Solace New York

Major congratulations to our very own Jennifer Nelson who recently won state title for clean and jerk!

She’s a Solace member and competed at a local meet in Brooklyn called Murder of Crows. She spent hours training and preparing for her moment and we could not be more proud of what she accomplished.🏆

We asked her a few questions so you can hear the story in her own words 👉

Walk us through the competition and what that moment felt like:

In a weightlifting competition you get the best of 3 attempts per lift. My first lift in the clean and jerk felt great, I felt confident. On my second lift, I caught it, but the judges called it a “no rep” due to a technical foul. Missing a lift can be stressful, and it’s when self-doubt creeps in. But I knew I could do the lift. On the final attempt, I succeeded. It felt amazing to know you can do something and then accomplish it. And an extra special achievement: setting a State Record.

Tell us about your coach Vasily:

I feel so lucky to train with Vasily Polovnikov. Not only is he an accomplished athlete as an international medalist, master of sport, and record holder, but an excellent coach. He has made me a stronger, mentally tougher lifter. Even as a master lifter, he believes in my abilities and challenges me to push myself daily. Vas helps me focus on being a more technical lifter and gain strength and body awareness in the critical technical positions.

How has training at Solace supported your journey?:

I love training at Solace mostly because of the athletes it attracts. My coach Vas works out of Solace, and you are often surrounded by high level athletes, people who aren’t just getting in shape but training for sport. I love that. I lift weights 4 days a week, and on the 5th day I do some version of cardio and body building. I generally take at least one to two days off a week to rest, recover, and stretch.

What would you say to members thinking about competing for the first time?:

If you are thinking about competing, you should absolutely do it. Don’t hesitate, just do it. Competing is special because it puts more pressure on you than just training, and experiencing that pressure is where you truly learn.

Major congrats to all of our athletes that participated in Hyrox 🏁🏆💪

We wanted to give a shout out to those who sent their race pics and celebrate you —

We’re so proud of you and thankful that you chose to prep for your race under our roof! We’ll most certainly continue to encourage and train through the summer — because training doesn’t stop when one race ends 🤘

Drop a comment for the next race or a goal that you’re preparing for 👇

Meet Coach Valeriu Gutu , our newest addition to the Solace PRIME coaching team!

You can catch him on the mic on Fridays at 12pm and Saturdays at 10:30 and 11:30am 💪💪

We asked him a few questions so you can get to know him before you show up —

👉Your background and how you found your way to coaching?
I grew up in a sports family. My father was a weightlifting coach, so from a young age I learned the value of discipline, hard work, and community. After years of playing soccer and competing in endurance events, I went through my own injury and rehabilitation journey. That experience taught me how powerful movement can be, not just for the body but for the mind. It inspired me to help others become stronger, healthier, and more confident through fitness.

👉What does your training look like now and how does it influence the way you coach?
My training is a mix of running, strength training, and Hyrox-style conditioning. I love the hybrid athlete approach, being strong, fit, and capable in multiple areas. Because I train that way myself, I understand the balance between performance, recovery, and longevity, and I bring that mindset into every class I coach.

👉What can members expect in your class?
High energy, positive encouragement, and a challenging workout that pushes them while making them feel part of something bigger.

👉One thing you want every person who trains with you to take away?
I want people to leave believing they are capable of more than they think. A strong body helps build a strong mind, and the discipline you develop in training carries over into every part of life.

We’re lucky to have him — See you on the floor, team!