LHF: Hi Carter, thank you for being our February 2021 spotlight interview. Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Carter: I came down to South Florida about eight years ago from Denver, Colorado for school; Marine biology. I graduated in 2017 and then moved into the North Palm Beach area; That’s when I became a member at Loggerhead Fitness. I got a job at Loggerhead Marine Life Center across the street and have been working there for over four years now.
LHF: Were you always into personal fitness?
Carter: Yes. I’ve been going to the gym since I was probably 12 or 13 years old. I’ve always been into running, biking, swimming laps, you name it, exercise is a good stress release for me overall.
LHF: We love hearing that! Can you tell us how you got involved with Loggerhead Fitness?
Carter: Well, when I started working at Loggerhead Marine Life Center, in early 2017, I noticed Loggerhead Fitness across the street. One day I decided to check it out – I love the small, tight community there. I’ve been going for over three years now.
LHF: What are some of your preferred types of workouts?
Carter: As far as workouts go, that had to change a bit after my accident. Around Thanksgiving 2019, I was out snorkeling and I was hit by a boat. I lost my right arm and injured my legs pretty badly. Luckily, I’ve come a long way with recovery since the accident.
Before that, I would really enjoy free weights and would go running outside on the nature trails around Loggerhead. I returned to the gym about 6 months after the accident, doing super light weight leg presses as well as the elliptical (that’s actually helped me regain my leg strength,) also some light free weights for upper body. Overall, I’m still getting used to working out again, but it’s coming along. It’s definitely a lot better than it was six months ago.
LHF: That’s an incredible story, Carter. Has this event inspired you to make a difference in the community?
Carter: After what happened, we have been able to get Senators involved in the cause for making changes to the dive flag, making it more visible to boaters. We have a petition to make the flag more of a buoy shape to stand out more. We’ve also been working on trying to reduce the speed of boats that are closer to shore. This would help, not just swimmers, but also protect wildlife from boaters that are going too fast, causing them not to see the animal in its path.
LHF: What a great and important cause. As for you personally, how would you say your progress has been since the accident?
Carter: Right now, I’m working with a physical therapist; stretching, lunges, treadmill exercises. I’m going to start trying to make some more steps towards long distance running. I haven’t been able to run more than a half mile just because of all the issues with my legs. I’m constantly trying to push myself harder now, because thankfully, I’ve healed physically about 95% since the accident. One of my goals would be to do a triathlon, hopefully within the next few years.
LHF: Do you have an inspirational quote or words you live by that you’d like to share?
Carter: I’ve always really liked: “Be in this world and not of this world.” This saying really clicks to me; this world expects you to do or to be something, but you know, you can be something on your own. You can’t go by the ways of what everyone else does. It is important to do your own thing, motivate yourself.
