I still remember that feeling—sitting at my desk, rubbing my aching knees, wondering how I’d gone from an active mountain biker to someone who winced at the thought of climbing stairs. Marketing deadlines loomed over my dual monitors, and the only exercise I was getting was walking to the kitchen for another snack. I was stuck in a rut and did not know where to go to get out. If only I knew then about the lives Summit improved.
That was me two years ago. Overweight, out of shape, and struggling with a wave of depression that I couldn’t shake. My mountain bike collecting dust in the garage, a painful reminder of trails not ridden and adventures postponed.
The Breaking Point
It wasn’t just my physical health that had deteriorated. I snapped at my wife, zoned out during family dinners, and made excuses to avoid social gatherings. The outdoors—once my sanctuary—had become a place where I no longer felt I belonged.
Looking back, I wasn’t even actively seeking change. I had accepted my declining health as an inevitable part of getting older and working a desk job. The idea of getting back into shape seemed distant, something for “someday” but not today.
An Unexpected Introduction
The turning point came through work, of all places. My boss then needed someone to help create marketing content for a local fitness facility called Summit. As the marketing guy, I was the natural choice for the job, though I secretly dreaded spending a day at a gym in my condition.
“Keith is different,” my boss explained. “You’ll see.”
I remember walking into Summit that first day with all my equipment and firmly telling myself I was there strictly for work. No commitments. Just capture content and leave. I was at my physical worst—overweight, out of breath from the simplest exertion, and completely disconnected from the active person I used to be.
Keith (Coach Kubi) greeted me with the kind of genuine warmth that can’t be faked. As I followed him around the facility, documenting training sessions and community events for the content piece, something unexpected happened. I found myself drawn to the atmosphere—not just the physical space, but the philosophy behind it.
“Movement isn’t just about looking good,” Keith explained between takes. “It’s about living fully in the body you have, then gradually building toward the body you want.”
By the end of that day—a day I’d approached with dread and professional detachment—I found myself having an entirely different conversation with Keith. Not about marketing content, but about my own health and the possibility of change.
“You don’t need to be ready,” Keith said when I confessed how far I’d fallen from my active days. “You just need to start.”
I left Summit that day with more than the content I’d been sent to create. I left with something I hadn’t had in years: hope that things could be different. Summit improved my perspective.
My First Gym Session
Some months later when I had to come back to Madison for work again, I finally worked up the courage to agree to a one-on-one coaching session with Coach Kubi. My initial expectations were to get worked and be incapacitated the following day and never speak of what happened again. What I found instead was Coach Keith (or Coach Kubi, as many affectionately call him) and a community that immediately made me feel welcome.
“We’re not just building stronger bodies,” Keith explained during our first meeting. “We’re building stronger lives.”
How they use the facility wasn’t what I expected either. Sure, there were climbing walls (which initially terrified me), but there was also an atmosphere of genuine support. No one was posing for mirror selfies or comparing biceps. People of all fitness levels were moving, learning, and—surprisingly—smiling.
After my first training session, Keith had set me up on an 8-week program that would build me up fundamentally. I went back to Kentucky with a vision and motivation unlike anything before. Summit Improved my life instantly and I knew there was even more to come.
More Than Just a Climbing Gym
What struck me immediately about Summit was how they approached fitness. This wasn’t just a climbing gym—it was a holistic approach to movement and wellness. Keith didn’t start by putting me on some generic program or throwing me at a climbing wall. He took the time to understand my goals, my limitations, and my history.
“Mountain biking requires specific types of strength and mobility,” he explained, sketching out a training plan that made sense for my outdoor pursuits. “We’ll focus on building a foundation that translates directly to better performance on your bike.”
For the first time, I understood that fitness wasn’t about torturing yourself with mindless repetitions—it was about preparing your body for the activities you love.
The Journey Begins
My first few weeks at Summit were humbling. I discovered muscles I didn’t know existed and limitations I hadn’t acknowledged. But unlike previous attempts at getting fit, I never felt judged or inadequate.
“That’s one more than yesterday,” Keith would say when I struggled with a movement pattern. “Progress isn’t always linear.”
