What are you doing now in terms of training?
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Training isn't regular at the minute and hasn't been for the last four months. I've just opened my own gym and have been working lots of hours and have been very busy. No excuses I know, we need to make time. I've thrown a few sessions in when I can, running home etc. Things are starting to settle down at work and as I bring more staff on board this will free up some time so I can get some good quality sessions in.
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Has this improved your level of fitness?
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My level of fitness could be a lot lot better but it hasn't been the highest priority on my list. Which is about to change! I haven't done any serious X-training since being in Australia. I've done bits and pieces over the years but with no competitions over here it's been hard getting myself motivated to bang in the hard and consistent sessions.
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Many have taken up triathlon or Cross FIT – do you miss the one on one racing that made Gym XTC unique
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I took part in a few triathlons this year for the first time which I really enjoyed, I'll do some next year also. I miss not having X-training competitions to train for over here in Oz, really enjoyed the regular events in the UK, 6 weeks focusing on Calso, Ironman, Grueller etc. I'm not really bothered whether I have a one on one race or a group road race. I love the training and seeing improvements in my own fitness the most.
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If you were in my shoes and you had the finance, what would you have done differently?
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I think Sean has done a great job promoting the sport of XTraining in the UK. I've been out of touch with what's happening with XT in the UK over the last 5 years. It would be great to see some TV coverage and also some advertising to help promote the sport. I think if there was more financial rewards for the winners it would keep them in the sport for a lot longer and from my experience if you've got one person in a gym that's passonaite about XT and very good at it they'll bring a group of people to the sport. i.e Andy Lett, Gary Nicholas and Steve and Sue Watts........ and you guys will know many more that have come on the scene over the last few years.
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Do you think a gym really cares about your titles that may have won?
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Do I think Fitness First Gorton cared that I'd won numerous nation comps in XT? My own personal experience with Fitness First is they don't give a dam about members or staff it's all about the $$$$. I'm sure there are good clubs out there with good managers. I think gyms should encourage members to strive to improve there fitness and be proud of their members when they achieve goals.
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Do you think a gym is a breeding ground to improve fitness – or money making spin machine for those that operate and supply to the industry?
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I don't think a gym is a breeding ground for fitness unless it has some committed staff or members with a driving passion to improve their fitness and the people around them. These people whether staff or members draw the best out of people and help them believe in what's possible. Gyms don't provide this people do. Gyms are there to make money like all businesses but big chains like Fitness First are to focused on making money and not on improving members fitness and enjoyment within the club.
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Would you like to see Physically Impaired Gym X Training Challenges? (Amputees etc)
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I would like to see physically impaired gym training challenges? I love seeing people striving for more and challenging themselves. Training is so much more enjoyable when we have something to train for.
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Have any of you attended a Zumba class – would you?
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I have done a Zumba Class, I thought it might help my X-training :-) Not a big fan of it, I think it will crash and burn in a year or two? Good for those people that want to have fun whilst exercising and say they do gym. Look at the majority of the Zumba crowd and it's a big crowd, they are a different breed to those that take part in XT comps, road races etc. But it's getting people exercising which is a good thing.
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Performance related results in gym fitness are more common place now – the trends are indicating a turn towards performance rather then image – would you agree?
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In my experience coaching people over the last 10+ years I've found that people who are training for a specific sporting event are more focused with their training and are more likely to stick with an exercise program.
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