- When did you start training at PS?
I started training at PS when I got a back injury and couldn’t take the discomfort any longer. I was taking strong pain killers such as Volterol just to get me through the day.
My back pain was the stimulus to bringing exercise back to my life. Upon meeting Mark, he started rebuilding my core. Mark then introduced me to Sam who went about fixing my back through a series of manipulations.
- How did you get involved in cycling? (was it a Trainer suggestion/friend/aspiration?)
I had a modest interest in cycling and so my wife bought me “a runaround’ for when we are in Yorkshire (Phillip splits his time between Yorkshire and London). Then my oldest son (a very keen cyclist!) joked that I should do the Prudential 100, which is a 100 mile race through London and the Surrey hills. Always up for a challenge, I set about training for the race!
Now I cycle on average 25 miles per week.
- What was your first race/competition?
The 55/60 mile Tour de Yorkshire which I completed in preparation for the Prudential 100!
I can still remember the ‘thrill’ of cycling 8 miles for the first time, it seems mad I am now cycling 20-30 miles per session.
- What is your next challenge?
The Atlantic to Mediterranean, a 425 mile cycle route linking the two seas of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. This will be in June for 6 days.
- How will you prepare for that?
For the Atlantic trip there are 16 of us taking part so in February we will receive a full training programme. For now it’s a case of gradually increasing the mileage to 60 miles a week with a goal of 80 miles per week. After that I aim to be able to do 75 miles consecutively over 3 days to prepare for the intensity of the race.
Meanwhile my other son is also going to do the race so it’s really a case of getting him out on the bike with me!
- What do you enjoy about your gym sessions and what positive effects have you seen since training?
Firstly coming off painkillers has been fantastic! Equally losing 24 lbs and my clothes being too big is even better! Finding a hobby that gets the family involved and using a gym where the atmosphere is good and the people are pleasant. I feel I have struck a good relationship with those I train at similar times with, which makes it more bearable; the pain of the exercises that is!
I feel better, sleep better, I’ve lost weight and everything else is better as a result! I couldn’t recommend PS highly enough.