Local personal trainer/natural fitness competitor Renee Prusak is beaming brightly that in just over one week she will be representing Cochrane on the world stage. Prusak received her Elite status after taking home second place in the open glamour category at the Ultimate Fitness Event (UFE) Halloween Mayhem competition held in Hamilton last weekend – a win that earned her the invite to the UFE World Championships to be held in Toronto Nov.10. Not bad considering that at 42 years, much of the fit talent on stage was half her age. There were 123 competitors at the event, totalling more than 250 entries from the international fitness community. "For me to go to the worlds and showcase at 42 ... there is nothing more I could have asked for," an enthused Prusak, mom to six-year-old Elizabetta, said with a laugh. Hailing the Cochrane mom community for being supportive, Prusak officially cited the local mom community as one of her sponsors. In order to pay for her competition category entry fees and basic travel expenses, Prusak has offered up her baking and protein bar making services, as well as discounted personal training packages to fund her competition. While Prusak might be slaving in the kitchen whipping up batters and bars for customers, her own meal and workout regiment during competition season does not allow for leftover batter in the belly. "I'm so competitive that I refuse to get on stage if I know I didn't do the best I can," she said, with respect to her personal discipline that prevents her from indulging as she readies for competition. In order to prepare for her annual fall competition season, Prusak ramps up for around 12 weeks to add 30 minutes of cardio to her 60 minutes of intensive weight to her near-daily training schedule. In the off-season she trains six days a week with a strong focus on weights, cutting to five days per week in training season but longer sessions. Prusak said her ectomorph body type (petite, difficult to gain weight) has her constantly fueling her body with primarily whole, clean foods. During competition season she tightens up her eating to cut to competition weight – cutting out sugar completely and watching carbohydrate intake with a more precise calculation of what she is consuming. "I eat so much food," laughs Prusak, who typically competes in fitness model categories – with her final International Drug Free Athletics competition of the season taking place after the UFE worlds. Last weekend was Prusak's 12th fitness competition. While she usually ranks in the top five, she went into last weekend's competition hoping to make top 10 and was thrilled to take second in one of the three categories she entered. And Prusak is not the only dame in the family to take the stage – sister Shannon McDonald, a mother of three, is also a natural fitness competitor. "Renee and I have always been quite competitive. Being that she's my older sister, I wanted to follow in her footsteps and do as she did," said McDonald, 35, who said that while she and her sister did their first competition together in 2010 they have not stepped on stage together since, but are hoping to perhaps venture again. The sisters, who also both judge competitions, compete to inspire other women to achieve their personal best. "I want to motivate other moms that you can do this – you can do something for yourself," said McDonald, a sentiment expressed by Prusak. According to Sean Everingham with UFE, while most competitors are between ages 24 and 35, the fastest growing segment is women over 40. "In fact, they are becoming more and more competitive in our organization, even at the pro level," said Everingham. "I believe the reason for this is that as a woman passes 40 they are usually finished raising young children, they are established in their careers and they finally have a chance to focus on themselves and their goals again." The UFE World Championships will take place in Toronto, with athletes from all over the globe. Visit ufeshows.com.
