April Loses It by April Ieremia

Author:April Ieremia [Ieremia, April]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781742532547
Publisher: Penguin Random House New Zealand
Published: 2012-05-25T00:00:00+00:00

Scotty says:

April’s introduction to the Specforce fitness facility was a change from the normal Victoria Park surroundings. The facility is designed for all ages and abilities, with highly skilled physical trainers on hand to help resurrect your fitness ambitions. Though the space is currently only in Auckland, it has an interactive website to cater for those in other parts of the country (http://specforce.co.nz).

There are no excuses – just results. So set yourself a target.

Willie is New Zealand’s only living Victoria Cross recipient. It’s an award he received in 2007 for bravery under fire during the Afghanistan conflict in 2004. As a member of the SAS, he got it after carrying a gravely wounded comrade across a battlefield, under fire, to safety. A valiant deed and, as a result, Willie became the poster boy for the army. I mean, who doesn’t find that picture of him and his mate walking through rubble with a great big Humvee in the background seriously sexy? We watch actors trying to emulate that kind of stuff in the movies, but nothing beats the real thing. Approved to open Specforce, he was unfortunately prevented from doing so by a last-minute hiccup. The evening went well, though, with a number of close friends and family there to celebrate Scotty’s great achievement. In particular it was lovely to meet his parents, Dick and Eunice, plus his partner, lovely Emma.

Typically, I avoid gyms, preferring to run near oxygen-generating sources and out in whatever the weather throws at me, but after the recent cold snap, I found myself sprinting to the warmth of Scotty’s gym. We’re thrown into an enormous room, equipped with hanging ropes, punching bags, shiny weights, aerobic machines and plenty of space to run, bugger it!

Today his ‘choice du torture’ was circuit training and, as I have to come to discover, it’s his favourite. Gasping for air, thinking how much longer and will it get any worse, we heard the proud new gym owner and military man ordering us out the door, up the hill and around the block for a blowout run. At this stage I was liking the ordeal of Victoria Park more and more. At least there the laps around the track gave us a reprieve, time away from Scotty and a moment to take it easy, but in the gym there is nowhere to hide. At the end of the hill blast our engines were well and truly blown, but when we got back, Scotty just smiled and said, ‘Right, on the floor and give me more.’ What more?

Strangely enough, though, and as gruelling as they are, I soon found Scotty’s circuit sessions addictive. If I don’t go to at least three a week, I feel as if something is missing.

Still, I did find myself wondering at times why anyone would pay someone to yell at them. I guess it’s simple really – for the challenge and discipline. As we get older, we get lazier and need to be reminded how to re-establish some healthy routines.

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