Over the past few years, fitness challenges have become increasingly popular. The trouble is, too many of them have been set up as an ego-stroking events by the organisers. The challenges and weights often seem to have been selected as an exercise in topless, chest-bumping, bandana-wearing bravado. Heavy Olympic lifts are impressive but not exactly inclusive.
Photography Jon Surbey
Refreshingly, the National Fitness Games – created by Mark Morgan, founder of events company True Legacy – has been set up with competitors in mind and strikes the perfect balance between challenging and accessible. Last year’s inaugural event was comprised of four distinct zones that tested endurance, strength, speed and power. The workouts were created by top trainer Ollie Marchon (@olliemarchon) and were open to teams of both men and women competing in open and elite categories. For some insight into what it takes to be competitive at the Games, which in 2019 is a three-part series, MF spoke to NFG competitor and Maximuscle ambassador Tyler Saunders. We also got Marchon’s top training tips for the four zones, which you’ll find on p40-42.