Training Zone Sports
May 19, 2009
Eric Villard

Move over Merritt Athletic Club, lesser-known Training Zone Sports intimately caters to budding athletes and health conscious adults alike.

Nestled between Body Shapes for Women and Peebles at Carrolltown Mall, TZ Sports’ blue awning does its best to announce the store’s presence. But despite some ads in smaller area newspapers, the athletic training business has not really made itself known.

Troy Jones, owner of the business and an athletic trainer with 15 years of experience under his belt, moved TZ from Owings Mills about three years ago because he saw a need for such a business in Eldersburg, which he explained has a big sports population. Though centered here, Jones said he pulls business from outside of Carroll County as well – including Frederick County and even Annapolis.

He explained that TZ Sports offers a variety sports-specific training for a wide variety of athletics, from the more mainstream like football and baseball to the lesser known like figure skating. The training tries to give attention to all areas, Jones explained, from speed to mechanics.

To put it simply, Jones said, “We pretty much reengineer a person to become a better athlete.”

He added that what makes TZ so unique, especially when compared to other like business such as Velocity Sports Performance, is the wide variety of training that Training Zone does.

“We focus on strength and speed and agility – sports specific training,” Jones said. “We encompass everything; we’re a one-stop-shop for all sports.”

For those young athletes who have found this athletic training gem it is a unique and beneficial experience.

Garrett Price, who frequented TZ back in high school for baseball training, now returns to the business during the summer in his time off from college. The atmosphere of TZ sports, he mentioned, was one of the most appealing aspects.

“I have fun here and he pushes me more than ever,” Price said. “I get the best workout here than I think I could any other place.”

Another patron, David Grimaldi, explained how the gym and training equipment TZ has is fairly high end. He added that Troy Jones makes TZ a place that is very conducive to athletic conditioning.

“I notice all of the athletes here, they really enjoy it,” Grimaldi said. “When people come here, they don’t want to leave.”

Despite its focus on athletics, TZ also has a place for adults who want to keep in shape. Triathlon participant Karen Shephard explained that since training at TZ she has made personal records in all of her races. The biggest appeal of Training Zone Sports to her was that no matter the class size the training was always individualized.

As a result, she explained, “Every athlete is always challenged.”

Over Jones’ years of athletic training he has seen many of his pupils move on to do great things in various fields of sports. He keeps several black tac-boards with pictures of athletes he trained, some that have signed their photos with well wishes and thanks for Jones. Among these are Joe Gamble, previously of the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz, and Jones’ very own daughter – Racquel – who has won various state and national titles in track and field.

Other proof of his sports training know-how lies in the trophies he has shelved just above the entrance to the establishment. These, he explained, were from championship teams that he had either coached or trained. The training Jones offers is not for the faint of heart, he explained. He said that athletes who come in thinking they are in top physical shape often find themselves lacking when they go through one of his regimens. Most new people, Jones said, cannot even finish one of his warm-ups.

And then there are the unlucky few who take the “Walk of Fame,” as TZ Sports patrons affectionately know it. Don’t let the name deceive – this walk ends with an overworked customer throwing up curbside outside of TZ. The curb where most of this happens? Affectionately dubbed the “Hall of Fame.”

Training Zone Sports can be contacted at 410-549-3720 or via email at tzsports11@verizon.net. TZ Sports offers a variety of training packages for teams and individuals, as well as an Adult Boot Camp that caters to those with busy work schedules.

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