DEVA FITNESS - ENDORSEMENTS
I'd tried to run, and failed, more than once and was convinced I'd never be able to run for more than a few minutes. Although my previous experience of Personal Trainers had left me disillusioned, as I reached middle age I decided to give running one last go and needed help to succeed. I am so glad I found Dave. My faith in PTs has been restored by this consummate professional who translates his first class knowledge into well-explained training programmes. His passion for fitness is contagious and with every session I learn more about myself and my abilities. Dave has responded to my never-ending and diverse personal goals with alacrity, developing training plans that target each one and producing clear documentation to demonstrate my progress. His belief in my ability boosted my confidence - he believed I could achieve, and I did! I very quickly went from out of breath after jogging for a couple of minutes to running for nearly an hour over mixed terrain, turning in PB’s at every session. Whilst my times may not set the world alight (yet!) and I have yet to run my first race, thanks to Dave I have become a runner.
Sabra Ralph
Nutritionist
Having been a keen sportsman all my life, main sports squash and skiing, I am so glad I suggested a Ski Fit program with you. After spending 12 weeks getting fit under your guidance for this year’s assault on the Alps I had a marvellous holiday, skiing for 10 days in some very difficult weather and snow conditions. All I can say is that the training worked. I got more out of the holiday than ever before in terms of balance, strength [especially the legs] and concentration, which in turn led to improved confidence on difficult terrain.
I am now looking forward to improving my fitness for squash, which at age 59, is going to be a bigger test but one I can approach with more confidence with your help.
Steve Wells
Company Director
I would like to thank you for your personal training program over the last couple of months.
I must admit that I was initially sceptical of your claim that this can benefit anyone. At 69 years old and with a severe pulmonary condition, I had really given up on the fact that I would be able to benefit from a resistance training program. However, you have proved me quite wrong in that with a careful plan of action, you have increased my core fitness and strength as well as considerably improving my breathing and thereby my whole quality of life.
Many thanks Dave,
Chris Copeman
Retired
In April 2009 I started training with Dave following a serious road accident which left me hospitalised for several months. As a result of my injuries, I was left with muscle weakness, poor core stability and severe balance issues.
At an initial assessment, Dave identified the issues, and developed a programme of exercises designed to progressively improve my fitness and stability. In weekly one-on-one sessions at Tattenhall Recreation Club throughout the summer of 2009, he has taken me through these exercises, and using a documented monitoring system has demonstrated a continuous improvement in my fitness and stamina.
His methods of training and encouragement have also built up my confidence. I feel that without Dave's involvement and support, I would not have been able to make the progress towards the physical and mental recovery that I have experienced. I would probably have given up by now (or not even started exercising).
I would recommend Dave's knowledge, guidance and encouragement to others in a similar situation.
Charlie Radcliff
Aged 22
I would highly recommend Dave to anyone wishing to have a Personal Trainer or Sports Massage Therapist. He is highly motivated and knowledgeable in all aspects of training. His enthusiasm and encouragement certainly give you the confidence you need right from day one.
He is an excellent all round trainer, really committed, with knowledge, skills and a great personality.
As a Sports Massage Therapist - again - you feel that you are in capable hands.
Training with Dave is enjoyable and fun and you really do feel the benefits in a very short time.
Liz Hartley
Ministry of Justice, MHRT
Dave coached me for a period of two years with the aim of obtaining a Top 5 placing in a Road Running Series between 2001 and 2002- he provided just the right amount of pressure at the right times, put together a flexible program which took into consideration my work and family commitments, and made sure he took the time to understand my aims and objectives - the result was a 2nd place and a series of personal bests over 10km and half marathon distance.
Chris Taylor,
Head of Internal Audit, National Bank of Fujairah, United Arab Emirates
Dave, I‘ve been a member of a local gym for almost three years now but have still put weight on and lost the fitness of my youth despite going there fairly often. Within two weeks of training under your guidance I could already see a difference and more importantly so could my wife and friends. A further ten weeks on I still can’t believe the differrence you’ve made. I’m fitter and stronger, I look better and I feel great.
My advice to anyone wanting to get fitter and healthier would be “ Don’t join a gym, just get a trainer that knows how to make a difference “ Thanks Dave…
Andrew Benyon
Taxi Driver
I would like to recommend Dave as a great personal trainer! I trained with Dave for just over 3 months in preparation for the New York marathon. Dave put together a personalised programme for me and I did weekly running sessions with him. This was my second marathon and I hoped to improve my time significantly. On the day I took 21 minutes off my time in London and managed a new PB of 4hrs 44mins. I could not have done it without Dave who provided challenging but achievable training sessions and also gave superb feedback over email about my training log and how things were progressing. He was very supportive and positive throughout the training and gave lots of practical race day tips as well as general advice. I am looking forward to training for the next goal with him. Thanks a million!
Jenny Edwards
HR Director
I've thouroughly enjoyed our gym sessions together and was even motivated to take up running again after all these years.
