Sr. Lauren Catton received heart-crushing news when she was informed that she had a stress fracture in her pelvis. The injury is detrimental to runners and prevents them from completing high-quality training to maintain fitness. However, Catton knew a magician who was specific to West Ottawa.
Not all magicians wear capes, and Hans is one of them. Positioned in a cold track barn in the back of a vast shed crowded with equipment, Hans is working magic daily. Catton is one of many to experience the true sorcery that he performs.
Anti-gravity treadmills are not new to the majority of people in the running community. These treadmills live up to their name; they defy gravity. With versions ranging from highly technological “Alter G’s” to simple contraptions, known as the lever, these pieces of equipment enhance a runner’s performance. Hans is magical and technical. Various aspects of physics and advanced science are at the roots of the success of Hans.
“The lever doesn’t allow us to know exactly how much bodyweight we are taking off, but we do know it does reduce weight and run with a fairly normal stride which is great for runners that are coming back from injury or trying to get more running volume in with less load. I think it’s a useful tool for our program that we’ve had a lot of success with,” Head Cross-Country and Track coach, Kyle Barnes said.
Runners will find themselves plagued by injury, preventing them from doing what they love. Anti-gravity treadmills shine the brightest in these situations. Using space-like technology and physics, these machines enable runners to run at lower body weight percentages to improve their return to running. West Ottawa Cross Country and Track’s miracle-working lever has guided many back to their ideal over-ground running performances with a humorous touch; however, many runners at West Ottawa aren’t aware of how Hans works his magic.
Hans features a harness system attached to a treadmill and uses bungee cords to decrease the percentage of body weight a runner can run at. Looping the cord through the pulleys attached on the top of one’s left and right hips, allows runners to get lifted off the ground. Although a serious piece of equipment, West Ottawa athletes have added various elements of fun to the experience. Looking at the strange contraption four big, gold letters spelling out the name “Hans” with two hand-sized googly eyes underneath the shining letters can be found personifying the treadmill.
The magic that Hans has shown to various runners of West Ottawa is groundbreaking; nevertheless, running on the piece of equipment isn’t easy and many don’t know where to begin. The lively name and humorous eyes on the anterior of the treadmill aid in the fun of the process. With various metal bars attached to the handles of the treadmill, and bungee cords surrounding the contraption similar to a spider web, Han’s holds a small but mighty punch.
Someone attempting to situate themselves on the machine seems otherworldly. From finding the specific type of shorts that correspond with the lever and enable one to defy gravity, to determining where all of the bungee cords should be attached, the contraption involves various steps to achieve running at a lower body weight. Yet, the humor and light-heartedness approach of the treadmill has lured many in and Hans has positively impacted countless athletes.
“I could always be found running on Hans and spending so much time with him that it was only right to name and personalize him with googly eyes and a fancy name tag. Humanizing him helped me feel less alone. Running on Hans definitely helped me build integrity and helped show me that I can do hard things when no one is watching,” West Ottawa Alumni Kaia Denhof, said.
Approaching the daunting contraption in a cold barn filled with equipment, and proceeding to put one’s body through large amounts of stress, can be tasking. The opportunity that Hans has provided to athletes to run at a body weight that would align with their injury prevention, and return to sport, was one of a kind. With his big googly eyes and name sparkling with glitter, Hans gives athletes the support they need in moments when no one else can be there to cheer them on. The magic that Denhof felt when Hans allowed her to train at a high level, despite injury, will forever be held close to her heart.
“The lever was super helpful at keeping my training load up when coming back from injury and is a big reason why I was able to keep racing at a high level despite not doing a lot of running over ground. It was a great resource to have that not a lot of other high school programs had access to,” West Ottawa Alumni, Sophie Bonnema, said.
Bonnema, the college Sophomore, runs at Michigan State University; however, her path to getting there was not easy. Plagued by various injuries, Bonnema could still execute her training flawlessly due to the unique opportunity Hans provided. The lever, and its mysterious ability to lift the runner off of the ground, is a treasure West Ottawa acquires that many other schools do not.
“In the fall of 2022, I was diagnosed with a pelvic stress fracture, sidelining me for months. Thankfully I had access to the lever, allowing me to train intensively and efficiently, keeping pace with my teammates while prioritizing my health. I’m deeply appreciative of the opportunity to utilize the lever, and it has instilled in me the realization that there are myriad approaches to effective training, “ Sr. Lauren Catton said.
Injured athletes coming back to sport can agree on one thing: the task is intimidating. The lever doesn’t resolve the daunting task of coming back to sport but provides much-needed help to alleviate the stress. The magic-performing mystery machine serves as a shining reminder that success in training doesn’t have to conform to a one-size-fits-all ideology. Hans has presented countless West Ottawa athletes with opportunities that weren’t originally present.
The anti-gravity, bungee-enclosed contraption, will continue to positively impact runners at West Ottawa for years to come. The magic that Hans has already performed will follow these athletes throughout their entire lives. Whether looking to win gold on the track, or simply experience “astronaut-like” experiences, the lever at West Ottawa is a magician that will exceed expectations.
