who is the rec athlete?

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Brian and I’m a lifelong REC athlete.

I’ve been a recreational athlete most of my life. My love of sports began at an early age.

I played on a basketball team at a local Boys Club where we won back-to-back championships.

In junior high I ran track and played basketball, soccer and football. I also played basketball for another year in high school.

In college I played full-contact club football my freshman year and intramural basketball and flag football all four years. In fact, my flag football team won the championship my senior year. While I was at home during the summers, my dad and I would play outdoor pickup basketball games at a local college.

At my first job after college, I played for my employer in a city-wide softball league for three years.

I also enjoy a good round of golf.

For almost three years I would play nine holes (sometimes 18, if I could get them in before dark) up to five times per week after work.

Over the years I’ve been blessed to occasionally play at some beautiful and challenging courses including the Highland Course at Primland Resort and The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort.

In 2011, I was honored to serve as a caddy at the Wells Fargo Championship Pro-Am Tournament held at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. That tournament included notable amateurs like NBA players Stephen Curry and Dell Curry and pros like Arnold Palmer. It was an experience that I’ll never forget.

2011 Wells Fargo Championship Pro-Am Tournament, Charlotte, NC

 I REC BASKETBALL.

As much as I enjoy playing other sports basketball is still my favorite.

For 14 years (until March 2020 when the pandemic hit), I played up to three times a week before work. I would get up at 4 a.m. for my workout and arrive at the gym by 6 a.m.

I attribute my consistent performance on the court to my regular training routine. Typically, I was able to play five or six games before I had to be at work by 8 a.m. It wasn’t an easy schedule; but it was worth it, because I got to regularly compete with individuals who shared my passion for the game.

My regular morning basketball group included former professional and collegiate athletes as well as guys like me that just love the game.

But these were no casual pickup games - in order to play with this group you had to consistently perform at a certain level. We took our games seriously and expected anyone who joined our group to do the same. As a result, not everyone that wanted to play with us was invited to join.

In late 2015, I almost gave up playing when I began experiencing severe back pain. I thought my days of playing basketball were over.

I couldn’t touch my toes or pick up my daughter without experiencing agonizing pain. I had difficulty sleeping, getting dressed and sitting for long periods of time. As far as training, I couldn’t jump or perform squats.

This wasn’t my first experience with back discomfort. In 2008, I began seeing a chiropractor periodically to address my back issues. Unfortunately, the situation did not improve.

When the pain worsened in December 2015, I decided to get a second opinion and visited my current chiropractor for the first time. I was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease and my x-ray revealed that my spine was significantly misaligned, which also contributed to my lower back pain.

During that initial consultation I learned that my chiropractor is a former athlete that specializes in treating other athletes. In fact, he chose the profession as a result of the chiropractic care he received following his own high school football injury. I felt I was in good hands since he had extensive experience helping athletes recover from spinal issues.

X-ray from my December 2015 consultation

The images display the misalignment of my spine from two angles (left - rear angle; right - side angle).

At the time, he recommended chiropractic massage therapy and stretching exercises to alleviate my lower back pain. Since then, I have employed a daily stretching routine and regular chiropractic adjustment visits to maintain flexibility.

In 2017, based on my personal research, I began performing kettlebell swings which also helped to alleviate my pain by strengthening my back muscles. I began to experience the additional benefits of kettlebell exercises and decided to incorporate them into my regular training regimen.

Fortunately, I did not require prescription medication or surgery to achieve pain relief. Through consistent chiropractic care and training I was able to return to the court in early 2016. With patience and perseverance I gradually got back to playing at the same level as I did before.

I created THE REC ATHLETE because I’m a recreational athlete that plays with the passion and intensity of a professional and I train like I get paid to play.

I know I’m not the only one.

If you’re interested in taking your game to the next level I have a question for you.

What do you REC?

Discover more about THE REC ATHLETE.