Your guidance and patience with me in the gym ensured that I received a great workout every time and I was astonished how quickly my friends and family noticed the change in my posture and my shape.
All in all a great success. Thanks Dave.
Laura Cambell, Retired
For me Dave Knott’s on-line running coaching has been a very practical and effective way of being coached. Dave does make you think about what you want to get out of your training and about setting yourself realistic goals. For me it has been very motivating to have a personalised training program and to send my training log to Dave on a weekly basis. I found it great and very motivating to receive his feedback every week and that is probably because Dave gives honest feedback in a very positive way. This really helps to improve your self-confidence and teaches you how far you can go and what you can get out of yourself.
Dave’s tailor made training program really takes into account what YOU want to get out of YOURSELF and the goals that YOU set YOURSELF. It’s really well balanced, with days of hard, quality work, days with shorter gentle distances, days with longer distances and rest days.
Dave really helps you to reach your goals and to get the very best out of yourself and it is such a great feeling when the hard work of all the training pays off!!!! Without Dave’s coaching I would never have have managed to run two marathons in 2007: Rotterdam in 4.23 (during a heatwave) and Nottingham in 3.45!
Marjolein van Kralingen
Housing Strategy Officer, Holland
Dave provided me with coaching advice with the specific aim of running a personal best in the Chester Half Marathon. His dedicated, no nonsense approach resulted in me knocking over 10 minutes off my pb in a 6 month period.
Sioned Taylor,
Maths teacher, United Arab Emirates.
I found Dave's training advice for the London Marathon extremely useful and effective. Dave helped me with a realistic training plan which included long runs as well as some speed work, hills and tempo runs. Following this training plan I managed to knock 20 minutes off my previous marathon PB and was delighted to run 3:30:00!
Alison Smith
IT Consultant
Dave combines a methodical approach with a genuine interest in the wellbeing of his athletes. He focuses on the bigger picture to make sure that training fits into life and not the other way round. His belief in his athletes' abilities helps them to exceed expectations and instil confidence. In my view, these qualities are as key as any specific number or type of training sessions.
I approached Dave for help with training for my first marathon, and learned a tremendous amount. The importance of keeping a detailed training log, the right nutrition, the training effect, cutback weeks, how to deal with injury and illness and - above all - of adapting a training program when circumstances change. This flexibility and attention to detail are what make the guiding hand of a personal trainer invaluable.
Dave has a rare talent in making people believe in themselves through his encouragement both in and out of training sessions. He made me believe I could achieve something that I did not ever think I was capable of and by following his training programme and advice I far exceeded my own targets at a number of different length races. His methodical approach is very valuable in teaching self discipline in sport generally and has subsequently given me a much greater awareness of when to push myself and indeed when to rest.
Jen Chambers, architect
Having failed to meet my target time in two marathons,I asked Dave for a program and coaching to prepare for Auckland Marathon. As most of my training was done whilst travelling around New Zealand, online coaching was the only feasible option. Dave produced a training program carefully tailored to my requirements and followed it up with regular emailed advice and encouragement throughout the training period. Each email was based on my training diary and offered excellent advice; a mixture of practical tips, modifications to the original program where necessary and very valuable resources for meeting the mental challenge of a marathon. The result was that I comfortably met my target and better still, felt great throughout the race.
Robert Crowe, Teacher.
Every year at school we have a mile-long cross-country run. Since I started school, although I start the run well, I've struggled to finish and end up towards the back of the group, I was fed up and wanted to do better so my Mum asked Dave whether he could help. I began training twice a week over the summer holiday; sometimes I didn't feel like running but having the appointment with Dave meant I had to, and most of the time I enjoyed it (it was hard work though!). When school started, I was nervous about the run but I didn't need to be - I completed the distance, finishing in the top third of the pack, and sprinted the last section. The best bit though was seeing the look on my teacher's face when she told me my time - I'd taken 2 minutes off my previous best !
I enjoyed training with Dave and now have another goal; it's not running-based, but we still run and I still have fun.
Alyssa, aged 15
Student
I write to thank you for all the knowledge, commitment and support you have given me as a running coach over the last few years, I am very grateful. You are a natural coach, you identified clearly the areas I needed to focus on to achieve the goals we set and designed a tailored plan that I was able to follow. In the group sessions with Tattenhall Runners you helped me to get the most out of each session, either and usually through encouragement, though also by being brave enough to point out the error of my ways (in the nicest-possible manner) when I wasn't putting in as much effort as I should have been. You were right, and I now am much more disciplined and as a consequence get the most out of each session.
Having only come into the sport of running in my mid thirties, and lacking a lot of natural talent, I have come a long way and I am proud of the improvements I have made in those 5 years. I greatly appreciate the help you have given me in that time.
David Sykes
Business Development Manager.
Tel:01829 770327 Mob: 0790 187 1116
davejknott@gmail.com
