If you'd told Emma at school that one day she'd be running marathons, lifting weights, and genuinely enjoying going to the gym, she probably would have laughed.
After all, she hated sport.
She was always the last to be picked for teams.
And she certainly didn't see herself as someone who would spend her late 50s chasing fitness goals.
But life has a funny way of surprising us.
Sometimes the things we think aren't for us become the things we can't imagine living without.
When Emma joined Function Fitness in 2019, she wasn't looking for a new hobby.
She'd recently taken up running and quickly realised that if she wanted to improve and stay injury free, she needed to add some strength and conditioning to her routine.
The gym was simply meant to support her running.
But walking through the doors for the first time wasn't easy.
Having never stepped foot in a gym before, Emma felt self-conscious and completely out of her comfort zone.
She started with PT sessions and, despite enjoying them, never quite felt brave enough to use the open gym on her own.
Still, she kept showing up.
And that consistency would end up changing far more than she expected.
Then came lockdown.
While many routines were put on hold, Emma found herself becoming even more connected to the gym.
Charlie and the coaching team moved sessions online, creating a way for members to keep training together when everything else felt uncertain.
Those sessions were a complete godsend.
More importantly, they helped Emma discover something she'd been missing: the people.
The support, camaraderie, and sense of belonging that came with training alongside others.
When normal training resumed, she embraced the group sessions fully.
And there was no turning back.
Seven years later, Emma has completed five marathons and three ultra marathons.
Take a second to let that sink in.
Five marathons.
Three ultra marathons.
Not bad for someone who used to get picked last.
But while those achievements are incredible, they're only part of the story.
Because alongside her running, Emma has built strength, confidence, and resilience she never expected to find.
And every now and then, she still surprises herself.
One of the things that stands out most about Emma is her perspective.
She's never been driven purely by PBs or performance.
Of course, progress feels good.
But her goal has always been much simpler:
Stay strong.
Stay fit.
Keep doing the things she loves.
And that's exactly what she's done.
Year after year.
Emma's advice is simple.
Give it a try.
Because if someone who hated sport at school, was always the last to be picked for teams, and had never stepped foot inside a gym can discover a love for training, then you might surprise yourself too.
And if you do decide to start, you'll find a community of coaches and members ready to support you every step of the way.
The marathons are impressive.
The ultra marathons are impressive.
But they're not really what Emma's story is about.
The real story is what happened in between.
It's about discovering that the labels we give ourselves don't have to stay with us forever.
It's about realising that confidence can be built.
That strength can be learned.
And that it's never too late to become the kind of person you never imagined you'd be.
If you'd told teenage Emma that one day she'd be running ultra marathons and loving the gym, she wouldn't have believed you.
Not because she wasn't capable.
She just hadn't discovered it yet.
What started as something extra to support her running became a way of life.
And seven years later, she's still proving that it's never too late to surprise yourself.
We're so proud of you, Emma 🧡
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