What made me open a gym in the first place?

If you had asked me years ago whether I’d ever own a gym, I probably would have laughed. Deep down, though, I think I always hoped I would. The problem? I was risk-averse. I had a stable corporate job that gave me everything you’d expect—sick pay, holiday pay, a steady salary. I enjoyed the work. But if I’m honest, I was bored.

Then an opportunity came up: to step in as head coach for what is now CrossFit Warrington. Something inside me just snapped awake. I didn’t just want to be a coach—I wanted more. I wanted ownership.

At first, I tried to play it safe. I carried on working my corporate job while coaching morning and evening classes. But the gym wasn’t growing, and the pressure was mounting. After long talks with my partner, my mum and my best friend, they all told me the same thing: “Take the leap.” So I did.

The Hardest Fork in the Road

Not long after, another twist came. My business partner sat me down one morning and said, “I’m done. I don’t care anymore.” Just like that, I had two choices: walk away or step up. Again, I called my support system— partner, mum , best friend. And again, they said: “This will be the best thing that ever happens to you.”

So I stayed. Not just for me, but for the community. By then, I had seen lives change inside those walls. Adaptive athletes were making progress. Their carers were connecting and supporting each other. Friendships were forming. Relationships too. A community within a community had started to grow.

Learning the Hard Way

But it wasn’t easy. I was losing members. I was burning out. I was learning how to run a business at the same time as running classes, writing programs, and coaching from dawn till dusk. Sales, retention, bookkeeping—none of it came naturally, but I forced myself to learn.

At one point, I even set myself a private deadline. I wrote it down, sealed it in an envelope, and told myself: turn this business around by then, or it’s over.

That night, my partner and I brainstormed. Out of that conversation came one of the best ideas: Couch to CrossFit.

Changing What Fitness Looks Like

I realised something important—most people don’t care about handstand walks or pull-ups. What they really want is simple:

• To move without pain.
• To sit down and stand up more easily.
• To get a little out of breath.
• To feel included, not intimidated.

That changed everything for me as a coach. I learned to meet people where they are. Intensity looks different for everyone, and that’s okay.

Today, I can proudly say our gym is one of the most inclusive CrossFit communities you’ll find. We have six-week-old babies, kids, adaptive athletes, and even members in their 80s—like Lillian, who’s 86 and still learning new things every week.

Why I Keep Going

It hasn’t been smooth sailing. I’ve doubted myself, made mistakes, and questioned whether I’m good enough. But the truth is, every morning when I wake up at 4:50 a.m., I know exactly why I do this.

For some members, that one hour in the gym is the only hour of the day that belongs entirely to them. No kids. No work stress. No endless decisions. Just movement, laughter, and small wins. Being part of that journey—and knowing that if they thrive here, they’re probably thriving outside too—is what keeps me going.

And that’s why I opened a gym in the first place!