What makes Jamie Armstrong so unique?
It takes about five minutes with Jamie Armstrong to understand why he is one of the most sought-after personal trainers on the North Shore.
“What fires me up is helping people to achieve the greatness within themselves,” he says. “When people leave my gym feeling fantastic, I’ve done my job.”
His enthusiasm for health and fitness is legendary. He opened his gym, Method, at 21st and Marine Drive in Ambleside four years ago, which offers popular indoor cycling classes and personal training. The gym has grown steadily since it opened its doors, entirely because of impressed participants, who come from as far as Kitsilano.
“There is nothing like this anywhere on the West Side,” the gentleman beside me panted between hill-climbs during my last class. “For me, it’s worth the commute.”
The first time I walked into Method, I was struck by how hard everyone was working, both the trainers and the people in the class. The second thing I noticed was the positive energy in the room, the shouts of encouragement and high fives that abounded. This is a place where fitness goals are realized.
Jamie comes by his passion honestly, and precisely. He remembers the exact moment he decided to dedicate his life, both professionally and recreationally to athletics and wellness.
“I was in grade one, and my teacher put me in a race for kids in grade three. I remember the huge feeling of accomplishment I felt when I returned to the classroom, and I thought to myself, ‘this is what I am supposed to do.’ I haven’t stopped running since.”
He is not exaggerating. Despite having a three year-old and a baby on the way, Jamie’s personal athletic goals loom large. This year, he plans to compete in the Hawaii 70.3 Ironman, followed by the Schwalbe Tour Transalp, a seven-day road biking stage race through the Pyrenees.
People might find it hard to prepare for one of these races, not to mention two of them back to back, while working full-time with a young family, but that doesn’t faze him.
“I’m not going to win, but my personality is to race as hard as I can. I’m not a big excuse guy, it is what it is. Sure, I’d like to have all day to prepare for these races, but when I got married and started a family, my life really started.”
His resumé of races is as varied as it is elaborate, and you quickly get a sense that Jamie is willing to try anything. Amongst others, he has completed the 36 mile Run to the Sun up Haleakala, an ultra-marathon that sends runners from sea level up to the summit of the Hawaiian volcano at 10,000 feet; and a 5 day stage race running through the Sahara Desert with his wife, Sharon.
While most of us struggle to simply keep fit, Jamie dreams of one day completing the Canadian Death Race, a 125 km ultra-marathon in the Rockies, as well as the Ironman Triathlon in Kona.
Completing such awe-inspiring feats takes more than just a lot of training – it also takes careful consideration of nutrition, and not just on race day (or week, as the case may be). Jamie is sponsored by Flora, the distributor of Udo’s Oil, amongst other nutritional supplements. Aside from a healthy diet and attention to hydration, Jamie uses a host of Flora’s products, such as Floravit and Beyond Greens, and his personal favorite, Udo’s Oil, a unique blend of omega 3,6, and 9 essential fatty acids that is popular amongst athletes.
“The overall effect has been really positive,” he says. “I enjoy finding ways (naturally) that I can improve my health and performance and it feels like I am doing both with the Flora products.”
In speaking to other athletes who rave about Flora, this is just the beginning of the positive changes their products make. Speeding recovery, reducing inflammation, and improved sleep are as vital to an endurance athlete as their steely desire to push themselves harder and longer. Considering his athletic endeavors, Jamie can use any help he can find along his path to success.
So why not stick to a regular race schedule of 10K’s, with perhaps a few marathons thrown in for good measure? What motivates Jamie to enter these extreme races? “When someone says I can’t do something, I make it a point to do it.” Aside from the camaraderie and challenges these races present, he relishes the opportunity to push his own personal limits.
So don’t tell Jamie Armstrong he can’t do something. He’s liable to turn around and do it.
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