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Jamie Spencer

The initial conversation for this event happened just after Jamie Spencer competed in Camberley this year. Toying with the idea for sometime Jamie thought that Brighton and Corals Health and Fitness Club should become more involved in promoting the sport.

Jamie is a a fitness fanatic of sorts - always in the gym and always trying to get fitter, it was really only a matter of time before the passion to include his club in the X Training become reality. He set around making the phone calls - the advertising, contacting his management and arranging the race plan - all in all a 1000% effort in creating this event ... and the result!

Brighton X Training Challenge 2009

Each gym in the UK to a degree has the ability to put on a X Training Challenge. This is something that members from gyms can individually achieve - new levels of fitness and results. It also unites the gym and in particular brings in the very young to support those that are racing and we look at those who are role models in the house - brother, sister, Mum and Dad. The future X Trainer is influenced by what he watches in the gym today and where he wants to train tomorrow. It is great advertising for the gym.

The UK XTA

Is X Training for everybody? absolutely not! But it is definitely a very good way to train for anybody. It is fair to say there are those that attend a gym and the last thing they want to do is feel pressure to enter a gym challenge - but they are not the target audience - as much as there is a negative to the type of person who does not want to enter , there is also very much a positive too - and this is where X Training takes training to a new level. You will not find X Training in the training manual for gyms - only a select few very specialised X Training Personal Trainers have the ability to teach the correct method to increase fitness levels by a recognised body - The UK XTA which is run by Rory and Jax Macquisten  who have been the involved with the sport for over 15 years and their experience and Jax's many victories has lead to a very comprehensive training package which is availaible for gyms to contact them about. There are also those personal trainers in the UK GCA who lead by motivation and inspiration and the UK GCA promotes those individuals as a welcome addition to the personal trainer who is with their client Every Step Of The Way.

The Future ?

A new approach to X Training follows Brighton and much has yet to be finalised. There has been years of bickering and non negotiation between WGC and the UK XTA both being critical of each others approach to X Training and to a degree there is still an uncertain future - but there has been new ground found - where the X Trainer in the UK deserves to be given the best opportunity to expose himself to a media spotlight, where sponsorship and advertising becomes more accessible to those that take part in this sport and and that is where the UK GCA takes it stance , the publication of results and the promotion of the fittest clubs and members in the UK. To achieve those levels for individuals is ultimately the responsibility of the UK XTA to provide a training platform and set the ultimate X Training Event the Octathalon ™ where the very best X Trainers in the country earn the title UK's Fittest for an annual event.

The board who sit on the panel to approve X Training events are made up of experienced organisers of events, qualified personal trainers, coaches and a element from the armed services, all with the experience to achieve a recognised level of national events, whereby consistency and satety will be paramount and more details will be announced on the UK XTA web site in due course.

The UK GCA

It is proposed that from the beginning of the season for a period of one year a X Trainer may enter the Intermediate or Beginner levels and enter events at those levels - after (or during) the first year a X Trainer is to be graded at an official time trial (either at their local gym) or a recognized WGC event and be given status. If any X Trainer reaches a qualifying time of sub 17 min's for male and sub 18 minutes Female , they may not enter an event at Intermediate or Beginner level from the following season.

EFR (Equal Fitness Racing)

Of the racing that took place yesterday, without doubt the most exciting ones were where X Trainers of equal fitness raced each other - Farouk and Lloyd were inseparable finishing in a dead heat and Jamie Spencer also finished at the same time - which lead on to one of the most consistent comments of the day "The racing was really well matched" . EFR is proven to work - current WGC times will ensure that as much as possible the database that is available to any gym for free - will match the seriously fit against each other and the fun runner against each other - and this is where the sport develops, good close and very exciting races. In fact breathatking springs to mind.

What did your gym do at the weekend?

The UK GCA has contacted a number of gyms up and down the UK to find out what happens to their gym studio during the weekend - and over riding result is that from approximatly 12 am to 9 pm the gym studio lies empty - it is dormant - doing nothing and waiting for the opportunity to create the " Gym Challenge Day" for their members. Roughly between 30 to 60 members per gym are needed on the three diffrent levels of fitness for both male and female to utilise the the day and turn it into a fun and enjoyable event for all - and here is the crucial element .. why not make it a charity day? Retention is so important these days and keeping members motivated is almost critical to hold on to them - that is why the UK GCA has arranged for the Members Photo Frame Course Record to be purchased for a price of £50.00 plus VAT - take pride in your member's achievements and set a gym record.

The inscription of your gym will be cut into a photo frame with a space for the annual course record and a space for each of your member in the three categories for both male and female to fill.

Alternatively you can leave the Gym Studio alone - very empty - with no atmosphere and wasting away , whilst the gym next door has a full on after event party going with award presentations and each member really achieving great levels of fitness AND improving annually as progression in fitness increases .

The UK Gym Elite

During this week, many interviews about the day and reaction from those who took part will be published - it was great to chat to local entries. Sahil Sayed who you could see not only enjoyed the race he took part in , but was captivated by those who raced after - watching eagerlyall the races that and realizing what fitness is all about and what he now has to do to get to the top - or just enjoy the day and compete with a group of new found friends whom are the Gym Elite in the

UK .

For Goodness Shakes

After each race there was a welcome refresher in the great taste of For Goodness Shakes - the ultimate recovery drink - and no greater taste for the very fit and very exhausted is there then For Goodness Shakes ! literally the phrase "Drink, Eat and Sleep Fitness" represents those that take part in X Training.

Corals Health and Fitness Club

A final thank you to management Corals Health and Fitness Club and to all of their members for allowing the best UK X Trainers to use their venue to compete in this unique event. I hope they were all impressed with the levels of fitness shown and allow the event to continue annually.

More news will be published about this event in latest News

Sean Blyth

UK GCA Coordinator.

Could your gym host the next X Training Challenge for it's members?

info@worldgymchallenge.com