Unique Results Blog

From Quicksand to Quickest Man I Know!

I am sitting here – slightly annoyed!- writing this on a Sunday morning at 6.20am when I had gone to bed looking forward to my first lay in for weeks (if you can call an 8.00am rise a lay in?)

You see that’s the power of the mind and more importantly the power of inspiration (to disrupt sleep but to awaken action!)

I want to share with you today the story of Paul -Trouble- Anderson.

Last night I was out in town for a friends birthday.  I got talking to Paul for a big chunk of the evening and wanted to share a bit of his story and our conversation to act as a shining example of how awakening a passion, channelling focus, committing to a path and sticking to your guns can produce incredible results and ultimately change your life!

I have known Paul for years and he is a year or two older than me (edging him towards his mid 30s) he had always played football with lots of my friends in local teams and I don’t think he would mind me saying he wasn’t a star player. In fact he spent a lot of time as a substitute on the sideline but always loved the game and put in some effort. He was always pretty slow off the mark and had earned the dubious nickname of Quicksand (as he resembled a cartoon character trying to run out of quicksand if was required to accelerate quickly in a match situation) and was the butt of much light hearted banter.

Paul has, for as long as I have known him always been a boxing fan and when I opened Unique Results in 2007 he came down and started training regularly in our Boxing Fitness Group Sessions and started building up his fitness and working on the bags and pads. Soon after, I put a group together from Unique Results to take part in a local charity 10k run and Paul put his name down to take part and set a cause in motion which is the reason behind this article.

Paul soon went on to join a local running club and started to take his running very seriously. Before long he was running faster than me (and all of our clients and trainers) and decided to commit himself to the sport of running with more focus.

He now runs 3 – 4 times per week, competes in events most weekends and has completed 3 marathons!

He shared with me last night his personal running goals for the next 12 months (and even if you are not a runner, believe me the times I am going to mention are seriously fast – especially taking into account that Paul is in his mid 30s and has only been running for the last 3 years!) A sub 2.45 marathon! A sub 28min 5 miles! A sub 36min 10k! And a sub 60min 10 miles! And he has got within a couple of minutes or even seconds to these times already!

Paul has now also started to train as an athletics coach. To share his passion, enthusiasm and knowledge with others and said something yesterday which touched me and will stay with me.

‘Training has changed my life. I am a better person now. I am more rounded, focussed, committed, am more understanding of others and want to help other people experience what I have found’

Well done Trouble and thank you for the inspiration!

PAY IT FORWARD.

Yours in health,

James St Pierre