ABOUT ME

If you've not gathered yet I'm a Personal Trainer and Sports & Remedial Massage Therapist, running Global Therapies with my partner, Tim Budd. I work with a whole range of people from club level athletes to office workers with postural issues. I am also privileged to work with many elite athletes, providing training plans and sessions, and soft tissue therapy that integrates into their training. My job is amazing, after years of office work that was just well 'ok', it's so satisfying to have found a career I enjoy waking up for.

In 2013 I qualified as Hill and Moorland Leader under the Mountain Training England Scheme, this means I can guide people around the hills of the Peak District (and beyond), and teach navigation skills too. Following on from that I set up 'Running Delights' - leading runners into the world of off-road running. I'm a UK Athletics qualified Fell Leader in Running Fitness - more about that on the Guided Running page. As a Personal Trainer I combine the outdoor work with gym training to help people to get fit and reach new goals.

When not working I love being active. Since moving back up to Derbyshire in early 2011 I've evolved into a fell runner, I'm an active member of the Glossopdale Harriers running club and compete in fell races. I'm running my first ever marathon in May 2015 - the Howgills Trail 26 so not an easy entry into the world of 26.2miles. Being in the hills, experiencing nature and having space to breathe is very important to me. I did have grand plans to do lots of road cycling too, but running is just much easier and less reliant on technology - oh, and the hills around here are huge, and fast traffic quite frankly scares me! But I'm working on that one in 2015.

Chin ups with a chain

As part of my overall training I regularly (2 or 3 times a week) do strength and conditioning sessions. Back in 2012 my running was pretty sporadic so I had a training programme put together for me over a 9 month period by Nik Cook. Whilst I was motivated to get out and run, having someone tell me when to go and how long for was good for me.

Over the past few years I've developed good discipline with my running and strength training. I also do specific work on plyometrics, stretching, foam rollering and of course regular sports massage as part of the overall recovery and rest.

Aside from running and working, I do enjoy a bit of baking. Flapjack, chocolate brownie and gingernut biscuits are favourites. In the fruit season I'll be out there picking so I have plentiful supplies for jam, chutney, pies and various beverages. Long term I'm learning about foraging, but knowledge about what's safe to eat or not takes time to develop - as does knowing what to do with the stuff once you've picked it! I also like to make Japanese makizushi and sashimi. Results are good, and they're really tasty.

Damson chutney

Makizushi

Ginger biscuits

I'd like to do more photography, but for now I'll stick to taking snaps for memories and won't apologise for the lack of quality in my photos - they're personal to me and I share them without any expectation of praise. One day I'll have my own dark room - I did a black & white developing course several years ago, and my dream house will have a studio.

The sort of photo I like taking....here we have icicles in the Rocky Mountains

QUALIFICATIONS and Professional Associations:
Level 5 Sports & Remedial Massage Therapist 
Pregnancy & Postnatal Massage Therapist
Hot Stones Therapist
Member of Sports Massage Association
ITEC Level 2 Certificate in First Aid for Sport
Qualified Hill and Moorland Leader
Member of British Mountaineering Council (BMC)
Wilderness First Aid Certificate
CYQ Level 3 Personal Trainer
REPs Pregnancy Fitness Specialist
CYQ Level 2 Certificate in Fitness Instructing
UK Athletics qualified Fell Leader in Running Fitness