Trainer moves workouts outdoors due to COVID

Working out in a Winter Wonderland.

That could be a theme song at Elevate Strength and Conditioning on Bainbridge Island as owner-trainer Bethanee Randles has moved her clients outside to keep them safe during COVID-19. She’s also turned to the internet to provide live and taped virtual training sessions that are free to all.

Randles opened the new business during the pandemic after buying out Outcome Athletics, where she had been a trainer. That business shut down due to COVID-19 so in early summer she bought the assets, such as weights, and the 150-member client list.

Only problem was there was no place to workout.

So once in-person workouts were OK’d by Gov. Jay Inslee, Randles started having sessions anywhere outdoors that she could – even in clients’ driveways, porches and yards. There were no indoor workouts all summer. Battle Point Park was one of the favorite spots.

“That was fantastic,” said client Jennifer Wallach, who has been working out with Randles for five years.

She said she’s impressed with how quickly Randles has adapted the workouts for the situation, even in December. “It’s cold,” Wallach said, “but I don’t mind it.”

She said she is in the “high age group” that is concerned about COVID-19 so she’s glad their stations are 6 feet apart, they have hand sanitizer readily available, and they wear masks. If they run out of breath while exercising, they can “walk away and take the mask off.”

Wallach said with so many things shut down the workouts are especially important to her. “I’m glad she’s keeping it going,” Wallach said of Randles’ workouts, adding she even likes the video ones. “It feels like she’s yelling at me through the screen.”

Randles started putting workouts online right off the bat. “Just to give access to people at home,” she said, adding the workouts were planned for all as no equipment was needed. “I want to keep it real for people.”

Her online workouts have been viewed by people all over the world, including England, Australia and New Zealand. “It’s cool to see the reach,” she said.

Randles uses Facebook Live for her workouts because it’s easier than Zoom. “The more hoops you have to go through the fewer people use it,” she said.

When Randles obtained her current building many clients chipped in to help remodel it. They painted, knocked out walls and put in flooring.

She said she was “terrified” to open a business at this time, but the “excitement outweighed the anxiety.” She said when Outcome Athletics closed she just couldn’t leave those people without a place to work out, so she was confident they would stick with and support her.

Because of COVID, she said not everyone has returned, and that’s understandable. “Some people are not ready to come back until there’s a vaccine,” she said.

Randles said she knows she is helping people by offering workouts. “A lot of places on Bainbridge are down,” she said. “This is something I can do.”

Randles, 30, grew up in Belfair and competed in many team sports at North Mason High School. “This is the closest relatable feeling I get to being part of a team,” she said.

She said with her workouts they don’t “try to do anything crazy.” Her goal is to help clients with their balance and agility, “so you can keep up with your grandkids.”

Contact info

Call Randles at 360-801-5901 or email team@elevatestrengthco.com. The physical address of the gym is 7865 NE Day Road W. Suite 202. Hours are 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Website www.elevatestrengthco.com