Skye of Curr’s Les shows age is no barrier as he nears becoming qualified personal trainer
The strath’s Les Durance wants to show that age is no barrier as he is on the verge of becoming a qualified personal trainer at the age of 78.
The former policeman is waiting on his final results before planning to embark on a new career helping people improve their fitness.
Once he is qualified, he wants to help encourage others to get fit and in shape, however old they are.
Les travels from his home at Skye of Curr by Dulnain Bridge to Anytime Fitness at Harbour Road in Inverness where he trains five to six times a week.
He also works alongside his personal trainer George Rea who he says has motivated him to get in shape and want to become a qualified personal trainer himself.
Les says after the death of his wife Linda last year, he was in a dark place and struggling to cope with depression.
But he says going to the gym and earning his qualifications to become a personal trainer has given him a new lease of life.
“I was always reasonably fit, but I am stronger now than when I was 40,” he said.
“When my wife died in January 2023, I was in a dark place.
“I came to the gym and that is where I met George and he said I was working out well.
“Then I got more and more into it, then I formed a great interest in nutrition and combining training and sleep patterns to stay fit.
“If you don’t get them together, you don’t benefit.
“It has inspired me and I have met some great people to move on. I love it, working out is like being a child opening a Christmas present and seeing my improvement excites me.”
Les previously worked as a policeman in London for 30 years and also established Cairngorm Outdoors which worked with socially excluded people.
He also previously had cancer but has since made a full recovery from illness.
Les also fought many an election campaign over the years to try and win a seat at Highland Council, Holyrood and Westminster.
Once he is fully qualified, Les is looking to start work as a personal trainer and looking to work alongside clients of any age.
However, he hopes he shows he is an example to people over 50 that they can still get fit and stay in shape to improve their bodies.
Les said: “As you get older, your muscle diminishes one to 1.5 per cent a year.
“But I have built up my bone density and built up my muscle.
“At 78, people say you are in God’s waiting room at the train station but I ain’t ready to jump on the train yet.
“I have got stronger than when I was 40 thanks to following the right nutrition and eating the right food.
“It is all about having the right mentality, having the determination, motivation, and leaving the junk food alone.
“If I can say to someone if I can do that at 78, then you can do it at 50. I want to help the average person to improve.”
Les’s personal trainer, George Rea says he is proud of how far his client has come and has got to a stage where he wants to teach what he has learned.
He says that Durance is an inspiration of someone who sets their mind to achieving their personal fitness aspirations.
George said: “I was originally coaching his friend and after Les decided he wanted to come to the gym, we hit it off instantly.
“I have had a lot of people in their 50s and 60s who think they can’t build muscle at that age. But for them to see Les, it is quite inspiring as he has walked the walk and can motivate them that they can do it themselves.
“I am proud of Les and the way that he carries his energy.
“He has got much stronger in his physical appearance and he is more confident too.”