The personal training sessions at Summit weren’t focused on getting “beach body” results or hitting arbitrary numbers. Instead, Keith designed workouts that incrementally improved my functional fitness—the kind that would translate to real-world activities like climbing stairs without pain or maneuvering my mountain bike through technical terrain.
To my surprise, I found myself deadlifting more than I ever had in my life. Not because I was trying to impress anyone, but because the progressive approach built both strength and confidence simultaneously. Summit improved my approach to fitness.
The Mental Transformation
What I didn’t expect was how the physical changes would impact my mental health. As my body grew stronger, something shifted in my mind as well. The cloud of depression that had followed me for months began to lift.
“Your body and mind aren’t separate systems,” Keith explained during one particularly challenging session. “They’re interconnected in ways we’re only beginning to understand.”
He wasn’t just training my muscles; he was helping me develop mental resilience too. On days when negativity threatened to take over, I’d remember Keith’s advice: “Focus on what you can control, and be grateful for what your body CAN do today.”
This shift in perspective extended beyond my training sessions. I found myself responding differently to challenges at work. Instead of attacking colleagues when projects went sideways, I began approaching problems with the same methodical, positive mindset I was developing at Summit. Summit improved my perspective.
Finding Community
Perhaps the most unexpected benefit of joining Summit was the community. In a world where “fitness culture” often feels exclusive and intimidating, Summit cultivated something entirely different. Here were people of all ages and abilities, supporting each other’s journeys without comparison or judgment.
During group sessions, I’d find myself receiving encouragement from lifelong athletes and beginners alike. We celebrated each other’s victories, whether that was someone’s first pull-up or another member’s competition success.
“This is what makes Summit special,” I overheard Keith telling a new member. “We’re building strength in all dimensions—physical, mental, and social.”
He was right. The connections I formed at Summit didn’t end when we left the facility. Weekend warrior bike trips became group adventures with fellow Summit members. What had once been a solitary activity became enriched by shared experiences and mutual support. Summit improved my social community.
Back on the Trails
Six months into my Summit journey, I found myself at the top of a trail I’d avoided for years. My heart was pounding, but not from fear—from excitement.
“You’ve got this,” I told myself, hearing an echo of Keith’s encouraging voice in my head. “Trust your training.”
As I navigated the descent—handling drops that would have terrified me before, powering through technical sections that once seemed impossible—I realized how far I’d come. My knees no longer screamed in protest and my core strength kept me balanced through rough terrain. My improved cardiovascular fitness meant I could ride longer without exhaustion.
But the biggest change wasn’t physical at all. It was the confidence to try, to potentially fail, and to get up and try again. Summit hadn’t just made me stronger physically; it had rebuilt my belief in myself. Summit improved my confidence.
Summit Improved My Ongoing Journey
Today, I’m still very much a work in progress. I haven’t magically transformed into a professional athlete, and I still have fitness goals I’m working toward. But the difference is night and day from where I started.
Summit personal training has given me tools that extend far beyond the gym walls. I’ve learned that fitness isn’t a destination but a practice—something to engage with consistently and joyfully. I’ve discovered that personal training in Madison doesn’t have to be intimidating or one-dimensional.
Most importantly, I’ve found that getting fit doesn’t have to suck. With the right guidance and community, it can be one of the most rewarding journeys you’ll ever undertake.
Whether you’re stuck behind a desk like I was, recovering from injury, or simply wanting to perform better in your weekend adventures, there’s a place for you at Summit. They truly meet you where you are and help you become who you want to be—both on and off the trails. Summit improved my approach to the journey.
Join The Community Now!
If you’re reading this and seeing echoes of your own story, know that change is possible. Not the quick-fix, miracle-cure kind of change that disappears as quickly as it came, but sustainable transformation built on solid principles and genuine support.
Summit isn’t just a gym. It’s not even just a climbing facility. It’s a community dedicated to helping you become your strongest self in every way that matters. Whether you’re looking for in-person guidance or their online personal training options, the Summit approach remains consistent: meeting you where you are and helping you build the foundation for a lifetime of movement.
The trails are waiting. Your stronger self is waiting. Summit is ready to help you bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be. Summit improved my quality of life.
Kevin Klepeis is a marketing professional, weekend warrior mountain biker, and proud member of the Summit community in Madison, Wisconsin.