Leamington personal trainer getting ready to take on charity challenge

A Leamington man is getting ready to take on a challenge to help raise money for charity.

Phil Sims, who is a personal trainer, is getting ready for his 'Newbold Comyn hill challenge'.

The challenge involves running up and down Newbold Comyn Hill 50 times accompanied with 1,000 press ups - 10 at the bottom and top alongside an interval.

Overall, this will equal a 10k Run over an incline of 2,000m. Phil is also aiming to complete the challenge in one hour and 45 minutes.

Phil said: "I was planning on doing the challenge June 6 or June 13 - weather permitting.

"I had the idea in April after just going for a walk as part of my allocated trips out and going up the hill to check the view of Leamington. The training started the day after that.

"I had been training for 12 months religiously for a Duathlon in Wales, which I was hoping to do really well in - it was cancelled five days before the event due to the lockdown.

"As much as this was annoying, I didn’t really see it that way as my job is a personal trainer, I had an outcome but I always focus on enjoying the process and journey, so although I couldn’t do the event, my health and fitness levels were in a place that they haven’t been before.

"So, no events this year, I had to create my own. I thought doing something for charity would be a good idea too, apart from putting something back into the community, it was for my own form of accountability, it’s easy to say you’ll do something and then just not do it, especially at the moment."

Phil is also raising money for the Myton Hospices with his challenge.

"I wanted to do something for the coronavirus and NHS but also keep it local, I thought about Myton Hospice", said Phil. "They’ve helped members of my family and friends in the past and I know they’re struggling with current circumstances so it was a no brainer for me to help them."

As a personal trainer Phil is also encouraging people to take control of their health and fitness during the current circumstances.

He said: "We need to push back and take control of those things we do still have control of, our health and fitness are certainly two of those things.

"Mental Health gets a lot of coverage at the moment and exercise is a really great way to make sure that doesn’t get the better of people.

If you get an idea to do something, just get out there and give it a go, even if you don’t quite succeed with the ideal outcome, you’ll have still achieved more than if you don’t try it at all.

"I currently work with people outside to help with similar mental health issues and personal physical goals as the gyms are closed for more information go to: www.philsimspt.co.uk

To donate go to: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/phil-sims2