AN EVESHAM couple who joined a gym soon after the arrival of their daughter have ditched the pounds and are getting set to represent Great Britain at a major championships.
Phil and Marie Brush joined Phoenix Fitness Solutions on Davies Road in 2015 following the birth of their daughter Olivia.
The couple were both overweight and began training with personal trainer Ben Goss.
And as the pounds were shed, the pair discovered their competitive instincts and have now found themselves as part of the Great Britain duathlon team for their respective age groups.
Having recently returned from Denmark, Phil and Marie are now setting their sights on the ETU Championships in Ibiza in October and the ITU Multisports event in Potevedra, Spain next April.
Marie competes in the sprint duathlon which consists of a five km run, a 20km bike ride and a two and a half mile run and lavished praise on gym staff for their efforts.
“I’d done a few 5k races before I had Olivia and I started at the gym in July 2016, to lose my baby weight as I had gone up to 11st 6lb and also to get fit,” she said.
“Thanks to Ben I lost nearly three stone and was able to get back into shape.”
Husband Phil competes in the standard duathlon which consists of a 10k run, a 40k bike ride and a 5k run to end.
“I weighed 15st 7lb before I started at the gym in November 2015 after Olivia arrived and needed to get fit and lose weight,” he said.
“I’d previously done half marathons and a few 10k races and also a few sportives on my bike but through working with Ben I lose four stone in a year.”
