The first weekend in August summed up Chrissy Holmes’s life right now. On both days she took part in Total Warrior: the gruelling obstacle race which brings thousands of people to the fells around Shap.

On Sunday Chrissy completed the 10-mile version in just an hour and 37 minutes. For the second year running, she was the first woman to finish.

Saturday was the 10-kilometre course. Although this is much shorter, Chrissy finished in three hours.

Sunday was Chrissy pushing herself to the limit. Saturday was spent encouraging others to do the same.

That day she led a team of 23 of her gym clients, many of whom had never imagined they could do something like this. They crossed the line together.

Chrissy remembers “the team spirit, rolling around in mud, having a laugh. Seeing lots of people in the team who thought they could never do it and were doing it.

“That’s what it’s about – getting through a challenge they didn’t think they could do. Not leaving anyone behind.”

Chrissy, 36, has many impressive athletic achievements. In June she completed the Bob Graham Round – the 66-mile circuit of 42 Lake District mountains – in less than 22 hours. This is one of the fastest times by a woman.

But ask her what she’s most proud of and the answer is encouraging others to take first steps to fitness.

In May last year Chrissy opened Border Warrior, a gym in Atlas Works, Denton Holme, Carlisle.

People with all levels of fitness have come here for circuit classes with bodyweight exercises, and equipment such as tractor tyres (to flip) and a rope to climb.

A range of different exercises, and a circuit that changes every day, is an effective approach. As with her team at Total Warrior, Chrissy has seen people achieve things they didn’t think possible.

“I just like to see people’s attitudes change, towards themselves and towards exercise. You see someone achieve something they didn’t think they could achieve – getting across the monkey bars or up the rope. That’s what drives me to do it.

“You see changes in people from when they first come, in body shape and in attitude. They’re happier, the way they walk and talk. It helps build confidence. That’s why I do it.”


Chrissy Holmes There are beginners’ classes. Chrissy says: “It can be a bit intimidating to come somewhere new. Take your time. Work at your own pace. Nobody’s looking at you.”

But there is an element of ‘no pain, no gain’ here. Get fit – but it will probably hurt.

“I make sure they know it’s going to be hard,” she says. “And it doesn’t get easier. You just work harder and push out more reps.

“You’ve just got to embrace it. Unless you challenge yourself you’re never going to go anywhere.

“It’s a shock to the system. People do sometimes push themselves so hard they end up being sick. It’s learning how fit you are and what you’re capable of. How hard you can push.”

She stresses that being sick is not a common occurrence. Those who have suffered like this respond in different ways.

“Some have come back, some haven’t. The people that don’t come again are the people that don’t want to work hard for it. It is hard work. If it was easy everybody would be doing it.”

Chrissy’s business is an example of hard work in action. Border Warrior is a one-woman operation. Chrissy has not taken a holiday since it opened 16 months ago. On most days, classes begin at 6.30am and end after 8pm.

This dedication is one reason why Border Warrior is a finalist in next week’s Carlisle Living Awards.

Its clients are an even split of men and women. There are also family classes that children can attend.

“There’s no cliques. It’s just a nice atmosphere. It’s like a family.”

In some cases, it really is a family. The regulars include Chrissy’s dad Ken, who is in his sixties. “He’s become loads fitter. He was type-two diabetic. He’s not now. His blood pressure is down.”

Chrissy’s mother Val has lost weight through diet. “Diet’s a massive part of being fit. I hate it when people say ‘I’ve earned my cake.’ You’ve just wiped out your workout.”

Maybe Chrissy’s competitive spirit comes from her family. She is a triplet, with Ruth and Ann. “Ruth’s in Australia. She does ultra-marathons. Ann has won a few obstacle races. We used to race cross country for the school and do athletics together. There was always some element of competition.”

There are also twins – Andrew and Lynn – and sister Heidi. Andrew and Heidi both exercise. And Lynn? “Lynn’s not into exercise. We’re still working on that.”

Chrissy was brought up in Carlisle, studied at Leeds University, travelled around Australia, then moved to Stoke-on-Trent, “for a bloke”.

She was deputy manager with a medical company there, and discovered Caveman Training, a high-intensity exercise class.

Her relationship had ended and the job had become stale. Bringing a high-intensity class to Cumbria seemed appealing.

“My job was really well paid but I’d been there nine years. I just thought, do I still want to be doing this in another nine years?

“I gave up everything to move back to Carlisle and start here. Some people were a bit sceptical. My dad was ‘You’ve got to do what makes you happy.’ Life’s for living. If you’re not happy with what you’re doing, change it.”

Chrissy retrained as a fitness instructor, and has become an excellent advertisement for her business.

“I think you’ve got to live the life you’re preaching to people. Would you want to train with someone who hasn’t been there and done it and pushed themselves?

“I can say ‘I know exactly how you’re feeling’ when you’re on the floor and you don’t think you can do another rep.”

Her most extreme challenge to date was the Bob Graham Round. She began at 7pm on the first Friday in June, running through the night and a scorching day.

“Leg three [of five] was the toughest. I was ready to keel over. It was just so hot, and the lack of sugar. One of the girls had Kendal Mint Cake. That saved the day!

“I wouldn’t have done it without my support team. I did loads better than I thought I would. It was a sprint finish at the end to get under 22 hours. I got back just before 5pm. I was sprinting through Keswick Market, which was in full flow.”

Chrissy is inviting people to take part in another challenge, in aid of the Cumbria Flood Recovery Appeal.

On Saturday September 17 at Border Warrior teams of three will tackle two exercises. Half-hour slots are available at £15 per team.

“I wanted to do something a bit different,” she says. “The floods were a challenge for everybody involved. I want this to be a challenge for everybody. And I want it to be fun.”

She knows some people struggle to believe that pushing yourself to the limit can be fun.

So can giving up a comfortable life and setting up a business which has left no time for a relationship, or much else.

“This place has been my life for the last year,” she says. “The biggest challenge was having the guts to quit my job and start again. I didn’t know if it was going to work. Even if it all went wrong tomorrow I’d know that it’s changed people’s lives. So it’s totally been worth it.”

There can be a hint of the Sergeant Major in Chrissy’s style as an instructor. She knows the value of being urged to test your limits.

“I find it quite hard to motivate myself,” she admits. “Running on my own is really hard to do. At Total Warrior my family were urging me on and that really helped.

“Your mind gives up before your body. When people are ready to drop the bar and I say ‘One more rep’, they find they can do it. I try and help people push through the boundaries, without killing them off in the process.”

To book a place in Chrissy’s flood appeal fundraiser visit www.borderwarrior.co.uk.