I’ve been doing really well with my exercise regime this year; I’ve been working out 3 times a week with weights – 1 session at Reaction PT, and 2 on the multigym at home – and it’s transformed my upper body into something I can actually be proud of rather than hide under baggy T-shirts. Should have done it years ago.
However, the missing link in my fitness has been the lower half of my body. Andy at Reaction has helped me to bulk up my upper half in the weekly session we have, and my intention was to supplement this with some jogging. It’s been tough to motivate myself to get out there and run, though, simply because I find it such a dull activity.
On Thursday, I saw an article in the Birmingham Mail about ‘British Military Fitness’. They are a national organisation that consists of serving and former forces personnel who run fitness classes in public parks. You may have seen them in cities around the UK – there are 3 groups of trainees – beginners (in blue), intermediate (in red) and the super-fit advanced people in green.
The sessions are around an hour long, and are designed to be challenging but fun. So, I went along to one at Cannon Hill Park this morning at 10am to see how I would get on. (The first session is free so you can see whether it’s for you.)
When I said to a colleague at work that I was going to try British Military Fitness, the response was ‘Are you insane?!’ – but it’s nothing like the horrors that military recruits have to go through. No one shouts at you or humiliates you (I’m pleased to say) – instead, it’s all positive motivation, getting you to push yourself further so you can essentially get a better result from your session.
Now whatever I do never ends up being straightforward, and so was the case this morning. Because I already exercise, I was put into the intermediate group (who wear red bibs). I was a little unsure about this because of my lack of cardiovascular exercise, but went with it. After we’d warmed up by running around, working various body parts etc, we were told that the first series of exercises would involve 15 burpees (which is where you crouch down, do a kind of bunny hop with hands on the floor, then jump up with hands in the air and repeat) then 10 press-ups, followed by 15 burpees, 10 press-ups, and a final 15 burpees before running one circuit around the park, around various huts and trees etc.
Well, I did my best..! I did 15 burpees, 10 press-ups, 15 burpees, another 10 press-ups and then got to about number 6 of the last set of burpees before my legs failed. And that was that. There’s no way I could have done the run – which was very frustrating, as my upper body was coping perfectly. However, the instructors were great and sent me over to the blue group who, I have to say, looked like they were having a lot more fun, and there I stayed for the rest of the session – the sole red in a sea of blues (which prompted a flurry of questions from the others, asking ‘Is it really bad in the reds?’.)
The blue group was definitely challenging (especially having done the first 10 minutes in the red group!) mainly for the work my legs were doing, and also for general cardiovascular fitness. By the end of the session I was suitably knackered (it’s been a hot day too), but feeling great from having pushed myself hard. The exercises had been varied and fun, and the instructors were a good laugh and were clearly enjoying it themselves.
I’ll definitely be going back – it’s pretty cheap at just over £30 a month for as many sessions as you like, although I’m going to stick to one only which will supplement one session at Reaction and one session at home. By the end of each week, I should have worked every muscle group going and be feeling even better than I already do.
If you’re wondering whether to try it, I would say go for the trial session, and don’t worry about it being too much. Everyone gets knackered, and even if you fail an exercise completely, they will make sure you’re OK and let you join in again when you’ve caught your breath. Everyone is really friendly, and there’s no competitiveness at all, just a common goal of getting fit – or fitter in the higher groups.
Also, if you’re in Birmingham, fed up with the gym, and prefer 1-2-1 training and support, you can’t do better than Reaction PT on Smallbrook Queensway. Andy always makes the sessions interesting, will really motivate you and will help you achieve superb results.
