2015: A 'Challenging' Year - MH Personal Training

3 years ago I became a Personal Trainer and on a professional level it is the best thing I ever did , I had always been working in the fitness industry since the age of 18 but I would be the first to admit I never really challenged myself enough with regards to my training. In 2014 for the most part I was having tests done due to painful gut issues which affected everyday life, without going into too much detail it affected me both physically and mentally and it wasn’t until being given the all clear at the end of 2014 that I decided I needed something to focus the mind and push the body, so I decided to set myself the goal of doing a challenge a month throughout 2015, in the end I got a bit carried away and ended up doing 17 challenges. The main premise being that I wanted to do something each month I had never done before, throwing me out of my comfort zone.

It has without question been a much better year for me, my body does feel like it’s been through the wringer this last month and I’m carrying all sorts of injuries, the stomach has been much better and the mind has been focussed and sharp (well sharper than it has been in the past!)

This wasn’t the only reason I wanted to do this, I was hoping to inspire my kids and anyone else who might have looked at it and thought, that looks fun, I’ll give that a go. There is nothing better I feel than trying something new, getting out in the fresh air, getting muddy, sweaty, feeling challenged, feeling alive. The challenges themselves some people would look at and think that’s not that hard I could do that, I’m not suggesting that I have done anything as remotely epic as rowing the Atlantic, Swimming the Channel or an Ironman (that’s to come) they are just small challenges that anyone can do if they really want to but still give you a great sense of achievement.

I now have clients who have taken part in their first Triathlons, friends who have joined me on some of the challenges along the way, I even signed my wife up for her first Tough Mudder this year (kind of as a ‘surprise’) and she loved it and didn’t want to kill me afterwards which is always a bonus, and now wants to do her first Half Marathon next year.

So it’s coming up to that time that everyone makes New Year’s Resolutions that generally only last until Feb, personally I think scrap all that, change the mind-set now, start planning now, if you really want to change start the process now. The challenge does not have to be an obstacle course race, it could just be to lose weight, get stronger, just feel healthier whatever it might be that you choose to do, the main points are to stay focussed, listen to your body and ENJOY it!

January: Set Park Run PB 21:55

February: Brutal Events 10k (Video below)