Iron Woman, Super Mum

Interview with Michelle Parsons (March 2002)

Adhering to a demanding fitness programme with the added pressure of work and family commitments is tough. For many the after-work hour in the gym is postponed in favour of an evening on the sofa with the remote control in one hand and a glass of wine in the other. For some, like Michelle Parsons, this is simply not an option.

Since entering her first crosstraining competition six years ago, Michelle has effectively juggled a job, a busy family life and a staggering training schedule. Her dedication to the sport has reaped its rewards, with 2001 being a particularly successful year. Following the One-on-One Iron Man competition in Worcester, CrossTraining UK spoke to Michelle about her fitness, her family and her plans for the future.

How do you manage to look after two kids, have a full time job and maintain such a high level of fitness and strength and a body fat percentage of 13%?

Well the bodyfat is down to diet. I've seen a nutritionist to help me with that. I believe that once you've got your diet right everything else just falls into place. I like to fuel up so that I've got the energy to train hard to keep myself lean. My nutrition is absolutely spot on. I also have a very, very understanding husband, Phil. We take it in turns with training and he's very encouraging as well. Phil's training for triathlon and getting very good. I don't train on Saturday's as that's the day for the kids. I'm their taxi, their bank... their slave.

How do you manage when cooking for your kids, to eat healthy yourself. They like junk food yeah?

They're healthy eaters. Jordan loves pasta and jacket potatoes. Tigan loves carrots and cucumber. They don't eat an awful lot of chocolate or junk food and both generally like good food.

You're an exceptionally strong women. Have you been lucky genetically or is it all hard work?

I think its probably 50/50. I used to be a runner and I'm naturally a lean person. I've had to work very hard at my strength though and I've found it very difficult in the past to keep hold of any muscle tissue. I like to train with heavy weights to build up my strength so that I find the repetition work in competition easier.

Do either of your girls want to follow in your footsteps?

They've already started. They're already awesome swimmers and in fact my eldest, Jordan is doing a biathlon next weekend in Worcester. She's only 9. They both like to run too so you never know. I don't want to push them into it but they can certainly try it. If they like it that's great, but if not they can find something else.

So when you were a youngster, what sports were you into?

Mainly running. 1500m, 800m, 400m relay, cross country and I also played county netball.

How long have you been crosstraining?

I started when One-on-One opened in Evesham, just after Tigan was born. About 6 years ago. I started gradually and slowly built up to where I am now.

You have to have a strong upper body to compete well in crosstraining. Do you thing this deters women?

It certainly shouldn't. It should encourage them. Most people can run, ride a bike and many can swim, things you naturally learn to do as you're growing up. But if you take up crosstraining, you train muscles in a different way and feel a lot better about yourself and your body.

But what would you say to women who come out with the age old complaint 'I don't want to build big muscles!'

You don't bulk up from crosstraining. I'm not bulky. You don't have to have big bulky muscles to be a good crosstrainer. You can still be feminine and have a great body.

How many hours do you train a day?

Well before I started my Premier course I used to train for around six or so hours, three days a week, four hours per day on the other two weekdays and then a couple of hours on a Sunday. I'd perhaps do some crosstraining work first, go away and eat, then do a rowing session, go off and sort the children out and then do my weights in the evening. So I guess that's about 28 hours a week, but my schedule will take some rethinking when I start my career as a sports therapist.

What's your toughest crosstraining course discipline?

Well this year it was the abs in the Ultra-Fit final. They should have been fine but as soon as I sat down the official started saying 'no' and discounted what were perfectly legitimate crunches. You can't argue with her, it'll only make it worse. Normally I'm comfortable with all the disciplines but with the abs this year it was just her on the day. She was against me.

Your time in the Ultra-Fit heats was the fastest time of the competition. Falling victim to the notorious 'ab judge' in the final and not winning, must have been hard to take.

I was really upset. Winning the team event helped somewhat, but it did upset me. My husband Phil was upset too and wrote letters to the organisers. But its not worth it really as you don't get anything out of them. There's always next year. It'll be interesting to see if anything does change with the Ultra-Fit course in 2002.

Your major rival in crosstraining is Sarah Coope. You're very closely matched and have had some good races.

She's a good rival to have. She's different to me though as she was a professional athlete who trained full time for 20 years. Considering that, I'm doing pretty well, especially beating her at BIRC 2001 in the 2k indoor row.

That was a great race to watch and an excellent performance.

7:25.9 was my time and I beat Sarah by 4.5 seconds. The best thing though was getting off the Concept 2 and feeling fine. I knew I had more and could go faster. I've rowed 7.24.2 since. 

Is there anyone you look up to or admire in sport?

Denise Lewis. Awesome women. And beautiful too. She'd make a great crosstrainer. Shame she wasn't at the Dream Team 2001. The women's celebrity Dream Team wasn't really in the same league as the men's.

So what drives you in crosstraining now?

I know I have the ability and determination to be the best. This, I hope will give me the confidence to beat Sarah Coope in 2002.

Which crosstraining event do you think is best?

The Xzone. I like the Ultra-Fit but the X-zone is best. It's longer and harder. It would be even better if they put some more weights in there. My biggest goals are to win the X-zone and the Ultra-Fit. I had a good year in 2001 but I was injured for the X-zone with a bad achilles problem. Considering the pain and swelling I was pleased with my time and placing. I'm also keen to get into Triathlon more seriously. I've done a couple and done well so I want to do more.

And what's your greatest achievement to date?

Winning at BIRC 2001!

The crosstraining show-down between Michelle and Sarah Coope promises to be a good one in 2002. Email your questions and requests for training advice to enquiries@dbmax.co.uk and we'll pass them on.