Ben Andrews Personal Training & Fitness

Ben Andrews Personal Training & Fitness Personal Trainer - Strength & Conditioning for runners

Sport & Rehabilitation Massage Therapist

Some days you just CBA (Can’t Be Arsed)! 🫤 Stiff & sore, 101 other things to do, weather’s not looking great etc etc 😱We...
20/08/2025

Some days you just CBA (Can’t Be Arsed)! 🫤

Stiff & sore, 101 other things to do, weather’s not looking great etc etc 😱

We can all make the “socially acceptable” excuses, but sometimes you’ve just gotta get yourself going 📈

Today was one of those days for me & I’d originally planned a 10 mile steady run 🏃🏻‍♂️

The tactic is to set lots of little sub-goals:
⭐️ Get the kit on
⭐️ Get out the door
⭐️ Just start easy
⭐️ Get the first mile under the belt
⭐️ Things are feeling better, let’s just round it up to “x” miles / km
⭐️ Actually, you know what, I’m getting into my stride now - things have loosened off
⭐️ I’ll do 10km
⭐️ 8 miles seems good now
⭐️ Sod it, 1 more mile then I’ll turn round

And before I knew it, I’d completed what I set out to achieve….😀🥇

Training isn’t just about lifting weights, running distances, thrashing yourself 🏋🏼‍♂️🏃🏻‍♂️🥵

It’s the psychology that comes with it 🧠

If you’d like support with your running - whatever level you’re at, whether a C25K, to sub 3-hr marathon times, injury rehab or prevention, let me know & I’m here to support that journey 🤩

A tailored strength & conditioning programme significantly enhances our running performance in several ways:1️⃣**Improve...
19/08/2025

A tailored strength & conditioning programme significantly enhances our running performance in several ways:

1️⃣**Improved Muscular Strength & Endurance**: By incorporating exercises that target the major muscle groups used in running — such as the quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, & calves — increases our muscular strength, allowing us to;

⭐️ Maintain proper form over longer distances & reduce the risk of injury

⭐️ Stronger muscles generate more power during each stride = improved speed

2️⃣ **Enhanced Speed through Power Training**: A well-structured program often includes plyometric exercises & sprint drills, which focus on explosive movements

These activities train the body to recruit muscle fibers more efficiently, improving our running speed & agility 🏃🏻‍♂️💨

By developing fast-twitch muscle fibers, (yes, even endurance runners need this!) we can achieve quicker acceleration better overall race times⏱️

3️⃣ **Boosted Confidence & Mental Resilience**: As runners progressing through our S&C training, we see tangible improvements in our performance - an obvious boost in self-confidence

The mental toughness gained from overcoming challenges in strength training translates to better performance in racing situations, as we feel more prepared to tackle physical & mental barriers during races🏁

By integrating strength & conditioning into our training, runners improve performance, gain faster times & have greater confidence on race day 📈🥇

I provide strength & conditioning training, periodised running plans, that incorporate a phased increase in duration & intensity - all depending on your requirements 📝 🏋🏼‍♂️

If you’d like to improve your running - whatever level you’re at, whether a C25K, to sub 3-hr marathon times, injury rehab or prevention, let me know & I’m here to support that journey 🤩

The Lightening Bolt 10km, done! ⚡️Despite the fast, flat road race billing, I wasn’t expecting amazing results, due to t...
17/08/2025

The Lightening Bolt 10km, done! ⚡️

Despite the fast, flat road race billing, I wasn’t expecting amazing results, due to the heat (I’m really not a fan of running in the heat..!)☀️

Kudos to my mate/client, James, for securing 18th overall with a time of 36:05 (a time that’ll easily improve in the cooler races) ⏱️👏🏼

For me, aiming for 39:something and, if possible, sub-39… I managed 38:50 (10th in V40 category), so am happy with that 😃

I highly recommend this race & they have 5 of them throughout the year - definitely doing more of them! 🤩

And then, with the legs sorted, I headed off to hit the arms & core by getting on the water in the kayak 🚣🏽‍♀️🥳

Main pic courtesy of Fliss ! 📸💯🙏🏼

Course PB incoming..! 🥇🤩Ok, so it’s the first time I’ve ever done the Lightning Bolt 10k, but very much looking forward ...
16/08/2025

Course PB incoming..! 🥇🤩

Ok, so it’s the first time I’ve ever done the Lightning Bolt 10k, but very much looking forward to it⚡️😃

Billed as a fast & flat road race, it should be a good tester of where I’m at… ⏱️

Now, if we could just turn the temperature down a bit, that would be great 🥵😄

Awww, our Iceland adventure draws to a close 🇮🇸🗺️ Managed a final trip to Grindavik (the area that erupted a few days ag...
19/07/2025

Awww, our Iceland adventure draws to a close 🇮🇸🗺️

Managed a final trip to Grindavik (the area that erupted a few days ago) 🌋 now that things had settled down

Saw the mind blowing lava fields that oozed out between 2020-23 & the photos really don’t do it justice 📸

The sheer volume of solidified black rock that spread out for miles as far as the eye can see - some of it still visibly smouldering 🌄

And finally, seeing the stark reminders of how much devastation these eruptions caused to the community, as we drove through a ghost town 🏚️😔

