A Day In The Life Of The Athletes At ZAP Fitness

Zap athletes heading out on a group training run. Photo: Gerry Melendez

ZAP Fitness Foundation founded 2001, is a non-profit training center for post-collegiate, Olympic hopeful long-distance runners. The center is located in Blowing Rock, NC. Photo: Gerry Melendez

ZAP Fitness Foundation founded 2001, is a non-profit training center for post-collegiate, Olympic hopeful long-distance runners. The center is located in Blowing Rock, NC. Photo: Gerry Melendez

Zap Fitness athletes Alissa McKaig and Dave Jankowski go through a training run on a quiet road in Boone, NC. Photo: Gerry Melendez

Pete Rea, elite athlete coordinator and head coach at Zap Fitness, yells out encouraging words to one of his runners during a training session in Boone, NC. Photo: Gerry Melendez

Zap Fitness coaches Ryan Warrenburg and Pete Rea chat during a training session for Zap athletes in Boone, NC. Photo: Gerry Melendez

Jesse Cherry on a training run in Boone, NC. Photo: Gerry Melendez

Pete Rea, Zap Fitness elite athlete coordinator and coach, congratulates Jesse Cherry after a successful training session in Boone, NC. Photo: Gerry Melendez

Zap Fitness athlete Chris Clark ices his legs in his bathtub after a morning training session in Blowing Rock, NC. Photo: Gerry Melendez

Zap Fitness athletes Alissa McKaig and Dave Jankowski go through a training run in Boone, NC. Photo: Gerry Melendez

Zap Fitness athlete Esther Erb works on her balance during a workout session at the Zap training facility in Blowing Rock, NC. Photo: Gerry Melendez

Zap Fitness athlete Esther Erb chats with Pete Rea, elite athlete coordinator, during a workout session at the Zap training facility in Blowing Rock, NC. Photo: Gerry Melendez

Dave Jankowski mows the yard, one of the required chores for all the athletes at Zap Fitness center in Blowing Rock, NC. Photo: Gerry Melendez

Zap Fitness athletes Dave Jankowski, Alissa McKaig and Jesse Cherry build a fence around an herb garden at the training center. Zap athletes spend Wednesdays doing outdoor chores at the facility. Photo: Gerry Melendez

Zap Fitness athlete Cole Atkins goes through a workout session at the Zap training center in Blowing Rock, NC. Photo: Gerry Melendez

Zap Fitness athletes prepare for a run in the morning around Bass Lake at Moses H. Cone Memorial Park in Blowing Rock, NC. Photo: Gerry Melendez

Zap Fitness athletes go through a training run at Moses H. Cone Memorial Park in Blowing Rock, NC. Photo: Gerry Melendez

Zap Fitness athletes go through a training run in the morning around Bass Lake at Moses H. Cone Memorial Park in Blowing Rock, NC. Photo: Gerry Melendez

Zap Fitness athletes go through a training run at Moses H. Cone Memorial Park in Blowing Rock, NC. Photo: Gerry Melendez

Zap Fitness athlete Alissa McKaig goes through an afternoon run at the training center in Blowing Rock, NC. Photo: Gerry Melendez

Zap Fitness athlete Alissa McKaig goes through an afternoon run at the training center in Blowing Rock, NC. Photo: Gerry Melendez

Zap athlete Dave Jankowski plays the drums during down time in Blowing Rock, NC. Photo: Gerry Melendez

Lots of athletes means lots of running shoes tend to pile up. Photo: Gerry Melendez

Zap Fitness athletes go through a team session with sports psychologist Stan Beecham at the training center in Blowing Rock, NC. Photo: Gerry Melendez

ZAP Fitness Founder Zika Rea's vanity license plate. Photo: Gerry Melendez

Zap Fitness athlete Alissa McKaig, photographed at the Zap Training center in Blowing Rock, NC. Photo: Gerry Melendez