I firmly believe that age, illness or injury should not be barriers to exercise. Whatever your starting point, exercise will help develop and maintain the fitness required to live a healthy, happy, independent life.
My lifelong sporting passion running, started as a teenager when I competed in middle distance events with Birchfield Harriers. In my twenties I developed a long-term chronic illness and was unable to exercise due to severe muscle wastage, recurrent soft tissue injuries and extreme fatigue. This taught me many lessons on how to recover and return to exercise. I, like many people, did not always get this right.
My slow 15-year return to fitness was greatly assisted by 2 brilliant personal trainers who guided and encouraged me back to health. In 2022 at the age of 57, I ran my first marathon and ultra-marathon along with completing my first ever unassisted chin up, all of which I thought impossible.
When my personal trainer, Simon, suggested I consider becoming a PT I recognised that my personal struggle combined with my 30 years’ experience as a nurse could help others on their journey to improved fitness.
Having qualified as a Personal Trainer in September 2023, I am here to help you if you are ready to make a change. Let me help you become fitter and stronger, move better, feel great again and have fun. Don’t rule out gym strengthening and conditioning work based on experiences or perceptions of large commercial gyms, SPFit is different and we may be able help you achieve your “impossible” or simply get you started on your first step of becoming healthier and fitter.
Simon, Linda, Kama and I have a strong coaching partnership at SPFit which has a uniquely friendly and empathic atmosphere to help our existing and new members achieve the results they want, but most importantly leave the building with a smile on their face. Surely, given everything that is happening in the world currently, having fun and enjoying what we do is more important than ever.
Qualifications
- Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training
- Level 2 Certificate in Gym Instructing
- Leadership in running fitness
- Meditation Personal Trainer
- Emergency First Aid at Work
Previous job
Registered General Nurse
Guilty pleasure
A sociable dinner with friends, a glass of good wine and a ration of chocolate every evening.
Favourite film
The Italian Job
Something you may not know about me
Ask me what I specialised in as a nurse!
Favourite exercise
I am currently enjoying improving my deadlift technique.
Goal for 2025
The start of 2025 is going to entail very different goals for me as I was diagnosed with breast cancer on the 19 December 2024. My initial goal will be to complete my investigations and get a treatment plan to focus on. Then my goal will be to complete whatever treatment is required, keeping as active and strong as possible.
What I will use to motivate me through my treatment and recovery is my long-term goal to complete the Paddy Buckly round (a run of 100km, taking in 47 Welsh summits). I had hoped to do this in 2025 but will now have to aim for 2026 and I know with the support and encouragement of my PT and running buddy, Simon, I will achieve it.