The Originals

At the start of 2019, as a New Year’s Resolution, Mallory decided to run 5k. She struggled through and managed to finish it, but then felt aimless without a specific goal to work towards. She only knew that she didn’t want to waste any progress she had made, so she set up a short list of goals to work towards: 1. Learn how to lift weights – she had always enjoyed strength training but injured herself multiple times previously a. Sub-goal to improve upper body strength especially 2. Lose 30kgs 3. Build a habit of going to the gym 4. To be able to “keep up” when in Europe (2019) Mallory began training at S7 on the 2nd of May 2019. She had been a member of a number of other gyms however never found the right fit for her. We are so happy that S7 is. In the beginning she trained exclusively in the afternoons. From the start she was consistent and rarely missed a session. She once told me “you will never see me here in the mornings”, which she seemed very adamant about. These days, I not only see Mallory training in the mornings – sometimes she is one of the first in the gym. Mallory didn’t have a lot of resistance training experience. She was however eager to learn and determined to get movements right. The squat has been the most challenging to date, which is why her current PB of 58.5kg x1 back squat is very impressive. The deadlift looked great from the start and Mallory has always enjoyed the movement. Her current PB is 92kg x1. The bench press was once her friend however lately has been hard going. She is trying to lift the elusive 50kg target without any luck yet. Other exercises that Mallory has impressed at are box jumps, stability ball exercises, snatch balance and assisted pull ups. Early in 2020 Mallory started attending the boxing/kickboxing classes I run after trying boxing only once with me in 2019. She now attends all 3 each week and has developed a real passion for it, especially kicking! She has picked the technical side up really fast and now keeps up with my regulars. Twice per week Mallory now attends both the kickboxing class followed by the conditioning class; she is one of only a few who does so which shows how far she has come. All of this hasn’t come easy: Mallory is so dedicated not only with training but also eating well. Food is 80% of the battle – one that she is winning. She trains up to 8 sessions per week, rarely under 7. She sets goals for herself which she works hard to achieve. She has found somewhere to train where she feels comfortable, and, I would say, enjoys. Her journey is just beginning but I’m confident Mallory will keep eating well, turning up, working hard, making sacrifices and achieving those goals.