The Gorton Grueller happened  on Saturday 27th June. Most gym members will know nothing about this or the sport of X Training. It's not in the training manuals and most personal trainers are unaware of it.

The UK Gym Challenge Association is here to promote the sport and the gym athletes who take part and it does this in two ways - providing a complete database service free of charge to any gym so that any member can try a gym challenge for free at their own club - and by reporting on events .

The sport is at a X roads, it has the infrastructure to develop very rapidly, but does not have the support of the gym management. Which to a degree is ok - the managers do not compete and this sport is all about getting results and improving fitness levels, which is kind of what the gym may have promised you when you joined?

As the months go on from starting in X Training and your results improve, it's easy to understand why so many gym athletes return often to the same challenges each year to see if they can improve their times - because of all the guarantees this sport provides, is the one certain outcome, when you finish a race you will have achieved  a result in one of the hardest new sports for gyms X Training and you are considered now Gym Elite - versatile in Speed, Strength and Endurance in a gym environment.

You could very well out perform many top athletes in this sport. But don't expect anything in return from your gym at the moment. The top gym athletes in the UK are hardly acknowledged by the gyms they belong to. And lets remember these are the most dedicated to the gym - the one's that pay membership fee's regular as clock work and the ones that are achieving the best results.

Some do not even use personal trainers. They simply turn up at the gym and train. In fact they are so focused on upcoming events, that they up their training, perform that little harder in the hope they will knock some time of their recorded results.

Around 5% of any gym can perform to the degree of what it takes to be start the X Training process - these members from gyms are really the ones that are regular members, always renew memberships and are proud to attempt a sport that only a few hundred can compete at.

Any gym member can compete in a X Training event. They are set at three levels ranging from Beginner to Advanced and cater for male and female gym members - but when it comes down to it, very few do and only a select few gyms in the country arrange gym challenges.

These gyms are entered into the Challenge of UK's Fittest Gym  and 2010 will see the the full introduction of the new scoring system from the trial year of 2009.

What is amazing about gym athletes is that they are not professional sports people, they are ordinary members of gyms who just have extraordinary fitness levels and it is the UK GCA's absolute privilge to promote them and the sport of X Training.

Sign Up to be a member of WorldGym Challenge.com

Click Here

The 2009 Gorton Grueller

Introduction.

The evolution of the Gym Athlete has had it's highs and it's lows. At this moment in time there is lull. The quiet before the storm so to speak. But without doubt the emergence of the Super Gym Athlete is evolving, slowly and very carefully and no greater case was displayed at Gorton Fitness First on Saturday 27th May.

After months of preparation and careful planning The Fitness Committee at Gorton Fitness First played host for The Gorton Grueller. A solid group of fitness enthusiasts, who wish to promote a sport that creates solid community relations , both from their own gym and to those of the neighboring UK Gym Athletes. It is here, that a sport starts - for those that go to a gym, those that have passion and commitment and those that have the courage and fortitude in mental and physical strength to endure, one of the most grueling gym challenges in the world - The Gorton Grueller.

Why ?

The gym provides the equipment to train, but that's it - the rest is basically up to you. How you get fit is your choice. And the one that works for many is X Training - a gym only sport. This simplistic approach to training in a gym, always provides you with the motivation and focus you need to increase your fitness levels. You can train optionally with with a PT or without - but of all the elements of fitness that is guaranteed - is the one ultimate goal - results! Every single time you enter a gym challenge - a guaranteed result is the outcome.

Then again you can go back to the next gym visit wondering what to do ? How to train, what you are capable of ? And keep going on like that ... pretty soon, you will get bored and pretty soon LOM sets (lack of motivation) and pretty soon it's quite possible you will stop going to the gym?

 

Real Results

Gym Challenges are spreading all over the UK - the results that you acquire put you into the fittest 5% of any gym and the results you get after each challenge is a journey of progression - always keeping you focused , motivated and getting real results.

Some of the most influential fitness professionals, personal trainers and gym athletes in the UK take part in this sport due to the many benefits it provides. The UKGCA spoke to some of them to find out why they compete and what inspires them.

Gill WatsonGill Watson

Adventure Racer

Winner of SAS Are You Tough Enough Jungle Version

Your views on X Training ?

"It's really good for the time limitation training. If you haven't got a lot of time to train this is ideal. The intensity really gives you a good work out. It's very rewarding as well as you get see yourself getting fitter"

 

Steve DowseSteve Dowse

Definitions 4 Fitness

 

"As always a good competition, well run. Good judging and a tough course. Some really good close races too, like Jamie Spencer and myself, Simon Bellinger and Craig Horsfield and Richard and Kirk - that was amazing. So some good well matched races and well dome to the organisers. I have really enjoyed it"

 

Ben StroudBen Stroud

Chairman Facebook Group - X Training Athletes Association

Course Record Holder.

"It went exactly how I wanted it to go, I wanted to get the shoulders out in two with a minimal rest, that where I knew I would make up time the row was a bit hard, my heart rate was high, my heart rate was really high on the run but I was quite pleased as I ’m not hundred percent , so I'm pleased "

 

Kirk GibbonsKirk Gibbons

X Training Legend.

"X Training is going well for me training wise, but I am not happy with all the squabbling that is going on. It is not good for the sport. People will move away from it. I have been involved for over 10 years and as far as I can remember, every one trains, does a comp , goes away and everyone's happy. Now it's a case of I'm not going to that comp because such and such is organising it, or such and such will be there. It's ridiculous and everybody is acting like kids. It ain' t good for the sport. Everybody needs to train for the events and everyone backs that individual comp, whichever,or whoever is running it and everyone backs that event. That is the only way the sport can go forward."

