My name is Chris Marella and I am the creator and owner of 4th Shift Fitness.  I began the company to positively impact the fire service through education and training.  My goal is to reach as many departments and individuals as possible to inspire, educate or coach through their fitness journey.

In 2003 I became a part time/ paid on call firefighter EMT-B for a combination department in the western suburbs of Chicago while also playing Junior hockey. Between 2003 and 2008 I played two seasons of juniors, completed my paramedic certification and worked in several departments as a paid on call, contract paramedic and full time firefighter.  In 2008 I was offered a position in a department of 136 full time members serving a population of approximately one hundred twenty thousand residents.  Growing up playing multiple sports instilled a love of training into my life.  With the physical demands of firefighting, I was able to continue my training and adjust it to the tactical demands of the profession, instead of sports performance. Little did I know that the two worlds would collide in the near future.

In 2011, a member of my department opened his own strength and conditioning facility, LGN Performance, which shared many of the values and methods that I had encountered in my athletic career.  Within months, I was able to join his team and have worked at the facility ever since.  The lessons I learned by becoming a coach at LGN coupled with my professional experience have afforded me a very specialized skillset.  Combining athletic performance with adult group training and formatting those lessons to address the issues and needs of the fire rescue community.  

Also in 2011, members of my department formed a team and competed in the Scott Firefighter Combat challenge, advertised as the 'toughest two minutes in sports.'  We competed in thirteen different cities including the National and World Championships.  At the end of the season, we were named the Scott Firefighter Challenge Grand National Champions.  The training methods and tactics I learned and used during that season are still ones I utilize today when training other athletes and firefighters.  The goals of increased strength, speed and endurance without sacrificing durability or performance are constants between the worlds of the first responder and athlete.

It was all of these factors that led me to create 4th Shift Fitness.  While firefighters and paramedics are still human and conform to the laws of physics and biomechanics, the demands of the job set them apart in their fitness needs.  The lessons and methods of 4th Shift Fitness are rooted in lessons learned in the fire service but constantly evolving to meet the needs of first responders.  By traveling to departments and delivering purposeful, practical and useable content, I hope to positively impact the careers of many firefighters.   4th Shift Fitness is truely for firefighters by firefighters.  Be prepared for your shift, with 4th Shift.