Question - which one of these ahletes is a true Indoor Ironman or Ironwoman?

The answer - all three !

Fitness First in Gorton Manchester hosted the Indoor Ironman/Ironwoman of 2008. The venue was chosen due to last minute difficulties with the previous hosts and the willingness of the organisers to ensure the event took place. And what a venue it is. Gorton Fitness First with it's history of Micky White and the Grueller always proves popular with X Trainers from all over the country. Stuart Leng who has organised this gym challenge for the past eight years - worked closely with Mike Jones and Francis Walton at Gorton to ensure that the last event he orgainsed for the Indoor Ironman would be the best yet - and there would be few to argue the case that the day at Gorton wasn't as sucessful as ever.

The experience of Stuart has to be admired with his thirst for X Training, seeing this event evolve since the early 90's to it's present format. It could be argued that the original line up of the IRONMAN was seen as the very best of the best from the Ultrafit glory days competing and former stars such as Rob Volpe, Micky White, Adam Horder Lee Rankin would be familiar names at these events. Today however, the event has changed tact a bit. It has evolved into - not so much an elitist event - but a cornerstone in evolvement in training in a gym.

Former winners have been tempted into more more challenging roles in Duathlon, Triathlon, Ironman - and double Ironman events to push themselves - not to be blamed for this transition, as where is the challenge when the same faces meet up and compete to see normally the same faces win? But that is exactly what is happening today but with a change. You see it was very hard to keep track of the records being set in the former days. Challenges were being created frequently and the organisation of these events went largely unnoticed after the event had taken place. Without doubt it was very entertaining to watch - the span of an event was relatively quick, the excitement - captivating and the sheer energy of the competitors awesome - think the Eliminator in Gladiators, then times it by 10. The athletes of yesteryear moved and all that happened to the Indoor Ironman was that it changed pace. Not in the intensity, the 10 events are still roughly the same, but in terms of the elite athletes who took part.

Few would argue today that if Michelle Parsons or Sarah Coope competed in the women's events they would more then likely win. This is no disrespect to the brilliant efforts of today's female winners - but a true reflection of what was then and is now - but that is not to say that the same standard cannot be met by the present female elite of this sport. It is just a shame that investment into training means that once certain gymathletes reach a certain standard in fitness, the urge to move onto more competitive sports takes over, because the investment into the only gym based sport is just not there - nor is the sponsorship or media attention - now here is the amazing thing - the current UK market value of the Health and Fitness Industry is set at currently £3.7 bn. And the only sport that can be carried out within a gym environment loses it's finest athletes to Triathlon or similar events every year because we cannot sustain a sport that reflects totally within a gym!

If the UK X trainers were fledgling athletes at the sport of X Training then it would be fairly understandable why this is - but we are not! We have an undefeated world champion of an unofficial sport that cannot be beaten. To have such an athlete in this country for a sport and then lose out to another sport on the basis of lack of funding is bordering on insane.

A recent survey by a sports nutrition company www.myprotein.co.uk found that three out of four people are failing to reach government exercise targets - blaming issues such as lack of time and not enjoying exercise, and that's quite an interesting fact because once the aerobic base has been built then the development of X Training can enhance your desire to get fit - but it does take an initial effort to begin with. Again few would argue that for anybody to enter a gym challenge there is a certain person that has that competitive spirit in them - and obviously that is not everybody in a gym, but it certainly transpires to those that need that extra bit of motivation or a reason to train in a gym. The question is why is not happening?

With the Olympics on the horizon and the budding would be Carl Lewis or Steve Redgrave training like madmen at the moment, wouldn't it be good to see investment into a sport that can embrace the very core of the sustainability of a fitness industry that has so much potential? Raw talent that needs to be nurtured and trained to incredible fitness levels? I commend the industry for it's growth - but worldgymchallenge is focused on what I believe the industry seems to lack - vision in it's members. There are currently 5775 Gyms ( The Leisure Database Company) in the UK and an increase of 0.6 per cent in gym membership all of which would indicate the growth is slowing down and what is needed is fresh input and vitality that will restore the balance of integrity amongst those that use a gym and those that provide the venues and equipment.

The sport of X Training is crying out for a chance to breathe, it has struggled constantly for 15 years with not one objection to its values or training methods. In fact recent findings at Exeter University found that current moderate exercise levels will at best be the bare minimum to fight weight gain and offers a 50 per cent reduction in fighting diabetes and heart disease, all commendable - but vigorous activity offers greater protection and is probably essential in preventing prostrate cancer and colon disease. The ultimate to many leading professionals for advice is the American College of Sports Medicine and they recently changed it's its advice advocating vigorous activity. So again it is a mystery as to why an industry that has such potential by not only it members of gyms who are exceptionally fit and healthy in their own chosen sports but has raw talent that given the opportunity could set standards on fire within the UK, are always being re diverted back into a sport that is outside of a gym environment - cycling , swimming and running, when the actual industry is saying it will reinvest £200m into promoting the governments drive to reach it's physical activity goals.

And so we come full circle back to where we were yesterday, a few individuals , braced a course that challenged their fitness levels to the extreme - the ultimate test if you like, of ones training in a gym - and at best winners get a slap on the back from their local gym or a questionable -" how did you get on"? But that's it and that is something that I believe is shameful. What went on yesterday in terms of pride in members of gyms and the armed services is something that worldgymchallenge.com wants to take to the highest level- because the sport of X Training and those that take part in it deserve the respect of an industry that should acknowledge this incredible sport and these incredible gymathletes.

Well done to every single competitor at yesterday's Indoor Ironman/Ironwoman