Tyler Mayforth

Official Website of Tyler Mayforth | Delaware Born | NOLA Living

Tag: 504 Fitness

The Genesis of The Tyler_Runs_Lifts Instagram Account

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On May 17, 2021

In Athletic Achievements, Fitness

A little more than three years ago, a recent ex-girlfriend requested that I stop posting so many fitness-oriented pictures on my personal Instagram account and while I can’t remember the reasoning behind it, I chose to heed that call instead of telling her that the “Unfollow” button is far easier.

All the while, I noticed that those fitness-oriented pictures and posts had quite a bit of engagement compared to my normal fare and opened a new door for me into the world of fitness-oriented Instagram accounts. As I dug deeper into the #InstaFitFam, I decided it was somewhere that I would like to carve out my own little niche. It would not only push me physically – for obvious reasons – but it would also stoke my creative fire, which is definitely something I needed at that moment. Plus, social media is a big part of my current – and future – career path, so I might as well hone my skills, right?

Well, from all of this, @Tyler_Runs_Lifts was born!

I waffled between several other permutations of that handle, but once I saw that @TylerRuns, @Tyler_Runs, @TylerRunning, @RunningTyler & others were already taken, @Tyler_Runs_Lifts would be the next best option, since it culled together two of my favorite things – running and working out.

Truth be told, I didn’t know what to expect when I started it. I’d be lying to you if I didn’t have an outlandish goal of gaining 10,000 followers in my first year (That was a SERIOUS pipe dream). At the same time, if I got ONE follower, it would have meant the world to me, because someONE wanted to connect with me. Well, one follower turned into 10, which grew into 100 and then 500 and then 1000 and finally to 1074, where I am right now.

Flipping That 504 Fitness Tire Until My Body Can’t Take It

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On December 1, 2016

In Athletic Achievements, Fitness, New Orleans

Before last Saturday I had never thrown up from a workout.

If you’ve read this blog at all since it’s creation, you know I love to stay active, go to the gym and that I was a former Division I cross country and track & field athlete. In other words, there have been no shortage of opportunities for me to blow chunks.

I just never did. My body had never found its breaking point.

That all changed this past weekend when I flipped the tire once again at 504 Fitness.

It had been a while since I last attempted that challenge. You know, the one where you have five minutes to flip a 400-pound tractor tire as many times as possible.

I woke up last Saturday feeling good and decided to give it another go. One check of the weather revealed that the temperature had finally cracked and it much cooler than it was the last time I went out there (60 degrees versus 92 and humid),  so it was all systems go and I set my eyes on 90 flips, which would break the gym record.

I started strong and even had a small cheering section out there (two people).

I hit 20 flips per minute for the first two minutes and put myself at 65 with three minutes to go. I dug deep with each one and even impressed myself with that pace.

Then I hit the wall — and I hit it hard.

Each flip brought me closer to the record, but the tire got heavier and heavier.

By the time the last flip rattled off the cement ground, I broke my own personal record of 80 flips. I managed 82.

Jon asked to take a customary picture to show my exhaustion afterward and I obliged, sprawling out on the tire. I could have fallen asleep on it right there.

I walked around the gym a bit, then went outside. Breakfast wanted to say “Hey.”

 

Back At It Again: Tire Flips At 504 Fitness

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On September 7, 2016

In Fitness, New Orleans

To say the weather wasn’t ideal for tire flipping last Saturday would be an understatement of the century.

Then again, it’s September in New Orleans. What else should I expect?

The temperature sat in the low 90s, but with the Heat Index, it felt like 102.

As soon as I got into the courtyard outside 504 Fitness, Jon laughed and said, “You sure know how to pick what days you want to do this. Better you than me today.”

Inside the gym I told him I wanted at least 75 flips. That would be two more than my previous best of 73 and average out to 15 flips per minute. Plus, knowing the No. 1 guy on the board was no longer at the gym and The Board is only for current folks, I’d slide into the No. 1 spot and desired to better my mark before that happened.

Once I got in the heat, I questioned if 60 were even possible. It was brutal.

One by one, though, I turned the 400-pound tire end over end. I felt stronger than I ever had doing it, but didn’t want to push myself too hard, too soon, and pass out.

Jon yelled “60” right around the 3:30 mark, so I knew something was going right for me as sweat poured down my face.

Thirty seconds later, “70” echoed through the courtyard and I pushed harder. Jon urged me to keep moving. Constant movement is key.

One thing I’ve found over the years of being an athlete is that there is no better competition than what fuels you from inside. You are your No. 1 rival.

By the time the tire thundered on the ground from the last flip, I smashed by personal best of 73 with 80 flips. That’s 16 per minute, five more than I wanted.

I’m proud of my progression, but I know I can do more. I’ll have to wait until next month to attack it, because once a month is more than enough of that.

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