Meet Our Athlete - Jan Vanbruggen
Jan Verbruggen has been training at Outperforme for a number of years, specializing in speed skating. He has worked with almost everybody at Outperforme and hails from Rivers, MB. His most recent career highlight was earning a spot on Team Manitoba in the Winter Games, and hitting personal records at the event. He is an extremely hard worker, and not afraid to push himself.
1. How long has training been an important part of your life?
Jan - I have been training at a high level for 2-3 years.
2. How long have you been training with Outperforme Athletics?
Jan - 2 -3 years. Been through every trainer pretty much.
Outperforme – Think of how lucky you are to train with all of the different coaches and their different coaching styles!
3. Do you have any specific long-term athletic and training goals?
Jan - I would like to break 45 seconds in the 500 meter.
4. What is your most memorable accomplishment since joining Outperforme?
Jan - My most memorable accomplishment would be representing Team Manitoba at the Canada games in 2015.
5. What is your favourite exercise and why?
Jan - I have two. The first would be the barbell split squats, and I also like glute ham curls with resistance bands for extra resistance.
Outperforme – Very specific and hard exercises. Love it!
6. What is your least favourite exercise and why?
Jan - Single arm pull-ups are definitely my least favourite exercise.
7. What is your favourite song to listen to before working out or competition?
Jan - My favourite pump up song is anything either upbeat country, or anything by Eminem.
8. How do you describe the concept of the Outperforme Family to someone who hasn’t trained here before?
Jan - Outperforme has a much warmer feeling. You know when you show up that people aren’t going to judge you. Everyone is there to get better and everyone has always been really welcoming and helpful.
Outperforme – We love to hear that. It’s athlete such as yourself that create this atmosphere.
9. What does being part of the Outperforme Family mean to you?
Jan - It means getting good gains safely and properly.
Outperforme – Thank you for your answer. The majority of the time we get something about the culture, but not often anything about the education side of strength and conditioning.
10. What is something you have learned since joining the Outperforme Family?
Jan - Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself, and give yourself a little extra weight to push yourself.
Outperforme – With that mentality, you will reach your goal of breaking the 45 seconds in the 500 metre!
11. What is your most memorable Outperforme Training moment?
Jan - The first time I heard Sean lifting ridiculously big weights and dropping it on the ground. And I definitely remember him yelling while lifting it.
Outperforme – Sean “Superman” Wojnarski came by his nickname honestly.
12. Do you have a favourite post-training meal or smoothie?
Jan - My favorite post workout meal would be a glass of chocolate milk. I also eat a banana every single day while I am riding the bike to warm up.
