How it all Began!

Here's a brief little time line from the start to where we are today. Nothing majorly exciting but hopefully an insight into the person I am today. I hope my journey has allowed me to become not only knowledgeable but, sympathetic and understanding of clients journeys and needs.

1971 - I arrived into the world. Sister to an international athlete, daughter to an international athlete and granddaughter to an international athlete and swimmer.

1975 - Competitive edge starting to show - age four - won my first running race at a local Playing field!

1975-80 - Traipsed arou

nd the country supporting my sister and her international Athletic career.

1979 - learnt to swim despite knees that dislocated frequently due to hypermobility.

1980 - Joined Norwich Penguins swim club - achieved National medals in 50, 100m breaststroke & 100 & 200m Fly. Momentarily British record holder for 50m (s/c) breaststroke & 4x50m FC relay (s/c). (During this time was also ranked in the UK for 800m running)

1988-91 Competed for Great British swim team.

1991 - Completed my YMCA Fitness instructors qualification

1992 - My dad, my hero, after a long battle with cancer, passed away.

1993 - Moved to Canada on a swim scholarship to study Physical activity, Health & Wellness - Awarded Athletic (Silver AUAA's 50m Br/st) and Academic (GPA 4.1) 'All Canadian' status.

1995 - Returned home to Norwich and almost immediately began suffering from terrible and debilitating panic attacks and anxiety, which lasted 20 years or more (just ask I am happy to talk about it especially is it helps a fellow sufferer).

1995 - Started work as a fitness instructor at No1 Gym Club in Norwich. (now the Curry house on Queens road)

1999 - Started work as a fitness instructor at Bannatyne's health Club - Norwich's first purpose build health club. This is also when 'Tadpoles and Toads' my Swim school was born.

2000 - Became Fitness Manager of Bannatyne's, Norwich

2002 - Became Assistant Club Manager at the club - it was around here that the number of personal training clients I had started to grow - some of which I still have today.

2007 - Married the love of my life - Rob, in my favourite place -Corfu.

2011 - April - after several failed attempts at IVF our gorgeous son Jensen was born.

2011 - December - after a long battle with cancer, my mum died.

2011 - Buggy Buddies Workouts began - outdoor, postnatal exercise classes for mums with a baby in a buggy.

2012 - Mat leave ended and I returned to Bannatyne's as a Fitness instructor. This is where my PT business really started to grow.

2015 - Staying based at Bannatyne's, I made the decision to go freelance. I was able to build work around my little boy.

2016 - I discovered CrossFit (CrossFit Spitfire) - something I could once again sink my competitive teeth into. CrossFit re-ignited my love of all things fitness and my hunger to learn.

2020 - 22nd March - the gyms closed due the England's first COVID-19 lockdown.

2020 - By July I had decided that being at home suited me. I was loving life and my clients were enjoying their workouts under the carport. It lead to an easy decision to build a studio in out back garden and bring Keep it Real PT home.

I'm hoping by knowing a little more about my journey you get a better feel for what's brought me to where we are today and who I am. Everything mentioned above has had an integral part of building my love of all things fitness and health related.

I strongly believe that exercise is such an underrated tool for tackling the health of the nation. There is always something you can do whoever you are.

"The more you think you can't the bigger the reason you should"! Me!