sized and a kiddie pool. There are racquetball courts, where many also play soccer, basketball and volleyball. In addition, there is a physical therapy center, childcare and men’s, women’s and family locker rooms. Air hockey, foosball and ping-pong tables are also available for all to use, as is the sun tan booth. Hare believes that tanning in moderation is fine. Massage appointments can also be made.
“I love coaching and being part of this community,” said Hare. “It’s great to come in here and have everyone know each other’s names.”
Hare feels strange “selling fitness” because he wants to help everyone, and it took him some time to understand that there was a business and managing part to the fitness world, too. Costs for student and adult membership, personal training sessions, day passes and classes can all be found online at the gym’s website at http://vermontsun.com.
“Family is a huge commitment around here,” said Hare. “[Vermont Sun] is like the YMCA because activities are fun for the whole community from grandparents to week-old babies.”
Hare, along with his wife and their three children, values the community concept and believes that it is why people make the decision to buy a gym membership over a treadmill for their basement.
“The members become your family,” he said.