Motiv8 Personal Training

During the early part of 2006 I was invited on to the ‘The New Paul O’Grady show’ as part of a mother-in-law challenge strand. After successfully completing several bizarre challenges, including going on a zero gravity flight to the edge of space, I thought my time on the show had come to a end. However Paul O’Grady had other ideas! In September 2006 he challenged me to run the Chevron Texas Half Marathon. To say I was surprised would be an understatement; to say I was absolutely petrified would be closer to the truth! A half marathon, 21.1 kilometers or 13 miles 193 yards to us imperial folk, or as I initially thought - 13 miles 193 yards further than I have ever run! Oh my god! So with the challenge being the only thing on my mind I needed to get fit, and get fit fast as I only had 16 weeks to the big day. I knew what I needed; I needed a personal trainer with the experience and patience to get me from overweight non runner to lean mean running machine! But obviously I knew that was impossible, until I met Gavin that was… Over the next 16 weeks Gavin introduced me to stretching, high protein foods, and most importantly how to become fitter and healthier. He devised a tough training schedule and from now on I’d be an athlete. We met each Monday for our one-to-one training session and discussed my previous weeks training. From there Gavin fine tuned my training, set me targets and most importantly kept my morale up. At the start of the 16 weeks I could only manage to run for 2 lampposts, I guess about 193 yards, so I was just short of the 13 miles I’d need to complete the half marathon! With Gavin’s help and a lot of hard work my distance slowly increased, 2,3,4,5 and 6 plus miles. I was virtually half way, but with fewer than 4 weeks to go I was still a little worried to say the least, Gavin guaranteed me that even thought I’d never run the full distance in training I’d breeze it on the day. To my surprise the day came and went without hiccup, even the 30 degree Texas heat didn’t stop me for completing the challenge – the half marathon. So to sum up: 16 weeks, countless miles in wet, cold windy conditions, a weight loss of 23 pounds, and one completed half marathon. Oh and of course a personal trainer I can honestly say made finishing not only possible but enjoyable. In the aftermath of my celebrations Paul O’Grady threw me another curve ball with my next challenge – the full marathon! GAVIN!! ( Doris Smallcross, The New Paul O'Grady Show) PC David Chapman I would like to write this testimony to Gavin McColl for training me to run the Robin Hood Marathon in Nottingham September 2006. I recruited Gavin to train me for my first Marathon, a goal I’d set myself to achieve in my 30th year. Gavin did much more than Personal Train me, his help an advice went into massive detail from my first run and programme right down to my pre and post race meal, and making sure I had a massage in the big tent at the finish line. All Gavin’s encouragement and advice was priceless and very educational, I have learned a lot about how to train, and about my own body. I reached my main goal of crossing that finish line, I was never the biggest fan of running I always preferred cycling and football. Having crossed the line and vowing never to run a Marathon again because I’d achieved my goal and was happy with that, I found myself on the phone to Gavin 2 days later to tell him “ I’m going to run again next year because I want to achieve a much faster time, can you help me to cut my time down?” As ever Gavin was glad to help, and straight away filled me with encouragement and confidence telling me, “ Davey you could slash that time by at least 30 mins, and I will help in every way I can. Now please let me go back to sleep it’s 2:30 in the morning!!” If anybody reading this is wanting to lose weight, or simply needs help with distance running. I have no doubt that Gavin is the trainer for you.(Davey Chapman) John Murray, Grenadier and Scots Guards 1990 – 2003 I would like to write this testimonial to recommend Gavin McColl as a personal Trainer and as a person from my own experience with him. I served my last 6 years in the army with Gavin .Which is when I discovered his great passion for fitness, and his skills to motivate myself and others around him. Gavin’s enthusiasm was contagious and his standards were always set very high. As somebody who had always been a keen sportsman, I suddenly found that middle age was catching up on me. Passing the military fitness tests was now becoming a struggle. Gavin was a PTI at the time and was made Responsible by the Sergeant Major for training individuals like myself to the standard needed to pass all the fitness tests. In days gone by this was looked upon in the army as a punishment, Gavin managed to get rid of this image for me and my colleagues. The training was hard but fun, I especially looked forward to training again for the first time in years. This showed in my results on test days as I again started to pass my military fitness tests. It didn’t stop there though, Gavin continued to help me train for my last 3 years in the army, it was hard at times but I passed my fitness tests every 6 months as required. I am now living in the Midlands and still enjoy my morning jog, and sessions in the gym using similar routines and programmes that Gavin used to set me. I am also to this day still very good friends with Gavin, I will pass on running any of those Marathons with him though. Best Regards John Murray TESTIMONIAL FOR GAVIN McCOLL PERSONAL TRAINER Caroline Levine, Hale. 01/02/07 Gavin currently trains me between 2 and 4 times per month. I first started Personal Training sessions with Gavin in June 2006 after he was recommended to me by a friend who rated the training very highly. I have been fitness training at the gym for a number of years, I like to work hard at the gym but find it hard to motivate myself to train that little bit harder and sometimes find the classic excuses to give it a miss. I have trained with different Personal Trainers at the gym and had several training programmes made. These sessions and programmes also lacked that little bit extra and still didn’t work me quite as hard as I would of liked! This is where Gavin came in, I was assured that with his military background and approach to fitness that I would be worked as hard as I so desired! And so far gavin hasn’t let me down. Even though the sessions are made to push and test me, I surprisingly enjoy them and there is always a fun element there without compromising the hard work. I particularly enjoy a gruelling aerobic session of boxercise with pads and gloves, this gets me hot and out of breath but is very fun different and enjoyable. There has been a great variety to my training, plenty of advice with exercises and routines I can also take to the gym. The convenience of doing these sessions at home is also a bonus and saves a lot of time so there, is no excuses. Most importantly my fitness has definitely improved!!!