It’s been a busy few days to say the least… 🚐💨🇮🇸 Having done the South section of Iceland, we motored on up the East coa...
17/07/2025

It’s been a busy few days to say the least… 🚐💨🇮🇸

Having done the South section of Iceland, we motored on up the East coast, across the North, and we’ve got our last few days in the West 🧭 ⬇️➡️⬆️…⬅️

In short…

🌋Stunning sights of moss covered lava fields as far as the eye can see

🏞️ Waterfalls releasing millions of gallons of water a day - apparently the same amount of oil that we drill daily…🛢️🤨(Dettifoss in particular)

🛀 Soaking in various thermal baths (sorry, no pics allowed at the baths - you’ll just have to imagine me in my budgie-smugglers… 🙈😁)

🏭 Probably getting closer than I should have to the sulphur chimneys

🕳️ Getting close up to the bubbling mud/clay pits

🐋 Whale watching ! Saw humpback, minke & porpoise (& a bazillion puffins 😍)

🐎 Riding the Icelandic horses along the beach, with stunning mountainous backdrop 🏝️⛰️

🦅 Getting dive-bombed by the Kría (aka; Arctic Terns. Aka; birds…🙄) as they protect their nesting sites in the long grass 🪺

🚶🏻‍♂️Trekking up craters of extinct volcanos

🏃🏻‍♂️ Even managed to get a few runs in as well (stupidly decided to leave my phone in the RV, so no amazing scenery pics to show… 🤦🏻‍♂️)

It’s not all been plain-sailing though… We’ve had to readjust plans a few times for various reasons. Dropping some ideas, slugging out longer than planned road trips (even though the scenery is stunning, it does take its toll after a while), and having to deal with occasional crappy weather 🌧️🌬️

But still - that’s all part of the adventure..!🗺️

Soon on to Grindavik in the South-West to trek the volcanoes there. Oh… What do you mean the fissure has ruptured again (yesterday), is spewing out lava & the area is closed off?!… 🙄FFS - back to the drawing board…!

Gallavanting on glorious glaciers ! 🧊 On went the crampons, out came the ice-axe & up the glacier we went 🧗 A cracking 4...
12/07/2025

Gallavanting on glorious glaciers ! 🧊

On went the crampons, out came the ice-axe & up the glacier we went 🧗

A cracking 4hr hike up the largest glacier in Europe - the Vatnajökull glacier in Scaftafell 🗻

That said… Rather disconcerting how rapid the ice is melting… 😟

Once upon a time, the glacier was the height of the rocks in pic 2. And just 10yrs ago, our guide was leading people up the same glacier, but it was half way up the height of those rocks…😢

Sesame Street was brought to you today by the word; Juxtaposition. And the phrase; “Bloody hell - that’s mental !” 😯🤯😂Ap...
11/07/2025

Sesame Street was brought to you today by the word; Juxtaposition. And the phrase; “Bloody hell - that’s mental !” 😯🤯😂

Apart from seeing a lush canyon, the drive itself was pretty phenomenal 🤩

Lava fields, barren black-rock fields, mountainous “fields”, flower fields & green fields 🌋🪨 ⛰️🌷🍀

Such a diverse landscape so close together and, in many places, just on the opposite side of the road 🏔️🛣️🏞️

Mind. Blown… 🤯🇮🇸

Black sand, geothermal springs, whale bones, long walks, basalt columns (bigger than the Giants Causeway in Belfast - ge...
10/07/2025

Black sand, geothermal springs, whale bones, long walks, basalt columns (bigger than the Giants Causeway in Belfast - get yer act together Northern Ireland! 😬) AND a gert lush day for it ⚫️🏖️⛲️🐳🚶🏻‍♂️☀️

Iceland has done alright today…! 🇮🇸👍🏼🤩

Tuesday trekking & wonderous waterfalls 🏞️🤩While the UK was complaining about the heat, we were complaining about the we...
09/07/2025

Tuesday trekking & wonderous waterfalls 🏞️🤩

While the UK was complaining about the heat, we were complaining about the wet weather…! ☀️🌨️😁

Anyway, want to see a load of stunning landscape & waterfalls?… Thought not, but here they are anyway,,, 😘

Moist Monday… 💦😳Hot springs, gushing geysers, powerful waterfalls and, unfortunately, rain in the evening 🏞️🌧️Quality fi...
08/07/2025

Moist Monday… 💦😳

Hot springs, gushing geysers, powerful waterfalls and, unfortunately, rain in the evening 🏞️🌧️

Quality first day of proper driving - stunning views all round 🤩

Midnight in Iceland ! 🌅🇮🇸First night (?!) done in our lil motorhome & now off to explore “The Golden Circle” 🤩
07/07/2025

Midnight in Iceland ! 🌅🇮🇸

First night (?!) done in our lil motorhome & now off to explore “The Golden Circle” 🤩

Address

Thomas Court, Three Queens Lane, Redcliffe, Bristol
Bristol
BS16LE

Opening Hours

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Tuesday 7:30am - 8pm
Wednesday 7:30am - 6pm
Thursday 7:30am - 8pm
Friday 7:30am - 6pm
Saturday 8am - 11:30am

Telephone

+447875205456

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