Midway through a workout for three college athletes, their trainer allowed them to break the monotony with a quick race. Kelly Wherry, 20, the only woman in the group, was at a disadvantage against her bigger, faster colleagues.

Even though Wherry lost – and had to do five clapping push-ups as “punishment” – she appreciated the opportunity to step up to the challenge during her training session at the Velocity Sports Performance gym in Carlsbad.

Workout station What: Velocity Sports Performance is a nationwide string of more than 60 franchised gyms catering to athletes trying to improve their physical ability. Carlsbad gym: 6070 Avenida Encinas; (760) 444-0100 San Diego gym: 10806 Willow Court; (858) 592-7766 Web site: VelocitySP.com Partnership: Velocity Sports Performance works in tandem with Nike's SPARQ program, using SPARQ equipment and training methods. SPARQ stands for speed, power, agility, reaction and quickness. Cost: About $25 per hour of training Philosophy: “Our company values are our V-Truths, and they relate not only to our employees, but to our athletes and our coaches as well,” said Kerri Sonenshine, director of marketing for Velocity Sports Performance. “The six V-Truths we chose are desire, belief, character, determination, heart and pride. If you talk to professional athletes, you will find they excel at all these values.”

“It's definitely difficult, but it's good to have people pushing you to take it to the next level,” said Wherry, who plays soccer at Cal State University San Marcos.

With an advanced weight room, running track and synthetic turf field to go along with a stable of coaches, Velocity Sports Performance is not your ordinary gym.

Former Oceanside High and pro football player Charles Dimry and his wife, Erin, opened the Velocity gym in Carlsbad two years ago.

In a recent Nike-sponsored competition with more than 3,000 entrants from Velocity gyms across the country, four of Dimry's high school clients placed in the top 12 nationally with their SPARQ ratings, which measure overall athleticism through a series of tests.

“There's a lot of talent here in San Diego,” Dimry said. “We get the benefit of having some of these great athletes come through here and we get to make them better.”

Velocity will work with anyone 8 or older.

For the youngest clients, Velocity's trainers focus on what Dustin Townsend, vice president of business development for the gym in Carlsbad, calls “prehab.” This teaches children how to perform at their best while maintaining good form to lessen the likelihood of injury.

By teaching them to excel in a healthy, injury-free environment, Townsend said the youngsters are more likely to continue to pursue their athletic goals.

“It's like the old saying,” he said. “'Give a man a fish, and he'll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he'll eat for life.' We're just teaching them to fish.”

Dimry said he enjoys watching his athletes grow and move on to bigger and better things.

“It's why we got into it,” he said. “I'm not coaching them anymore, but I'm still watching them compete and try to make it to the next level. Whenever I see that, it makes me feel great that we helped them reach their goals.”

Velocity has helped local athletes such as Matt McDonald, a graduate of Cathedral Catholic High who is preparing to play soccer at the University of South Florida in the fall.

McDonald said training at Velocity has allowed him to reduce his time in the 40-yard dash.

“(Velocity has) taught me to lift correctly and given me more endurance, and I've gotten more flexible,” McDonald said.

Velocity gyms count NFL players Braylon Edwards (Cleveland Browns), Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals) and DeMarcus Ware (Dallas Cowboys) among former clients.

Dimry said he wishes this sort of gym had been around when he was a young athlete.

“Growing up, as far as we knew, it was God-given whether or not you were fast,” Dimry said. “Now I know differently. Athleticism can be taught.”

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