FITNESS

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TO TY, FITNESS IS NOT JUST A HOBBY OR SOMETHING HE FITS INTO HIS WEEK, IT IS INTEGRAL TO HIS LIFESTYLE.

His passion for pushing his physical limits has also led him to develop a new business venture. Ty founded R1SE Bournemouth gym in 2020 with friend and elite fitness specialist Jamie. The space comprises state-of-the-art fitness equipment, lighting and sound systems. It has also attracted high profile visitors such as James Smith, Adan Lallana and Callum Best (www.risebournemouth.com).

• Q. What age were you when you first undertood what fitness was and started taking it seriously?

  Ty. From around the time I was sixteen, I always dabbled in the gym. I didn't really have any direction though. I just lifted weights and concentrated on the aesthetics. The last four to five years my focus and understand has really changed and my love has been more for functional fitness.
  
  My regimes now comprise more of running, swimming, cycling and more recently BJJ (Brazilian Jui Jitsu). I also do a lot of focused core and resistance training.
  
  Running is a huge part of my routine. I completed my first marathon in 2020 within weeks of doing my first ever half. I run with friends regularly along Bournemouth seafront.

• Q. Do you train with a coach or PT?

  Ty. I love the social element of fitness, so I train with them and with a trainer, who is one of my best mates, which helps!

• Q. Do you use any specific apps or gadgets to help you track your fitness?

  Ty. (Laughs) Anyone that knows me, knows that I am data mad! As a result, I have every app with stats going! There is a Garmin on on my left wrist and a Whoop on my right; I use all the apps with those, plus Strava for good measure!

• Q. If you could choose an indoor or outdoor workout, which do you opt for?

  Ty. Outdoors every time. The connection with nature goes beyond just physical exercise. If I had to pick just one thing, then running is my go-to. It is a lifelong endeavour because it helps me so much mentally, not just physically.

• Q. Has your perception of fitness changed in the last few years? If so, how?

  Ty. The pandemic definitely made me re-evaluate my fitness. I rediscovered that I love getting outdoors and being active. I work on being a hybrid athlete, doing things that make me stronger, fitter and developing my all round capabilities. Mental and physical resilience are what drive me.

• Q. There are two types of people, those who workout on holiday and those that don't, which are you?

  Ty. Ha. Much to my wife's dismay I'm the former. When fitness is part of who you are, it is hard to take a break from it. Usually i'll get up and go for a run, which I find is a fantastic way to explore the local surroundings, or i'll pop to the hotel gym.

• Q. Have you ever followed a specific fitness routine or plan for a physical challenge?

  Ty. I have completed quite a few transformation challenges. I like learning about how the body adapts to them. Probably the one that was the biggest personal challenge for me was a 50-day sugar cut in January 2021. I love chocolate, so that took a lot of discipline, but the results were incredible!

• Q. What are you fitness ambitions? Is there a 'bucketlist' challenge you would like to fulfil one day?

  Ty. Ironman is definitely on my hitlist. I wanted to do that in 2021, but a stress facture in my femur bone put paid to that idea. It might be a cliche answer, but I would really love to summit Everest one day too. I bet the views are amazing! ;)