Sixteen people in biblical rain

A couple of months ago I ran a free fitness class for my kids and two neighbours. On Monday night 16 turned up, with three more on a waiting list.

Our first fully booked CommFit class. They gave it everything for an hour on a field in Whickham, in rain I can only describe as biblical.

Nobody went home early, and a few of them left having made new friends.

For me it was a bit of a pinch-me moment.

Back in May I genuinely didn’t know whether any of this coaching would go anywhere. Slowly, and with a lot of help from a lot of people, it’s grown. One class has become two, and from next week it becomes four.

And whilst I always knew I’d enjoy it, I didn’t realise just how much. These classes are now among the highlights of my week.

Watching somebody do more than they thought they had in them, or just walk onto a field on their own and say hello to strangers, doesn’t get old.

Running something of my own for the first time has also taught me to notice the smaller stuff. A kind review. A friend brought along by a friend. A message from someone saying I’ve nudged them into trying their own thing.

None of it looks like much from the outside, but all of it keeps me going.

So thank you to everyone who has turned up so far, and to everyone who has sent a word of encouragement since May. I appreciate every one of you.

A quote worth sitting with

“I don’t think it’s a coincidence that so many people are drawn to communities where they can pursue physical challenges alongside others.”

— Kelly McGonigal, The Joy of Movement.

Sixteen people standing in a downpour on a Monday night is about as good a demonstration of that as I’ve seen.

The Saturday Standard

Sixteen

As many rounds as you can in the 16 minutes.

It’s a hard one because there’s no rest written into it and nowhere for your legs to recover; the swings and the lunges see to that. So go out at a pace you could hold for the full 16 rather than the pace you fancy in the first two.

Two more classes, and a spot in the garage

From next week CommFit runs four times a week. The two new ones are Wednesday at 10.30am and Friday at 6am, so there’s now a daytime option at an easier pace and an early one for anyone who’d rather have it done before the day starts. Times, prices and booking are all on the website.

I also coach one to one in my garage studio in Whickham. It’s £35 an hour and you pay when you book, with no blocks and no contract. It suits people coming back after a long time away who’d rather not do that in a busy gym, and anyone who just wants the session already planned so they can turn up and work. Details are on the site.

And if you or your team ever want a hand with fitness, nutrition or sleep, just email me at hello@stuart-white.co.uk.