For the Gymathlete of tomorrow to evolve the sport of X Training has to get get recognition by Sport England today and this is a mission statement by WGC for those aims.

Last year WGC went out to Dubai and competed in the DB max Best of the Best X Training Challenge. The event was an incredible spectacle of both human endurance and very tight close knit racing. Competitors turned up from Iceland, UAE the UK and former Champions of Ultrafit also turned up to compete. It was set up in the majestic IBN Battuta Shopping Mall where Fitness First have their purpose built gym and Fitness First very graciously sponsored the event.

Whilst out there WGC recognised that for X Training to develop certain modes were going to have to be adapted to increase participation. It is obvious that X Training at the higher levels is just too tough for the average gym enthusiast to compete in. The lactic pain combined with maxing pretty much to the limit for ones heart rate is quite daunting to anybody that tries X Training for the first time - but none more so then say a 2000 m all out sprint on the concept 2 rower. Having said that X Training does not focus on just a rower! So a plan was hatched.

WGC does not believe that X Training will in its present format be adapted by gyms - there are a number of reasons and many of them have been published on this site, but it does believe it will evolve and has already began making progress in the Gym Challenge initiative by instigating smaller events at local gyms.

The next stage ...

The Rochester Health Club was one such Challenge - Run, Bike, Row was set at two levels and competed by a small number of entrants. The idea of this challenge was to see if members of gyms would enjoy the concept of actually trying something that would challenge them that little bit more differently - something that would say - actually there is the equipment here to do this and the members to do this - all we need to do as a gym is set the challenge and let them do it and they did.

That was the easy part, what was crucial was to gauge the reaction when they finished. 100% said they enjoyed it. It was tough but they enjoyed it and also would do it again, which is important - but what was lacking was another purpose. members don't mind working hard and giving up their time, but WGC believes it's two fold. Do a challenge - then record the time that the challenge has been done in and then create a charity day so that all the elements can be combined.

The latest gym Challenge I took part in was in support of Diabetes UK at my local gym. Even at this stage it was apparent that anybody who did one of the speed challenges wanted to know what time they had to do to beat the current leader- when they knew that, there was added focus and motivation, and a little bit more of a challenge for the member to do well - but on the whole very few took part and why should they ? There is no method to record the challenge at the gym I train at and members would be lucky if a record was mentioned at all in a news letter or results published on a notice board within the gym. In reality no times were published for this event. All that hard effort had been for nothing. It even went as far as prizes that were mentioned for best times etc were not given out or recognition of members achievements until WGC decided to publish and write about the event.

So the question remains? What can be done to increase X Training and participation in multi disciplined events. The answer WGC believes is structuring Charity Events along with Gym Challenges that are set at attainable levels by all by the 4778 gym s that are in the UK at the moment - Charity would receive an almighty boost and WGC is proud to support the British Heart Foundation.

Why Gym Duathlon? Or Gym Triathlon?

• Gym Duathlon is a simple concept, two gym apparatus (Bike, X Trainer, Rower, Treadmill) Set a distance at certain levels and record a time

Popular showcase events like the marathon are based on numbers - roughly 20,000 members take part and individually that race will raise a lot of finance for good causes. It attracts massive sponsorship and media attention and has amazing stories of dedication and inspiration after each event. The whole concept is brilliant - you just need to run!

There are nearly 7 m members of gyms in the UK . Charity events could be set up by just using the bike and the treadmill if the gyms wanted it too and they probably are already are but what are they doing with the results? And more importantly and members keeping records of those results to see if they are improving on them? Maybe they are - but certainly in the gym I train at this is not the case. I can't speak for other gyms but it would seem by the reaction WGC gets when it mentions the concept of gym challenges that these ideas are warmly received by members.

Is X Training just too hard to survive in the modern day gym?

X Training by its nature is very hard to do at the top level, but not impossible. A bit like suggesting to somebody for the first time "Fancy running 26 miles for a laugh?" The only difference being that X Training is completed in no more then generally 30 minutes. It is equally as challenging and does not need a mountain of volunteers to carry out the show. It is however restricted in the numbers that can take part - but in reality that has always been a bonus on race day - an event consisting of 100 or so gymathletes is fairly easy to manage in comparison to 20,000. And ask any X Trainer what event was more challenging a marathon or say Fitness Xtreme and you will find some surprising answers - but both share an overriding sense of achievement on completion

What next ....  ?

So when you look at the mounting evidence on support of X Training growth, the fact that the entire infrastructure is in place already to see it's development along with the trained professionals at each gym to oversee this program - with the added fact that it could generate millions for charity - there really doesn't seem a case to answer too when it comes back to the why not factor?

The Orbital ....

WGC is committed to see X Training be a recognised sport by Sport England for the benefits it brings to the table in any capacity - training, motivation, inspiration and the first stages of this brilliant sport are being introduced.

Over the coming weeks a new sport arena is being introduced to X Training - one that lets you get right up to the action - cheer on your friend - support them to the hilt and encourage them when they are struggling. This event is called 'The Orbital' and will see husband and wife race each other, football and rugby player race each other - policeman and policewoman race each other and so on and so forth. But what will make the orbital different is the arena it takes place in - no more then eight stages long , but anything of up to two pieces of gym equipment in the orbital with either one or two lane races will ensure that X Training at grass root level will evolve, as not only will it be fantastic fun - it will see your friends , family supporters from the club urging you on to complete the best time you can do on the day.

As the sport develops only those that have a similar time on the 'gym fit challenge' database will race each other, this will ensure people do not race each other that have different levels of fitness and that every race is neck and neck all the way down the course - with the added bonus of Personal Trainer focusing on a common goal with their client, as he trains them for each event.

It will embrace both male and female member of a gym of any age , or any level of fitness . It will add focus, motivation and inspiration to anybody who competed in' the orbital' and unite a gym with a common goal.

It is the new initiative taken by WGC to see the growth of the sport develop and its main aims are to raise money for charity and in the process increase public awareness of X Training and the superb gymathletes who take part in the is very demanding sport - you are a credit to the fitness industry and WGC is proud to represent X Training and all of you who compete.

Already the British Heart Foundation and Prostrate UK will be receiving funds generated by two forms of X Training and hopefully this is the start of many events yet to come.

If you would like more details on 'the orbital' please contact info@worldgymchallenge.com