By Mark Ambrogi
Indianapolis Fitness and Sports Training had a special visitor this summer.
Prior to training camp, Indianapolis Colts tight end Dwayne Allen spent some time at IFAST working with owners Mike Robertson and Bill Hartman, both Fishers residents.
Allen has had some injury issues the past two seasons. In the off-season, he went to EXOS, a high performance facility in Arizona.
Robertson knows some EXOS employees and they suggested Allen contact IFAST so Allen started coming in June.
“The goal is a multi-year plan for Dwayne,” Robertson said. “But the goal for this year was just getting him to feel 100 percent when he’s out there. You can imagine when you know you are going to run into guys 250 to 300 pounds all day long. I just tried to get him feeling comfortable, get him confident so he can perform at the highest level.”
Robertson, 37, handles the training and Hartman, 49, also a sports performance coach, serves as IFAST’s physical therapist
“Dwayne was a unique case where he needed a blend of both of our expertise,” Robertson said.
Allen was the first Colts player to come to IFAST since it opened in August 2008.
Robertson said Allen was the perfect Colt to be the first one.
“Some pros are very business like and I get that,” Robertson said. “Dwayne shows up with a smile and gives everyone a high five. He has great energy and very charismatic and everyone enjoys having him around.”
IFAST, 9402 Uptown Dr., Suite 1600, has worked with Indy Eleven soccer players for two years.
“It’s been awesome working with those guys and that in turn has led to a lot of other athletes coming in,” Robertson said. “Where we can make our biggest impact is with these developing young athletes. We get ton of baseball, basketball, soccer and a handful of football. “
Robertson said they welcome athletes of all skill levels.
“If they just want to move better, feel better and play better, we’re happy to work with them,” Robertson said. “We try to teach these kids more about the training process because they may not play a professional sport, but we want them to be healthy for the rest of their lives so we teach them a lot of movement skills now that will carry over for the rest of their lives.”
Robertson said many of the athletes are middle or high school-aged ones.
“We get pros from virtually every sport,” Robertson said. “We trained (ex-Indiana Pacers center) Roy Hibbert for an off-season two years ago. We have four MLS players that come in during their off-season.”
Hartman said the athletes can enhance the business because of their popularity.
“But our bread and butter is your typical Fishers area residents,” Hartman said. “Our youngest client is 8 years old and our oldest is 88.”
Hartman said since IFAST started physical therapy in December 2013 that has become his primary focus.
Along with the co-owners, IFAST has two full-time coaches, a part-time coach and an office manger. Men’s Health magazine has named IFAST, a top gym three out of six years.
