Sproing Fitness is a fitness workout that gives a softer, lower impact alternative to the treadmill. Everyone has to “fall forward” in order to run — but on a treadmill, where the road moves below, it’s virtually impossible to fall forward. Instead, the treadmill causes a runner to land ahead of her body, on the heel, which puts a lot of pressure on the hips, knees and back.
Sproing Fitness has reinvented the treadmill by replacing the hard wooden deck with a soft impact-absorbing air cushion that “lets you feel like you’re running on the beach.” The back of the machine also has a tether, so one can “fall forward” with confidence while running on a Sproing Fitness machine. But that’s not all! Sproing Fitness has also opened fitness studios which feature their treadmills in Chicago, Houston, and Baltimore.
The founders of Sproing Fitness, silver-haired baby boomers Paul Toback and Steve Lenz from Chicago, Illinois, are pitching their exercise business on Shark Tank on January 6. They’re seeking a $500,000 investment in exchange for eight percent equity. When they encourage the Sharks to try it out for some friendly competition, fellow baby boomer Robert Herjavec and Daymond John are quick to jump out of their seats.
Paul Toback definitely has the professional experience to make Sproing Fitness succeed. He was the former CEO/President of Bally Total Fitness where he led licensing, sponsorship and franchising opportunities, among other things, for nine years. AND he was Executive Assistant to the Chief of Staff at The White House to President Bill Clinton’s first Chief of Staff, Mack McLarty (1993-1994). If that’s not enough big job credentials, Toback was also Chief Administrative Officer/Executive Assistant to the Mayor of Chicago, Richard M. Daley (from 1989 to 1992). Toback graduated in political science from Stanford University and earned his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School. New episodes of Shark Tank air Sundays at 9 pm on ABC.
