.svg)
When it comes to health and fitness goals, everyone has a different starting point and unique and personal challenges along the way.
Often, these challenges come completely out of nowhere, with no prior warning, forcing us to tap into our inner strength and resilience in a bid to overcome the struggles and forge a new path ahead.
For Sep, our Member Experience Manager and Milon Master Coach, the last three years have thrown some unexpected obstacles in his way, but with a focused mindset, a passion for extreme fitness challenges and a clear training plan, he’s on his way to recovery and to achieving a personal goal: to complete the Jersey Marathon in October 2025 in aid of two charities close to his heart.
From high intensity endurance event training to physical exhaustion
In 2022, post-pandemic, Sep was training hard with multiple runs and strength training workouts during the week and 20-30km trail runs on the north coast cliff paths on Sundays in preparation for an ultra endurance event in Fuerteventura. This was Sep’s happy place, doing both high intensity cardio and heavy lifting, with a specific event goal fuelling his training plan and consistency.
Normally, after such intense event training, most athletes take a month off before slowly reintroducing cardio and strength training. But Sep was struggling with getting back into his usual routine.
“No matter what I did, I was just tired. Exhausted. My body didn't feel right. So I thought I'd just give it more time. I waited another month and another month. By July 2023, I started feeling so bad, I finally went to see a doctor.”
Sep’s blood values were completely out of balance, leading to multiple symptoms and hormonal issues but with no specific diagnosis. During the first 4-6 weeks of medication, Sep still struggled to stand up for long periods or walk for any distance and needed a chair in the Milon suite during his 4 hour shifts. In 18 months, Sep gained 36kg which, for someone previously so fit, active and athletic, had a huge impact on his mental health.
Gaining weight and being unable to exercise
A common feeling amongst people who have previously been very active, or who have competed in sports at a high level, is that when their body doesn’t work in the way it used to, or they’ve gained a lot of weight, they feel broken, lost and unworthy; like they’ve lost a sense of their identity.
“It felt horrible. I felt a sense of imposter syndrome, because while I'm the ‘fitness expert’ helping people lose the weight and get fit and healthy, I'm personally struggling. I needed a nap after I walked to the shop because my body was so exhausted. I was eating sugar and convenience food just to supply more energy.”
If you’ve ever thought ‘I just don’t feel like me anymore’, then you’ll no doubt resonate with Sep’s story.
Facing tough mental challenges
“I was so annoyed with my body! Mostly because I prefer training for a specific event rather than just exercising per se. Having that link between knowing I’m going to be taking part in an extreme challenge and reaching that goal of being fit enough to achieve that, that’s my motivation.
I felt weak emotionally and physically because my previous training workouts made me feel strong. If I was having a bad day I could always mentally tell myself that I’d run 30km on Sunday and that I can overcome difficult things.”
No stranger to life-changing injuries
As an active young man in Belgium in 2010, Sep’s sporting dreams were shattered when he needed surgery on his ankle. The whole trajectory of his life shifted and he was unable to pursue his dream career, which left him feeling lost and lacking direction. As he looked for a job to earn money to travel to Australia instead, an opportunity showed up to work with a friend in a gym.
With a background in sport and earlier studies in anatomy and physiology, Sep thrived in his new area of work and loved supporting others on their health and fitness journey. In the span of just a few years, Sep took on managerial roles and later bought his own gym and started working internationally for Milon across the UK and Ireland.
This ultimately led Sep to Healthhaus in Jersey where he up-skilled our team and took Milon to the next level. And thanks to the global pandemic, we’re very grateful he stayed with us!
The allure of tough physical challenges
Sep has been a hybrid athlete for over a decade, taking part in multiple strength, endurance and ultra-endurance events, including 100km races, with the training for each event motivating him to keep pushing his own boundaries.
“I love the combination of physically pushing my body with the mental battle of trying to push through the tough moments. I really like seeing where my mind and body can go"
Getting back on track post-illness
With his health improving every day, Sep has set himself the challenge of completing the Jersey Marathon in October 2025.
“Signing up to a challenge motivates me to be consistent in my training and nutrition and ultimately lead to increased mental and physical strength.”
The Standard Chartered Jersey Marathon is a prestigious event that attracts over 2500 runners each year, with over 40% coming to Jersey specifically for the event. It’s a welcoming, friendly and inclusive event that is well supported by islanders to create a motivating and inspiring atmosphere.
“Healthhaus have supported the Jersey Marathon for many years and as the route passes close to my home it makes the logistics nice and easy! I know I’ll be able to get lots of support from my partner, friends and Healthhaus colleagues.”
The 48 week training plan
This summer, Sep’s training started with varying consistency as he navigated his ongoing health issues. He started with weight-training sessions once or twice a week and added a little running but soon realised it was too much for his body at that stage.
After a few weeks of being more consistent, and steadily losing 20kg (with 20kg to go), he started a zero to 10km training plan, taking it slowly and sticking to the plan to avoid injury.
“I have 14 weeks to reach a 10km distance. Then 14 weeks to build up my speed and reach half marathon stage, followed by 20 weeks of marathon training. Not forgetting two weeks of rest (or tapering) before the event in October.
I have a training buddy for strength training and I am trying to convince him to run the marathon with me, even though he’s not a runner at all! And if he does it, I’ll wear a 15kg weighted vest for the event to compensate for his suffering!”
Post-marathon goals
Having trained for, and completed, in 100km ultra marathons, Sep still perceives a 26 mile race (42 km) as a ‘training run’! His marathon training plan is therefore great preparation to take on big challenges again in 2026 and beyond.
“I’m keen to take on the Backyard Ultra in January 2026, which needs a crew. And I’d also love to do a triathlon at some point too, or an Ironman - a bucket list item for one day in the future!”
As a recently qualified ICF coach, Sep is setting out to support others more closely on their health and wellness journey so they too can experience the power of pushing beyond their mental limits and transforming their lives forever.
Running for charities close to heart
Events like the Jersey Marathon raise a significant amount of money for local charities while providing individuals with the intrinsic motivation to train and complete the race.
Sep has chosen to run for Dementia Jersey and Macmillan Cancer Support Trust.
“Dementia is very close to heart for my partner, while I’ve had to deal with a lot of cancer in my close and extended family. Even though my family are all in Belgium, I’ve chosen the Macmillan Cancer Support Trust because they do such great work here.”
If you’d like to support Sep’s fundraising, you can contact him directly via email sep@healthhaus.co.uk.
