By Ivy Marie
Hard work on a farm in Iowa — that is what Tom Green, former Olympic trainee and now founder and owner of GreenSpeed Training Facility, attributes his success to as one of the top coaches and personal trainers in Chula Vista, California.
Green may be more than a thousand miles away from his hometown of Hornick, Iowa, but he has carried his Midwest values with him all through his life, from being a star high school athlete that led to his stellar college career as one of the top sprinters at the University of South Dakota. That further led to his training days for the 2004 Olympics in track and field. Today, he now coaches a variety of clients, including professional athletes, rising high school stars, and anyone who is just looking to improve themselves.
“I had worked out of a variety of gyms from 2004 to 2015, but my client base and their needs for sports performance training outgrew the space I was in at the time,” said Green. “I made the risky and uncomfortable decision to leave where I was “comfortable” and create my own vision for a dream gym where personal trainers and our clients could excel. The GreenSpeed Training Facility was founded in 2015, and it’s been the greatest decision of my personal training and coaching career.”
GreenSpeed Training Facility is different than typical gyms. Instead of the “free gym” concept, Green and his crew of personal trainers have catered and detailed routines for each client. “We offer private training and also small group training options. The youngest client is seven years old, and the oldest is seventy,” said Green. Depending on client goals, what makes his gym different than others is the personal touch that each client receives. There is a focus on all aspects of the fitness industry including strength, speed, power, agility, flexibility, overall athleticism, fitness, and weight loss. “We focus on mental discipline, injury prevention, nutrition, and physical therapy, too. We also have access to the best chiropractors, massage therapists, physical therapists, acupuncture, nutritionists, and a variety of doctors,” said Green.
While Green’s business is a popular and well-known gym that attracts clients from the entire San Diego area, he still stays grounded and mindful of where his success comes from. “Growing up on a hardworking Iowa farm was a major influence on my athletic background. My parents and grandparents are incredible role models, and they continue to inspire me every day,” said Green. “They taught me at a very young age how important persistence, consistent hard work, and attention to detail are in earning success. Now, many of those principles are what I instill into each of my clients. I give them a lot of tough love, but it is done with a twinkle in my eye, and clients appreciate it. My passion is helping people achieve success while creating priceless memories and opportunities with these amazing people,” further explained Green.
Even with the solid framework that helped him build his business, Green also acknowledges that there are both ups and downs. “The pros of owning my own business include having the freedom to create a facility where trainers and our clients can call a second home. I have worked incredibly hard at creating an atmosphere that is designed around hard work yet is also very warm, unique, inviting, and comfortable. Most of our clients call GreenSpeed their “safe space.” Hearing this is incredibly fulfilling,” said Green. “The cons of owning a business are that there’s the usual financial risk, like the current COVID-19 situation we are in, time commitments required to keep a business running smoothly, and the expense of keeping equipment up-to-date. But I have such passion for what I have created that the benefits far outweigh any negatives that come along with owning a business. My favorite part of business is being directly involved with such a wide variety of people within the San Diego community. Being around such distinct personalities, goals, and backgrounds has been a priceless adventure. And I am truly honored to play a role in each of their lives,” said Green.
Green encourages those who are starting their own business, whether it is a gym or something else, to follow a passion. “Truly ask yourself what you are passionate about, then attack it with 100% effort. Know what you’re good at; work in an environment that you are interested in for a few years to understand the business and how it functions with its customers/clients; and network with people in your chosen area of interest. Understand the politics and finances needed to be successful. Start small and grow each year,” advised Green.
