Hey Baby, what’s your sign?
“Well, come along! I've got two spears,
And I'll poke your eyeballs out at your ears;
I've got besides two curling-stones,
And I'll crush you to bits, body and bones.”
Big Billy Goat Gruff, Bad MoFo circa 1841
I chose the Mountain Goat for our logo for lots of reasons. The fact that I am indeed a Capricorn in terms of the Zodiac is actually just a happy coincidence. In a mildly serious and business-minded way, I wanted something to capture a sense of going on a journey in the hope that it might resonate metaphorically with people who knew where they were right now and where they wanted to be.
But I also wanted something that reflected my own values, which to be fair have changed over the years. Let me take you back; pull up a chair and grab a brew.
Believe it or not, I was never particularly athletic and certainly not gifted in physical prowess despite the fact that like most kids 'in my day', I never stopped moving; climbing trees, snowball fights (remember those?), playing soldiers and suchlike. I specialised in being dreadful at field sports and no matter how often I played, football and me never became an item. If I ever made it onto a team, I accepted that it was purely to make up the numbers and made my peace with it. BUT, the opposing team would get so frustrated by my relentless and ubiquitous presence because I just WOULD NOT STOP going for the ball.
I found solace in more solo activities like badminton, running, circuit training and swimming. Please note that I didn't suggest I was any good; I just enjoyed them. I did start to resent the fact that no matter how hard I practiced or trained, I never really made much progress whilst others seemingly drifted casually along with their genetic gifts from their parents. Even so, I stuck with my hobbies just...because.
Enter the hills.
I must mention my dad here. He put up with my distaste for long walks because they were so BORING but eventually he opened the door to the environment that means the most to me. It's because of his initial interest in my development and then later tutelage from the most dauntless of mountain gentleman Mr Martin Adams MIC who led my school hillwalking club that I found my own niche. I became a hill walker, then a Munro 'Bagger' and then, just maybe, a passable mountaineer. I found out quickly that on a good day I just needed to be organised and fit but on a BAD day, I needed to be disciplined, proactive, decisive, alert and possessed of a steadfast mind. Aka; be a stubborn, resilient bastard. And that spoke to me.
I 'compleated' my last Munro in 2015 just after I retired and I'm registered as the 5756th person to have ever done so. That round took me 25 years and it reminds me of the single-mindedness that's often needed to get shit done.
Enter the RAF Regiment.
I knew from the age of 14 that I wanted to serve in the RAF Regiment; I had no doubts. My Grandad had served as one of the very first Royal Marine Commandos during the Second World War and I idolised him for it even though he rarely spoke of his experiences. My love of airplanes and fear of drowning in general took me down a different path.
Despite my best efforts and years of preparing myself, I still wasn't particularly fit when I went through Initial Officer Training. When I went on to my professional Regiment training I knew I was in for a tough ride. I attribute my successful graduation to the fact that I had harnessed the power of being stubborn. I may have often been one of the last to finish, but there was NOTHING that could make me quit. It just wasn't an option.
I served for 16 years and retired a very different person form the young, naive country boy who signed up. Amongst other things I became a husband in 2005 and then a dad in 2010, quickly followed by a second helping in 2012. I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in 2009 and my wife Melissa had very unexpected a stroke in 2011. I was no longer the hungry lone wolf I imagined myself to be. I had responsibilities to others to honour above all else, plus I had the joy of an incurable and debilitating disease and I was still the main bread-winner. But I also brought my stubbornness with me.
In 2015 I qualified as a personal trainer and sports massage therapist and Capricorn Fitness was born. My speciality is strength training with barbells. Because being strong puts you in the position to help others when they need it. I know it's not sexy to most but it's simple, hard and effective stuff and if you're not doing it, you probably should. And it'll MAKE you sexy...maybe...
I hope that the revised metaphor is clear even in just a tongue in cheek 'horny goat' way although it means more to me. The Mountain Goat makes it's home in the harshest of environments and just soaks up whatever the mountain decides to serve up to him; that's life and you can choose to give in to it or embrace it. He also represents the manifestation of my sense of purpose. I am bound absolutely to honour my obligations to those I love and who mean the most to me; as husband, father, son, brother and friend. He will absolutely never stop no matter the setback. He's a stubborn old beast.
Life is tough; you should be to.
Let's be more goat.
If you fancy learning a wee bit more about what I do, please feel free to visit my website:
https://capricornfitness.co.uk/find-out-more-
