An award-winning personal trainer has achieved a lifelong dream to flex their muscles at a bodybuilding competition.
Kieran James, 29, from Spalding, works at Snap Fitness Gym in Pinchbeck and entered the Physical Culture Association contest held at New Theatre, Peterborough.
The keen bodybuilder – who rates Chris ‘Mr Olympia’ Bumstead as his idol – trained for some 18 weeks to enter the classic bodybuilding category and to reach his goal of competing before turning 30.
James said: “I have had a strong desire to do this for the last decade.
“You can never wait for the perfect moment, you have to create it.
“It was a great atmosphere and a fantastic experience.”
James scooped a Personal Trainer of the Year Award for the third year in a row in January and is keen for new clients to train.
He joined six others on stage on Father’s Day – a poignant moment for the fitness enthusiast who has two children.
Mr James said: “My partner came to support but my children are a bit too young.
“Hopefully in the future my son can witness it with his own eyes.
“The experience itself was a surreal moment for me.”
Having started intense training in February, James was finally in front of six judges in a competition that saw 300 people take part.
He said: “In this particular show they look at stage presence ,conditioning, functional development and muscularity.
“We had to do quarter turns and compulsory poses.
“Then we had 60 seconds of a rehearsed routine of certain poses.”
A ‘pose-down’ follows where contestants do another minute of fun poses to ‘show off any qualities that you have got’.
Although James did not place in his category the experience has been a learning curve.
He said: “I was not necessarily the best on the stage but the best I can be.
“On this occasion I didn’t place but if I had it would have been a bonus.
“I used this show as a learning experience and learning curve and getting my foot on the stage.”
James has met new associates through the competition and expanded his network.
He added: “It was beautiful to see and hear other people’s journeys and how they overcome setbacks.
“I met a lot of people and got a lot of support.
“It taught me that it is how you deal with things and how you respond no matter what life hits you with.”
Further information is available via KieranJames_PT on both Facebook and Instagram or by emailing kieranjamesptfitness@gmail.com.
