Last week, I joined an exclusive group in London. A group of some of the UK’s most influential Fitness and Sports Bloggers brought together to form the awesome #DecathlonBloggersCommunity by Decathlon UK (move over Avengers, Defenders and Justice League, there are new heroes in town).
The gang’s all here. Fitness Bloggers Assemble
This group is littered with award winning and nominated bloggers and influencers with two, this week, cited by Runner’s World magazine as being amongst the most influential people in running. It is full of inspirational and hugely talented athletes, bloggers and er, me.
For I am not your traditional Fitness Blogger. In addition to being guilty of the odd rant or two, I am not particularly talented in any sport; I am not particularly glamorous with my bearded, bespectacled and balding head and with a history of a physical disability, injuries and obesity, I will never inspire many with fast times or broken records.
My mum says that I am handsome!
Unfortunately, I do not have a six pack (ok, technically, I do) but what I do have is belly folds. Lots of belly folds.
NSFW or before eating or at any time really! Sorry
While I also have moobs. Man boobs.
Will this be banned by Facebook!?
But behind this belly are guts and beneath this moob is a heart.
I did not share these images to shock, disgust or show how “authentic” I am, but to show that I love being physically active and a Try Athlete despite my current size, shape, age and lack of ability. I will never give in or give up and I will continue to promote the joy of being active.
And neither should you
Being a fitness blogger or physically active is not restricted to those of a healthy weight; to those that are fully able or to those that are aesthetically pretty. I like to think that I am part of the community of bloggers who promote sport for all and my goal is to prove that there is a sport for all. You just need to try enough of them (well, that is my plan).
As humans, we come in all shapes and sizes and sport is increasingly being made accessible to the many. Initiatives like Great Run Local, parkrun and the wonderful Too Fat to Run make running more inclusive: Man V Fat Football has brought thousands of overweight men back to football while cycling events like Pedal for Scotland attract cyclists of all ages and ability. Yes, we can aspire to look like a Spartan warrior, but by simply moving more the majority of us can not only add years to our life but life to our years without having to spend years in a barren wilderness fighting wolves. We do not have to prescribe to the notion that “pain is gain” or that we have to engage “Beastmode” to make being active a worthwhile use of our time.
But we can do more and we can move more.
That is why I am both honoured and excited at being included in the Decathlon Blogging Community. I cannot offer any expert advice, but I can offer hope and encouragement. I can help others believe in themselves and over the next year (and beyond) I will show that sport is fun, accessible and hopefully for you.
Back to the drawing board for me
Together with Decathlon and our merry band of Decathlon Bloggers we will invite you to join our community. Follow our blogs as we try new sports, overcome new challenges and hopefully, in my case, lose considerable weight as I utilise Decathlon’s range of home fitness equipment (I do not allow my weight to stop me but that does not mean that I do not wish to be slimmer).
And remember that you do not have to be the fastest, strongest or fittest to be a winner. Taking part in sport brings many rewards including friendship and even the occasional trophy (for someone lacking ability, I am not short of competitive spirit).
I might be rubbish, but I still like winning
Join the Decathlon Bloggers Community
Let me know what sports you would like to see me try with Decathlon and I will try and blag some opportunities. I will try especially hard if you promise to join me. Let us show that sport is for all and that we are all for sport.