PLYMOTHIANS are being offered the chance to get fit and help an Olympic hopeful at the same time.
Great Britain hurdler David King has launched a company called PlymFit with fellow City of Plymouth athlete Alex Beechey.
The pair will be running fitness classes for over and under-25s at Devonport High School for Boys on Tuesday evenings from November 3.
For King, who came fourth at the European Under-23 Championships in the summer, it is not only a chance to put something back into his home city but hopefully help him fund his training.
The 21-year-old graduated from Bath University in the summer with a BSc degree in sport but has not got funding to train full-time, despite being one of the country’s top prospects.
“I thought I might use my expertise rather than get another part-time job,” said King, who does do some work for PACE Academy and at a hotel chain.
“It is really, really hard to get a job which fits around my training hours, but this can kind of compliments my training.
“And what’s really, really nice about this is I get to give something back to Plymouth. I really like the place and my former school are keen to help, so it’s an exciting prospect.”
He added: “I’ve teamed up with a guy called Alex Beechey, who also trains with the athletics club. He’s got a sports science degree and loads of experience.
“We’re going to be doing weekly classes, one for over-25s and one for under-25s, held at DHS.
“Everything’s ready to go ahead, we just need to get people in now.”
Beechey, a talented sprinter, will run most of the sessions, but King will attend some and do most of the admin side.
King says the indoor sessions are open to anyone of any standard or fitness, but does admit they will be ‘challenging’.
“It’s going to be general fitness,” he said. “It’s going to be challenging – it’s not going to be easy. We want people who come to feel results and it’s going to be more towards the health side.
“We also don’t want to just do training and leave. Like if people sign up for a month, which is £20 for four sessions, they will get a booklet with advice on diet and lifestyle. We want people to really engage with it and improve. If they see results then they will be motivated to come back.”
Although helping to get his home city fit is one goal, King has another big one for the forthcoming year – to compete at a major senior championship.
The World Indoor Championships, the European Championship and the Olympics will all be held in 2016.
After his most successful season to date, King is now back in winter training in Bath.
“I am into full training again now,” he said. “It’s my third week now. It’s hard but going really well.
“It’s all going to start up again in January and February, that’s when the indoor season starts.
“I will probably do a whole indoor season this time. It’s the World Indoor Championships next year. That’s quite a big one, but maybe it might not be so hotly contested with the Olympics coming up. I’m hoping I might be a contender for that. That’s one of my main goals.”
Anyone interested in King’s fitness classes can find out more HERE