Scott Rodwell Personal Trainer & Athlete
Scott has been a personal trainer for nearly 20 years and has his sights set on competing in the Ironman 70.3 World Championships. He talks to Sundried about life in fitness.
Please tell us about sporting events you have taken part in or have coming up.
As a self-funded, dedicated triathlete and personal trainer, I started competing in Ironman (swim 2.4m/bike 112m/run 26.2m) and Ironman 70.3 (swim 1.2m/bike 56m/run 13.3m) competitions back in 2011 and have taken part in Ironman and half Ironman competitions in my age group, throughout Europe, most years since then, improving my PB with each competition.
This year has been somewhat challenging as most races have been deferred until 2021. With gyms closed including my own place of work, my training has had to change. However, this has not stopped me, as I am currently training for two Ironman 70.3 races in Europe next year and am currently fundraising to help with the costs via my campaign page.
Tell us about your journey to fitness? Where did it all start?
In my youth, I enjoyed taking part in athletics, rugby, and football, playing for two Sunday league football teams. In my spare time, I ran and competed for Woodford Green AC and mountain biked around Epping Forest. I loved the freedom of cycling and exploring new places. Eventually becoming a member of the Eagle Road Cycling Club, competing in regular, 10/25/50 mile time trials, hill climb championships and the Wild Wales challenge, in the extremely hilly but beautiful Bala, North Wales.
Whilst I enjoyed team sports, I seem to thrive under pressure when competing as an individual. I remember the feeling of exhilaration when winning a 1500m and 3000m track race on the same day. This was probably one of the defining moments of my life, which led me down the path towards triathlon (combining a love for cycling and running) and my career as a personal trainer.
What are your training goals now?
My aim is to compete in 2-4 half Ironman races per year over the next three years, which will give me the best chance to qualify for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships, which is my ultimate goal.
Tell us one unusual fact we wouldn't know about you:
I still have my first road bike, a blue and orange Condor, which I saved up for and bought 20 years ago.
What advice do you wish you'd been given when you first started out?
Set mini goals between the start of training and the race date, to gage what you need to work on to improve your performance and never give up!
Do you follow a specific nutrition plan? If so, what/when do you eat?
I try to eat and sleep well and have a balanced diet. I use protein shakes/bars after training, which help with muscle recovery and I use gels whilst doing long sessions (i.e. 90 mins+) of cycling/running. In addition, I use prebiotic powder before bed, to help improve quality of sleep, which is especially important when undertaking vigorous training sessions. I no longer drink alcohol and try to reduce my caffeine intake.
Talk us through your training regime.
I like to work on all aspects of triathlon. I regularly train on my Wattbike, which is a great piece of equipment, as it gives me instant feedback and I can look at all the data after each session.
Swimming is a bit more of a challenge, but I am lucky in that I don’t live far from the Olympic Pool at Stratford, in East London. Although this year use has been restricted. I try to run several times a week and am spoilt for choice, with plenty of parks and Epping Forest on my doorstep to provide variance in incline and views.
In addition, I undertake regular strength training and Yoga sessions at home. I also follow a number of professional athletes and try to incorporate some of their training into my own.
What do you do to keep your clients motivated? Do you have any top tips to keep motivated?
I always try to make their training sessions fun, enjoyable and progressive. I find it works best if I set some mini goals which they can achieve by a certain date. This acts as positive reinforcement and helps them to achieve their long term goals. Variety is key to ensure they don’t get bored, or lose motivation. So I try to mix it up, making sure that not all sessions are the same. In addition, it is really essential to try and instil self-belief and a positive mental attitude.
How do you keep your fitness knowledge up to date?
Having been a personal trainer for nearly 20 years, during that time I have undertaken a number of courses, which have helped me to add additional skills. I have quite a collection of books on fitness and nutrition and of course nowadays the internet provides an instant source of new ideas and trends, some of which I integrate into my training sessions, both personally and for my clients.
What are your top 3 trainer tips?
- Treat every client as an individual, so get to know how to motivate them.
- Set them realistic and achievable goals from the outset.
- Encourage, encourage, encourage!
If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Sea bass.
Why work with Sundried?
I wanted to support a sustainable company who like myself, care about the environment. I am delighted to have been chosen as one of Sundried’s Ambassadors. It is great to find a company that has managed to produce eco-friendly, yet affordable, high quality fitness clothing and I look forward to working with them to promote their brand to a wider audience.
Favourite fitness quote:
"Without ambition, there is no drive.”
