Thursdays at the new Montague High School gym look a little different these days. In the evenings, the facility is filled with firefighters and first responders walking on the indoor track and doing various exercises - but with a smile on their faces.
It's part of a new initiative designed to not only get local first responders into better shape, but to do so in a relaxed environment and build community with one another.
The creator of the group is Montague Fire District lieutenant Ken Byrne, who is still a fitness and nutrition buff in his 60s. Byrne is a Montague firefighter of 32 years and has been doing this job for over 40 (he was part of the department in his native Belding for eight years prior to that). With his daughter and son-in-law, Jenna and Rob Sorensen, Byrne owns White Lake Nutrition in Whitehall. (Nutrition is a family business for the Byrnes; another daughter, Heather Travis, teams with husband Brandon as owners of Dearborn Nutrition and Dearborn Heights Nutrition on the east side of the state.)
Inspired by the Sorensens' White Lake Fit group that meets twice a week at the Viking Athletic Center with similar aims, albeit with civilians, Byrne thought the time was right to launch a similar group for his firefighting compatriots.
"The problem with going on calls is you get that first response alert and your heart rate changes immediately," Byrne said. "We thought, 'What are we going to do to help increase our body's capabilities through nutrition and exercise to keep our bodies where they need to be so we can react to these situations, so we don't have cardiac arrest on one of our own people?'"
It began as a way to stay sharp for a coming test faced each year by Montague firefighters. Every February, Montague firefighters go through a "fitness obstacle course," said assistant chief Jonathon Degen, designed to prepare firefighters for the rapid movements and difficulties that can be faced in the line of duty. Byrne presented the idea of a fitness-focused group of first responders, colloquially known as Fireman's Fit, to the Montague department to prepare for that course, and once it gained approval, the department received clearance from the high school to use the indoor track.
The first meeting of the group was Feb. 5, and Degen was impressed with the turnout.
"I think it was very positive," Degen said. "We got away from the politics of the fire department and anything going on there and had a good time walking around the track doing our exercises, knowing we were there to get in better shape. I brought my wife along and some other guys brought their spouses along. It was good community time."
Word quickly spread, and for the Feb. 12 meeting, Degen invited White Lake Ambulance Authority paramedics - he's the WLAA director in addition to his work at the fire department - to join in as well. Byrne and Degen are moving to add Grant Township and White Lake Fire Authority firefighters to the group - "I have a love for all the people doing this," Byrne said of first responders.
While first responders of course have to by the nature of their job stay fit for their duties, the community atmosphere brought to the weekly workouts the act of doing so more fun, not to mention providing a measure of accountability. By showing up each week, participants show their fellow first responders that they're committed to doing what they need to do.
"I've tried to keep myself fit through a personalized workout, but we found it was important for accountability and community to be in a group and to cross between different cities. Montague (Fire) calls on Whitehall, and vice versa. Montague calls on Grant Township. All of them have a mutual aid agreement for when there's a big incident, so we all work together. It's really a good thing, and I think it will help the guys. There's pride in all of us in all this fireman stuff, and sometimes we have to be humble and form a good cooperation together."
Although space must be a consideration for the moment as there is only so much room in the Montague gym, it won't be for much longer. After all, Byrne wants to continue these Thursday sessions indefinitely. Once the weather is good enough, the exercises could move outside. Byrne tossed out the idea of "a beach run," or, perhaps less adventurously, utilizing local high school tracks for the firefighters' workouts. The firefighters can also join the civilian White Lake Fit meet-ups on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings.
"They were excited when I brought it up," Byrne said. "We're in the winter months and people just kind of hibernate. A lot of guys are really sore (now) because it's a cardio circuit training workout. We try to emulate some of the firefighter's movements, picking up heavy objects. I personally wore my fire gear, which can be up to 40 pounds of extra weight plus all the extra heat with the coats and pants. It's added fitness that's needed. The word of mouth is spreading among the firemen that we need it.
"They're excited about it and they can't wait for the next one. They were pretty sore after the first workout, but they're ready to come back."
