Meet Louis. He loves a challenge.

Part of the product development team and all-round top bloke, you might have already seen him demonstrating Mirafit kit in our videos.

A fitness fanatic, there's no challenge that Louis won't take on. It doesn't matter whether it's a test of strength, speed, height, stamina or even willpower, Louis is always ready to put his money where his mouth is.

He started training when he was 15, so he's no stranger to the gym. But his passion for trying new things and overcoming new obstacles means he's always looking for more than just the average workout.

His most recent challenge? To take on the National Three Peaks. This involves hiking up Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in the Lake District and Snowdon in Wales – all in under 24 hours. That's 23 miles walking distance, with a total ascent of 3064 meters and a total driving distance of 462 miles.

No mean feat.

And with such an intense training regime running alongside all his prep, we couldn't help but grab five minutes with the man himself to find out what it's like to be at the peak of his fitness.

WHEN DID YOU START GETTING INTERESTED IN FITNESS?

When I was 15. Girls called me weedy and I didn’t like that, so I thought I needed to get fitter. It was for the social aspect too. I had friends who exercised so that was good motivation to start.

I didn’t take it that seriously but when I went to university, I had a friend who had very similar interests and goals so started getting more into it then.

Originally, my goals were to get strong and gain some form of strength. I liked the fact that I could change my body and that was something I could control. But then I learnt that it was about being the best version of myself.

WHAT WAS YOUR TRAINING REGIME LIKE WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED OUT?

I went to the gym once a week on a Friday after school. I used to play football during the week and then I used to walk a lot – just because I liked it really. I also used to do basketball and football after school and occasionally rugby. They were more about fitness and trying to make myself look better which slowly started to work.

Just trying to get results faster made me start going to the gym. It was better than just staying at home and playing computer games or being out on the streets or down at the park. It was a nice escape and a good opportunity to hang around with friends.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT FITNESS THAT YOU LOVE THE MOST?

Now, it feels quite satisfying to do it. I'm not as goal orientated as I used to be. But being able to see progress in myself is such a satisfying feeling. Whether that's being able to lose weight or get stronger or run farther – I like just seeing how far I can push my body and where my limits are.

WHAT'S YOUR SCHEDULE LIKE NOW?

On a typical week, I go to the gym five times a week. I do Yoga once a week, running once a week climbing once a week and then walking too, so I can maintain my 6,000-10,000 steps a day. That's fairly easy – just walking to work and the gym and back usually does it.

IN YOUR OPINION WHAT'S THE BEST THING TO DO AT THE GYM?

Just turning up. Literally just going there and doing stuff because even if you're not seeing progress straight away, just the consistency of going will lead to seeing progress in some way shape or form.

It’s a good metaphor for life – the lessons you learn in the gym like failing and trying again are great lessons for life so just being in that place.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE PIECE OF MIRAFIT KIT TO PLAY WITH?

The M210 Half Power Rack is my favourite as it has a pull up bar and weight storage – it’s an open frame so if you just want to do lunges outside of it, there’s nothing restricting you. The spotters are independent so easy to move, and it’s also got resistance band pegs, so when it comes to doing resistance style training, it’s easier to do it. It’s also great for muscle ups.

DO YOU NEED TO EAT A LOT?

Yes and no.

You need a good level of calories to sustain being active all the time.If you don’t eat enough you feel so run down. At the moment I am in a maintaining phase, so I try to get my maintenance amount and then eat on top of that if I'm more active. But I never really track what I'm eating I just eat as my body tells me to. If I'm hungry I eat, if I'm not hungry I don’t eat.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO TAKE ON THE THREE PEAKS CHALLENGE?

I like challenges! Whether that’s fitness challenges, eating challenges, mental challenges – whatever the challenge, it's fun for me. I'm quite competitive so just knowing there's a competition of sorts spurs me on.

Also, this challenge is to help out the church I go to, as well as to help other kids to get into sport, it was a nice thing to be able to do.

HOW HAVE YOU BEEN PREPARING?

Trying to run with our digital content writer Susie, running around the lake and running up and down hills. I’m also trying to work on a bit of explosive fitness because I'm expecting to do a lot of uphill work.

And just maintaining a decent amount of walking so walking up a hill won't be anything too hard.

WHAT'S YOUR GOAL IN DOING THE CHALLENGE?

To try and complete it in 24 hours and come down with a smile on my face – that would be a good indicator that everything has gone smoothly.

WHY IS WALKING SO IMPORTANT?

It's about maintaining that sense of oneness with your body. And keeping up your steps so that you don't end up in a situation where you need to do something physical and you can't do it.

We all should be upping our steps. People tend to live very sedentary lifestyles. Technology is better, so we don’t need to get up and do as much.

People talk about obesity being on the rise that's a good incentive for them to walk more.

It's also about just keeping going and staying committed.

WHAT GOALS DO YOU HAVE DOWN AT THE GYM?

I have been going to the gym for nine years, so I find don’t really have a specific goal anymore – it's good to have something to work towards though but don’t obsess over it. If I know something is quite weak, I target that specific area to help.

Challenges are a good way to have goals - I love challenges. It’s a good measure of how fit I am.

IS IT GOOD TO GO TO THE GYM AND DO THE SAME THING EVERY DAY?

To a point but variation is key. You have more to gain from variation and finding new things to add to your routine. Find something you love doing and just do it.

And because Louis is such a top bloke, he's raising money for charity at the same time. Find out more about his cause, The Sports Factory.

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Tags: Misc > Lifestyle