WORKING mum Rhian Vickers has gone from being a once a week Zumba kind of person to a marathon runner and Insanity Challenge devotee.

After completing the high intensity workouts for 60 days and following its nutrition plan, the 34-year-old says she feels better than she ever did in her 20s.

The mother-of-two, who lives in Smithills, recently completed her first ever half marathon and full marathon in the same weekend, having never done either before.

She is now hoping to inspire others to get active and feel good on the inside, in a bid to look good on the outside.

Rhian, who works for a surveying company in Bolton, said: “I started out doing things like Zumba and got into spinning.

“It’s just escalated in the last 12/18 months.

“If you put the effort in, you will get the results.

“The Insanity Challenge was quite demanding.

“The nutrition side that goes with it is quite strict.

“It’s high intensity training, the aim was to do it five or six times a week.

“I’ve not really lost weight but I’ve lost almost a dress size and 6% body fat.

“Without a doubt, I feel a million times better than I ever did.

“Getting off your backside once a week is better than doing nothing but having pushed myself and set myself challenges and targets and goals so you are always working and striving to achieve something, I’m finding it really rewarding.

“I never thought I would run a marathon but I have.

“It makes a huge difference to how you feel and how happy you feel.

“The change in my body shape, the wobbly bits that were there before, I’m much happier in myself.
“Even when I was younger, I’m much happier now than when I was in my 20s. That’s from putting the effort in.”

Speaking of completing a half marathon in Rivington on October 4 and the full marathon in Chester the following day, she said: “They were enjoyable. The marathon, I think I would’ve enjoyed more if I had not done a half marathon the day before.”

Completing the two runs will stand her in good stead for competing in next year’s Ironman Triathlon in Bolton, made up of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride and a 26.2-mile run.

She said: “At least I know I can do it. I need to master swimming and cycling now.

“I’m a holiday swimmer so I need to start doing that and I’m getting my bike today.”

Rhian, who lives with her 12-year-old daughter, says she has to make a conscious effort to make time to work out, including classes before work at V1ntage Health and Fitness Studio, Knowsley Street.