The 12 Days of Christmas X Training Challenge

On the 6th December 2008 a unique occurrence happens for X Training. Two events on the same day! X Training is going through a transition at the moment and it would appear that certain advancements are not being actively supported.

The very nature of X Training and it's growth is that gym's are a breeding ground for the sport to develop. In fact it is the simple fact that this sport more then any other sport ever conceived has the ability to go into over 4, 500 establishments on any given day,in the UK alone, based on the issue that members and equipment are in place already. It is only a shame that more gym managers are not seeing the benefit of this sport for their members and are allegedly more interested in balance sheets and sales - rather then fitness results .

When a Gym Manager comes along and suggests that an event should take place in December, in June for his members, he has a duty to ensure he keeps his word - members of that gym have trained and prepared for an event - and circumstances dictate what date he chooses - if at all possible he will not conflict with another event, but as is the case with Rochdale, the date is unavoidable.

Geographically Rochdale is split more or less halfway down the UK in comparison to Hampshire. This means rather then splitting an event it is doubling the numbers for the sport as many will not be able to travel the distance to compete (especially as the credit crunch is biting at the moment)

It makes perfect sense for challenges to be at the discretion of any gym manager who see's a need to introduce a sport to his members and save them money in the process.

The Hampshire and Fire X Training event

WGC has long commentated on this event. It is arguably the best of the year and always a fitting finale to the season. Often (as is the case this year) a party for the X Trainers do let their hair down and party the night away follows and when you add that to the team event, the unique judging, and superb organisation of the day - that Ty Whitlock completes each year, you can understand why entrants travel from afar as Scotland to take place.

Such an established event is simply the event that X Trainers as a whole wish to take part in, but these are established athletes with a track record of competing regularly all over the country and they really look forward to Hampshire - there is talk already of who will race who, of last years event, of the anticipation of the big guns having close races - and rightly so - this is a sport that when it captures the atmosphere is a tinderbox of pure adrenalin and testosterone ready to explode in exciting races. It is such a spectacle that , as long as Ty organises this event - there will be a hotly contested final race - nail biting intermediate races and sprint races that capture the pure essence of training in a gym and all that is good about it. Ty takes his place as one of the most inspiring organisers for creating the right balance of gym member and X Trainer being introduced to the sport.

Conclusion

In fairness WGC did not publish entry details on the website to the Rochdale event until the 21st Nov as the Hampshire is the senior event and recognised that a degree of fairness and harmony about these two events had to be addressed.

If the sport is to develop then occasions such as this (and this is the first as far as I am aware) will be part of the process. Regional events and national events take place all over the country in triathlon, in adventure racing in athletics, in football matches. Fledgling sports need more events to happen - need more participation and certainly do not need to be discouraged - completely the opposite.

The growth of X Training as a recognised sport will at the end of the day reflect purely and simply on a numbers game - are there events ? And how many are taking part ? This is when the sponsors will come in and look at the sport seriously. But the one over riding factor that X Training has over any other sport is the caliber of the athlete - they are totally unique in their chosen field of X Training and arguably the fittest non mainstream sport athletes in the UK.

For the support to progress the sport needs to increase in venues up and down the country and with the addition of two more events in this calendar year and also the choice to enter on line is a natural progression for development.

WGC mission statement is:

• On Line participation will grow the sport.
• Grass root participation will grow the sport
• New Events will grow the sport.
• Achievable set records will grow the sport
• Getting a recognised sport - will grow the sport

And these are all the aims of WGC

They are availiable for all to see and can be commented on the Blog Page for further input from any X Trainer or Organiser.

WGC wishes all the gymathletes who take part in either 'the Hampshire', or the '12 Days' all the very best of luck in the event that you choose to do on that day.