Peter Gahan - Fitness First Gorton

X T Competitor

"I loved this event - It was like death warmed up! I'm not so bad on the cardio, but the weights - chest and shoulders it just gets me. I've been training for this about eight weeks. I'm not the fittest of people but I will try anything. Loved the challenge"

Kelly Friel - The Hampshire (Esporta)

Leader of Female Open Gym X Training Championships

Open Ladies Winner - Gorton Grueller 2009 and Course Record Holder.

"Loved the race today. There was a bit of pre race banter on the web site which added slightly to the tension, but great race"

 

Nicky Humphrey

Fitness First Luton - Intermediate to Open Competitor

" Had a really good race today and got a pb. My training with Simon Bellinger and Sarah Deed has really helped. We train twice a week together and then I find time to train by myself too at Fitness First Luton. I have competed at most events this year as I love the sport and can't wait for the next one, but I need to improve on my bench and shoulders first!"

 

Sarah Deed

Fitness First Luton - Open Competitor

"Had a good day today - better then expected as I haven't been training as hard recently. I struggled on the weights, but overall I was really impressed, especially with my running. I'm a 10 k runner and done a few half marathons, and will use the summer time to improve on my running. For this event though I have been quite balanced in my training, doing circuit classes, running and I have lost quite a bit of strength. I'm quite light, so the weights will always be a problem, but I was pleased as I managed to 55 shoulder press out and the upright row went quite well"

Craig Horsfield

Fitness First Gorton

"I think today was the best race I have ever run, especially on the treadmill. I could hear Stuart on the Mike saying what speed and level Simon was at and I had to dig really deep. I think it may have been my fastest 1 km at 6% ever. There has been some amazing races, Ben, Kirk, Rich, Jamie and Steve. Mike Jones got a pb and some new faces too into the sport. Good to see the Ladies Intermediate begin to take shape too.

There has been much to do in the last few weeks at Gorton, we are a good team, we have a good committee. We are hoping to get some good points here today as a team performance for UK's Fittest Gym, we travel to most events and keep up good numbers within the competitions, so hopefully we should be up there"

 

 

Mike Jones - Organiser - Gorton Grueller 2009

Fitness First Gorton - Vet Racer

"Been a great day. A lot of organising bit the judging has been good, the competitors seem to have enjoyed themselves - great support from the UK GCA so overall its been a very good competition. Maybe on the negative side, a few competitors turned up late, and it's very hard to accommodate them, but Stuart did an excellent job in getting everyone through who turned up, with a few switches here and there. The best race of the day for me was Craig Horsfield and Simon Bellinger - just two seconds in it, amazing race and also Richard Vint and Kirk - that was nail biting at the end, with Rich running at nearly 16.5 kph all the way at the end and then me and Gary Nicholls doing it for the vets! So overall really impressed with the day and with Ben's performance of 17:07 it really does show how fit these guys are and the serious training they do. A few guys tried the intermediate today just to see what it's like and then very quickly realise just what it takes to perform at these events. Next year will be even better and it will definitely go ahead"

 

Gary Nicholls

Vet Racer

" Start of the week, I was doubtful whether I could compete due to a niggling injury, but it has improved through the week and have done a pb here today. Can't really complain and I'm happy with my result. It was good racing Mike Jones - at the end of the day you race who you are put up against and I enjoyed it. All of my training has gone to plan for this one. putting together three split sessions in and its hard to set up in our gym because if you set anything up - somebody else will use it, so its always difficult. The Gym I use are not that interested in what I do, they ask occasionally about what I am doing or where I'm off to but that's about it. They have never run a gym challenge - they seem to be just interested in getting people through the door to use the leisure centre not just the gym. A couple of personal trainers ask about the sport- but personally I think they are lacking in dedication - they look at me and "I'm not doing that!"

UKGCA - Just remind me Gary - what age are you ?

"I was 55 in April"

WO1  Kevin Westall - Cpl Mark Sowden

The TA

42 Signal Squadron - 33 Signal Regiment

Kevin Westall

"It's been very interesting today seeing the performances- some really fit people here today. It's a little different to Army Physical fitness as we normally do assault courses and combat fitness training which is a lot different to what we are seeing here at the moment. It would be good to do challenges against other regiments and if possible against the public too. I think the Army would be quite good at it. We have some really fit guys and it would be good to see them race these guys here today"

UKGCA - Thank you to the TA. They have turned up today on Forces Day and been judges throughout and have been exceptionally, strict and fair throughout. A massive thank you to you all from all the competitors, organisers and the UKGCA.

Jill Bellingham

On a personal note my thanks goes to Jill, who has turned up at events and entered the results into the online scoring system on many occasions and always done this professionally and efficiently. Thanks Jill.

 

 

From Sean (Founder of the UK GCA)

There is a degree of uncertainty within the sport - the foundations of it at least. This really has nothing to do the politics of sport but about financing it and getting funding for it. Because X Training is not a recognised sport it fails to get funding from the national lottery - with the olympics on the horizon , funding very quickly filters away into the medal appealing sports. But the UK GCA has faith in the sport of X Training.

The gym athletes who take part are setting levels of fitness that have time and time again proved that the future of this sport has a very certain future, because members of gyms are achieving incredible fitness levels that would leave most professional athletes who have funding and sponsorship to sustain there passion, withering in a very embarrassing finish and when ordinary members of gyms are overtaking the elite in sport at these challenges - serious questions need to be asked and answered.

The next two events .

Walsall X Training Challenge 6th September (Fitness First Walsall)

'The Ultimate Gym Athlete' 26th September (Fitness First Chatham)

Details are entry forms will be on the web site shortly.

Well done to everybody at The Gorton Grueller - it was a very inspiring day to see so many complete this course and best of luck to you all in any future X Training Challenge you take part in.

Sean

Sean Blyth

UK GCA