One of the first MOVE Like A Pro participants has used the programme to give his life new impetus and ultimately put him on the path to completing the Cardiff half-marathon.
Darren Campbell was among the first group to take part in MOVE Like A Pro at Franklin’s Gardens in early 2016. While taking part in the 12-week programme he lost 8kg, or 1st 3lbs, but more importantly used the experience and the group environment to spur him on even after the three months had finished.
At the end of September Darren took part in the Cardiff half-marathon, raising funds for Combat Stress, a charity which supports those who come out of the armed services with mental issues. And after finishing the 13 miles in just over two-and-a-half hours he was quick to credit MOVE Like A Pro and the support of his fellow participants for giving him the wherewithal for taking on and completing the challenge.
“The MLAP course and the weekly support of everyone on it gave me the confidence to enter the Cardiff half-marathon,” he said. “I couldn’t have done it without them, and I genuinely mean that.
“For the most part I managed to maintain a slow and steady pace of around seven minutes per kilometre. There was a point though at about 10-and-a-half miles where my calves seized up and I just couldn’t run any more. I honestly thought that was it.
“But the core tenant of MLAP was steps. Do your steps and increase your count. And I did, as we all did. So I realised that I could just walk to the end, because I had been training walking for months. As I started walking my calves came back to life and I was able to run the last two miles to the end.
“The rest of the guys and MLAP made me realise that I didn’t have to just accept going into my later years looking and feeling unfit and unhealthy. Yes, I still don’t always eat well or walk as much as I should. But I eat better because of the conversations we had and exercise more than I did because of those ‘Get Hard with Nick Card’ sessions we all undertook together.
“A massive thanks to Connor, the rest of the MLAP coaches and everyone on the programme, because they’ve helped change my life.”
MOVE Like A Pro is a programme run by the Saints in conjunction with Premiership Rugby and funded by the Movember Foundation, which focuses on funding research projects and raising awareness about men’s health issues such as male-specific cancers, improving lifestyle choices and treating mental health.
MOVE Like A Pro is free for all participants, with courses running throughout the year. For more details email Connor Fleming in the Saints community team at [email protected]
Supporters can also find out more about MOVE Like A Pro in the Mo Zone at Franklin’s Gardens this Friday night as the club kicks off its annual Movember fundraising campaign. Book your tickets now at www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/buytickets and help change the face of men’s health at moteam.co/northampton-saints.
