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Burr Ridge club welcomes familiar exercise director
Updated: December 9, 2012 6:11AM
BURR RIDGE
Six year ago, George Hood was a member of Five Seasons Family Sports Club in Burr Ridge.
A 49-year-old Drug Enforcement Administration agent at the time, he began training at the club, 6901 S. Madison Road, in a quest to break the Guinness World Record for the static “spin” cycling marathon.
This October, five Guinness World Record-breaking efforts later, Hood’s fitness journey has come full circle with a return to the club at 6901 S. Madison Road — this time as its group exercise director.
In 2007, Hood wrapped up a 24-year federal law enforcement career after serving with the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and the DEA, where he became a supervisory special agent. Thereafter, he spent nearly a year working in Afghanistan for a private firm providing support to U.S. Marines. After returning to the United States, Hood launched his fitness training career in 2009.
Early on, Hood worked at another health-and-fitness facility with Erik Knowles, Five Seasons’ current fitness director. Knowles had brought Hood aboard at the prior employer so when Knowles joined Five Seasons in September, one of his first goals was to duplicate that step.
“George is passionate about fitness and brings a great dynamic to the team,” Knowles said. “He not only preaches health and fitness, but he clearly walks the talk.”
Hood, who turns 55 in December, said he is excited about his new role. His responsibilities include managing the monthly Group Exercise program at the club, which includes nearly 54 group exercise classes of all types.
Hood also supervises about 14 instructors and the classes they ultimately provide to members at the club. Hood is also a certified personal trainer and is actively involved in personal fitness programs and training for the club’s members.
Meanwhile, he continues to “walk the talk” when it comes to personal fitness. After setting increasingly long endurance records for spin cycling, nearly tripling it to 222-plus hours, Hood last year shattered the Guinness record for the abdominal plank.
For more information about Five Seasons Family Sports Club, visit www.facebook.com/FiveSeasonsBurrRidge or call (630) 570-5200.~.
