Lifted a wheelbarrow with concrete... bang , lower back gone. Lifted a bag of sand from the ground... bang , lower back gone. Tried to pick up my then 1 year old son... bang, lower back gone. This was all years ago and when I was a weak prick. In all three instances I was laid up for days and each time thinking 'Shit, I need to do something about this!'

Well, it's been 6 odd years at RD's gym and my lower back is going great guns. Sure, I wake up every morning stiff as an ironing board and can's touch my toes and sure, I needed a hernia operation from jogging but my lower back is heaps stronger. Admittedly, I have a long way to go with flexibility but I'm keen to work on this.

RD's gym – fun with the guys that come along to have a big session and also lift some weights. We've had some "blow ins" over the years... islander guy with tatts years ago, 'Fredo Frog' recently, but,now we have a committed crew (unless we're on the sauce on Saturday night and wake up hangover on a Sunday morning ).

I am stronger than I was but still have a long way to go. Aim is to bench 110 kegs , squat 140 kegs and deadies well, I think I'm past my "hey day" of 137 kegs but as the great RD says, 'It's only mental'. Luckily we have a psychologist training with us...

Training is now part of what I do. I look forward to the day when I can do a solid session with my now 8 and 10 year old boys (if they want be strong like dad) but , that's many reps, sets, sessions, cycles, years and most importantly laughs away.