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When was the last time your gym awarded you a trophy?
Think about it? You train all year round with equipment that has been specifically designed to get you fitter. Year in year out, always attending the gym in all sorts of weather, just before work, just after work, on your days off, on holiday and at any time that suits you. Always to improve your health and fitness and well done - but what have you actually achieved?
It seems to WGC that from the heart of the goverment, to the highest level within the FIA everybody is talking about getting fit, improving lifestyles, getting that benefit for living in a all new sense of improved fitness. And that is where it ends in most gyms - all talk ! Actual results are something else.
X Training and the people who orgainsie, run and support these events are single handedly promoting actual fitness, the talk has been done, the training has been carried out and now it's time to put it to the test.
Ty Whitlock, orgainser of the very sucessful Hampshire X Training Challenge talks about X Training and the way he would like to see the sport develop.
The lower section of the page see's him awarding trophies .... something that any gym in the UK could do - but does it?
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| How many years has the Hampshire been going? And what are the differences between the first event and this one? |
The Hampshire is to celebrate about 15 years now - I have lost count...I believe it may be more??? I think we had a promotion a year or two ago and that would be accurate.
The main differences are...in the early days I held the event just for Hampshire Firefighters as a way of maintaining fitness levels and keeping morale/motivation high.
In Hampshire we were very well known for the Triathlons we held in the area..I just wanted to give those that competed an alternative training programme for their gym sessions.
It became popular and as with the Tri's competitors from other fire services ask to compete and then friends of firefighters..eventually building to where it is now.
The most I ever had at one event was 153 competitors...I think last year with 135 it was the second highest attendance.
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| What started you off in X Training and who have been your influences and what are your aims? |
| It was my own training programmes and my own training methods that got me started. I have always used the gym as well as the outdoors to train and supersetting with cardio machines have been part of my training since around the age of 15-16.
It was later at the Ultrafits and the Fire comps I thought why not open it up to everyone?
The main aim for me has always been promote a healthy lifestyle and look at challenges to achieve personal goals
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| Do you see a step up in training at the Hampshire before this event? |
| Most people like to challenge themselves in some way shape or form and training is no different.
Its funny but over the years members of the clubs where I have held the Challenge have said they can tell when there is one coming because the tape lines go onto the floor and more step boxes tend to find their way into the gym
So yes there is a certain increase in certain members training and there seems to be a buzz around the gym. |
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| Local members Kelly and Simon Friel perform very well and travel all over the UK – do you see the benefit in this ? |
| Simon and Kelly do very well and their training has definitely improved over the past 12 months since they first competed.
I see the benefits in them for sure and they do generate some small interest in others, however I don't think you can push things down the throats of others, promote the benefits and suggest participation, but never become obsessed as this will have a detrimental effect.
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| Many of your local members hold records – what are they? |
| The club has many members and they have made some fantastic achievements in their own fields, for example we have the current world male and female judo vets champions. There is also the female world powerboat champion, along with a top rally driver.
Having the teniis courts here we obviously have top tennis players, county and national vets champion. There are others, unfortunately my memory is not what it was! |
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| Winner of Fitness X Treme - Jason King. |
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| Do you teach X Training ? |
| I teach circuits and boxercise classes at the Club, so yes I do incorporate Cross Training by the very nature of combining exercises and reps...etc.
I have a few clients and incorporate Cross Training within their sessions and even run through various courses on the Cross Training Calendar
As for teaching Cross Training I don't know, because to me mixing resistance, bodyweight exercises, running, cycling, rowing, swimming is all Cross Training? |
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| Have you seen a upturn in events and promotion of X Training |
| Yes there is an upturn in events run within gyms and the formal promotion of Cross Training, which is good for the numbers and bringing recognition, however I personally feel we need to look at the way we are all working together?
I have not got the answers and yes I am guilty of not entering into debates on forums, they have been so negative at times though and have caused upset to many, so I would prefer to concentrate on the positives |
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| In the ideal world , what would you like to see happen to X Training? |
| I would like to see Cross Training develop even more, have some big big comps with some great exposure and sponsorship, with everybody getting on and working on the fundamentals and laying some solid foundations prior to talking about Olympics and the like.
It takes a great deal of time and effort to put on good events and with the numbers that have turned out to events this year, it is demoralising to organisers and this will lead to events being cancelled and not running again
I believe there are some great people within Cross Training with some great ideas, I would like to see them transpire. No-one can do it alone, lets listen to others and learn from mistakes. |
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| So what about the next ten years? |
| In the next 10 years I would like to see it move forward, but at the very least if there are events running then that would be great. I think I will be long gone! |
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| Martin Cater - another Trophy for another gym challenge. |
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| Who is emerging into the X Trainer of the future to look out for ? |
| There are so many good people within the Cross Training world at the moment.. |
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| New discoveries for X Training are always a welcome boost to the sport. |
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| Your sprint category is always well attended – would you like to see more try the sport at this level ? |
| I started putting a beginner/sprint course into the Hampshire, just for that reason to bring others into Cross Training, both young and old - of course I would encourage everyone to "have a go" but not everyone is into it so its there if they want to. |
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| The same event has all that something for everyone- whether it's a seriously fit or somebody who just needs that bit extra to train for - they all compete at the Hampsshire. |
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| Do you think the sport is too hard and scares people off? |
| The beginner/sprint should scare no-one. As with all training/sport, no-one should be scared and everyone should be encouraged. |
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| As an organiser what satisfaction do you get from the event – before and after ? |
| As an organiser satisfaction comes from the numbers of entries and the attraction of the top performers, along with newcomers. As well as the event being enjoyed by all with not too much going wrong. And yes the end of the comp...because you can forget it for another 6-9 months ! |
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| X Training the sport where the seriously fit and motivated meet each other at any level of fitness. |
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| What would you say is the hardest part of your course ? |
The hardest part of the course is turning up and putting your nerves to one side and giving it your all!
The step-ups in the open is probably the hardest part???
I believe it varies for everyone, if you are strong then the cardio will be tough...and vice versa.
If you ask one of our members he will tell you the abdominals! |
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| You are donating profits towards Help for Heroes – a worthy cause – explain about this charity please ? |
| I have chosen the HelpforHereos Charity this year as my son is now in the forces and is serving in Afghanistan as we speak.
With the conflicts British Forces are involved in now I think it is something we need to think more about, it supports soldiers that have experienced injuries abroad and tries to assist in rehabilitation - go onto the website it explains more. Help for Heroes |
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| Next year ? How do you see your event? |
| I try not to think that far forward. I have been promising my wife this year will be the last for around 7 years now, so we will see???? |
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| Andy Lett recieves his Masters Trophy |
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| Local competitor's mix with the Gym Elite - Great inspiration all round. |
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