Chin Strapped

4 things Boxing taught me about myself

“I’ve little or no interest in combat sports. I want to love, not hurt people,” said a much younger and poorly informed me. Since then I’ve talked about, followed and even interviewed a few big-ish name fighters from George Groves to my mate Paddy Blight who tours MMA under-cards around Britain and Ireland The idea that boxing…

26.2 miles done… What next?

Pain: Fitness: Hobbling from the Belfast City Marathon finish line to a spot where I could lie down and hold back the tears brought on by the pain in my feet, I thought “never again.” I simply wasn’t prepared for the pain brought on by pounding the road for that many hours. Four days later…

Skydiving school | Why I’m on the hunt for adrenalin

This week I’ve been filling up on more of the hearty pumping drug than most get in a year. Adrenaline: Fitness: A mate of mine once said “do one thing every day that scares you.” Not just to challenge yourself regularly but to live, experience… push the boundaries. There are of course limitations. We can’t…

Gaining muscle during marathon training | 4 tips

Is it really possible to bulk up while you’re in marathon training? There are tonnes of theories out there about training for different goals. Most of them based largely on physical norms. Mo Farah is smaller than Anthony Joshua, and Eddie Hall is bigger than Tom Daly all for very logical reasons. But how do…

Running around with the Royal Marines Commando

The Royal Marines have a little gem hidden in Woodbury Common they use to test their recruits. Lympstone in Devon holds the keys to some of the most picturesque, and brutally challenging terrain to get you ready for your next mud run. Woodbury Common is one of the country’s best outdoor gyms shared by local…

Meet Ross, who did a triathlon carrying a tree

Ross Edgley has made a name for himself doing silly things like running 1000 miles barefoot. Apparently that was a challenge that even had legendary adventurer Bear Grylls laughing. I met Ross on a media day at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines, where he told me what he was planning; To do an Olympic triathlon…

5 Yin Yoga poses for better overhead squats

In my opinion there is no other movement where limitations in mobility are more evident than with the overhead squat – Cassie Butler writes for Chin Strapped. Being a yoga teacher dabbling in CrossFit a few times a week, means my flexibility gives me a slight advantage. The two areas of focus are ankle/ calf flexibility…

3 reasons this exercise could sky rocket your fitness levels

Kill a number of fitness birds with one stone by bringing speed and power into your muscle building movements. Box jumps look good in a slo-mo Instagram post, and squats make you feel like a badass under a clatter of blue plates on a barbell. But it hit me when I was forced into a grueling set…

5 key tips for better rope climbs

Scaling ropes is one of the new trends CrossFit has helped to make ‘cool’, and I couldn’t be happier. More than dangling from a bar pumping your arms to shift your body weight, climbing a rope engages every muscle in your body if you do it right. Though some movements like legless rope climbs are designed to…

Why I set targets, and stick to them

I don’t even use the phrase “never skip leg day” because it’s pretty inconceivable. They’re the base on which your body stands, and moves. They need nurtured as much if not more than any other body part. The Gluteus Maximus – your ass – is also the largest, and sexiest muscle you posses. WORK IT… just…