I would love you guys to know a little bit more about my journey and so below is a bit about my career so far… hopefully not to boring 🙂
So…. I am a bit shy (believe it or not ha ha), but seriously I am not very good at self promoting and so this next bit comes a little hard for me but my family, friends and close clients (who I also know are my friends as well) have told me to do it… so here goes…
About me and my journey to where I am today….
I love of sport I decided after school to go to Uniand study sports science. I was 18 and had led a bit of a sheltered life.. I was to busy still climbing trees and playing football like a kid…. Anyway, I ended up with a HND in sports science.
When it came to getting a job and earning money I found work in the local gym handing out towels, I became a fitness instructor and got fed up of scrubbing changing room floors… not what I expected after uni, and so then became a personal trainer…
Fast forward about 10 years and I had not really got anywhere, I had travelled Europe, Australia and lived in New Zealand for 2years.. playing semi pro football and coaching kids (thats a story for another day)
but I wanted more…
So I went back to Uni and qualified with a 1st Degree in Sports science & professional football coaching (best in class as well 😊). This set me up with my degree and pro football coaching qualifications.
My first “real” job was working with Crystal Palace FC in the academy, I was responsible for a group of 16 – 18 years old pros, doing the sports science & training mobility, strength, power and cardiovascular fitness… We also worked on balance and coordination daily through warm ups, gym sessions and recovery sessions.
I loved it.. as I also got to play football every day 😊
Then…. Life has a good way of pushing you on, and I was asked by a friend to go for an interview at a company called Matt Roberts (who runs private personal training studios in Mayfair etc) I went and was offered a position as a trainer. The job was to work with Matt himself to help start up and open the fitness offering in a womens only members club in Belgravia.
It turned out that the club called Grace Belgravia was also being headed up by the Dr Tim Evans who is a lovely man and also was the Queens doctor. I saw him regularly walking to the Palace to go see her majesty…
I was in this most beautiful environment and after one year of being a trainer there an opportunity came up and I was asked to become the manager of the gym (whilst still training clients). It was amazing!!
I trained so many inspiring women who are super successful and who I am still friends with to this day… One of my favourite people in the world is “Madame G”… Madame Genta who is the ambassador of Monaco will message and ask after me and my boys and share stories of her daughter & grandchild.
This is where I get to name drop a little… sorry
I had Princess Eugenie coming to my boxing classes every week ( I once gave her a high 5 in the Waitrose when I saw her after class… her body guard was not happy ha ha),
I trained Elle Macpherson for 12 weeks before she moved back to Miami.. she needed her beachbody to be spot on… ( my wife is not a fan of hers haha),
I trained Megan Markel for about a year before she met Harry. Harry,
Liz Hurly was also in the gym lots chatting away, I did her fitness test ha ha…. I could go on…
Right, I am moving on from that bit as it really is not me….
After 6 years of Grace I ended up training people in private homes around Belgravia, Knightsbridge and Hyde park, it was great fun and I gotto ride my bike everyday around London.
Life then had another way of pushing me forward…. Me and my wife had Teddy come into our lives and then 3 months later.. Lockdown!!!
I had just become self-employed, so I had to adapt fast. I took my training online, learning to coach through a screen, refining how Idescribed each movement to make sure people could follow along withoutin-person adjustments. It was a challenge, but it made me a better coach as I really had to adapt a new style.
Now, post-lockdown, I’m still running my online subscription classes, I do personal training both online and in person around Stortford, and I am absolutely loving taking the live classes on Tuesday nights!
And Now, Here We Are!
Fast forward to today, and I’m loving being back in live group training with all of you on Tuesday nights! Getting to know you all , seeing your effort and enthusiasm is what makes coaching so rewarding.
Oh, and before I sign off, I have to give a special mentionto our second little boy, George—who, you’ll probably see making a guest appearance in one of the bonus homework sessions I will be sending over to you guys in the coming weeks 😊
So, thank you all for being part of this journey with me. It truly means the world. I can’t wait to keep training with you and helping you get to your fitness goals with a smile on your face
As I say it is not my strong point so I hope made some sense,
Guys thank you all again from the bottom of my heart,
Duncan