Anne Chen

Meet Anne Chen!

My biggest passion next to spending time with our three granddaughters, is riding on two skinny tires; in other words, road cycling. In the morning, you can usually find me on my bike, at Prevail training with Peter Blumert, or at a dance class. In the afternoon, I work at Santa Barbara Middle School in Administration and information Technology.

When did you start coming to Prevail?

To figure out when I first started training at Prevail, I searched my “sent” email folder and found an old email from December 2006. This was 3 years before Prevail was established. I had sustained a bike-related injury that required a long period of rehab on crutches, and I had just been given the OK by Brook Phillips, DPT, to go to a group class that Chris Ecklund taught. The email I sent to Chris after class went like this, “Hi Chris–Just wanted to apologize for being so talkative and laughing so much during class tonight.” I was so happy to be active and able to do a regular workout again.

I continued training with Chris (with occasion breaks whenever I had a tumble off the bike) and as time quickly flew by, I noticed that the workouts were always safe, fun, and confidence-building. I remember when Chris was working on a name for his new facility: Prevail Conditioning Performance Center. What a hit it has become! So I guess one could say I started training at Prevail from the very beginning.

What impact has training at Prevail made in your life?

To illustrate the impact that training at Prevail has had on my life, I could simply write about the haphazard collection of medals hanging at home, which accrued after I started bike racing in 2008, or I could write about the huge benefit of becoming stronger and healthier. But of much more importance, the impact that I feel in my heart and soul is of complete gratitude. Once, when I was coming back from an injury, I tried to come up with a simple and positive way to say “I am NOT giving up” – a word or phrase that would exemplify that feeling of getting back up after being on the ground. I realized that there is a perfect word: to prevail.

Poem of Gratitude to Prevail
As Prevail’s biggest fan, there’s no doubt in my mind

That the people who work there are steadfast and kind.

When the staff at Prevail walk into the gym,

Their professional attitude is full of vigor and vim,

With a positive force that is inspirational – I can attest,

They lead by example and demonstrate the best.

I started training with Chris in 2006 – the years have been fun and full of healing!

Since then, Prevail’s location has changed … and the gym has a much higher ceiling!

Yet as we all know, it’s the people who count – no matter the place.

To the hard working team at Prevail, many thanks for your humor, wit, balance and grace.