Breath of fresh air
After serving in the Army for 11 years and the police for another five, Nigel Ilsley’s career path has now taken him to the great outdoors, as Ailsa Ross finds out
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THE fitness industry may have persuaded thousands of us to stay indoors and convince ourselves that we’re really burning off the calories at the gym, but Nigel Ilsley is on a mission to get us back into the great outdoors.
Nigel, 39, from Kinross, has been working for British Military Fitness since 2005.
BMF holds successful outdoor classes in parks across Britain, which involve circuit exercises, running, sprinting and team games.
All the classes are taken by current or former members of the armed forces – but Nigel promises that they will keep you fit without being a boot camp.
As the operations manager, Nigel oversees classes across the country. He also continues to instruct, and his enthusiasm for the classes is catching.
“I am doing what I love, in the fresh air. It can’t be bad to be paid to do your dream job,” he says.
His fervour is understandable, given his own demanding fitness regime. He regularly competes in triathlons – a mix of swimming, cycling and running over various distances.
On top of the work-out he gets whilst instructing, Nigel also enjoys mixed martial arts.
His career path, like many other British Military Fitness instructors, began in the Army.
“I joined the Black Watch straight after school. Being in the Army was a great experience, but it was time to move on to something else, having been with the regiment for 11 years. That’s why I joined the police.”
Nigel spent five years as a beat and plain clothes officer with the Lothian and Borders force, before joining British Military Fitness part-time.
Now a full-time manager, he added: “There are no bad bits to my job, so I definitely see myself here for the next few years.”
The classes at Duthie Park in Aberdeen have been highly successful. So far 121 enthusiasts have joined up to the classes online, and 65 people joined in the fun at the first class.
Nigel hopes this success will continue: “After all, all you need to join is a pair of training shoes,” he laughs.
British Military Fitness classes are held in Duthie Park, meeting in the main car park at Riverside Drive.
Class times: Saturdays 10am-11am; Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7pm-8pm.
The first trial session is free, and a direct debit monthly fee is £29 - including unlimited classes anywhere in the UK. For U21s and over 60s the monthly fee is £20.
Classes run all year round.
For more information, visit www.britmilfit.com
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