Blitz: Inside Stories - Amanda
Another Blitz member is stepping into the spotlight for an “Inside Story”, this time around we’ve got Amanda Alldridge. This is a longer read than our usual blogs (around 5 mins) so get comfy and read on…
Give us a quick intro…
I’m Amanda and I grew up in a ski-mad household, my parents met at Sandown dry ski slope- talk about a slippery start to romance! Naturally, I was introduced to skiing as soon as I could walk. Every family holiday, whether summer or winter, revolved around skiing, and at the ripe old age of 7, I launched my ski racing career by joining Surbiton High School, a well-established skiing school. During my school years, I spent as much time as possible in the Alps and trained on plastic ski slopes when I was home.
Although I achieved considerable success, winning numerous national and international titles on both snow and plastic, my relationship with exercise was a bit more tumultuous. I am sure any ski-enthusiasts will know, skiing requires a lot of strength and fitness and as a child, this was not a priority for me. I relied mainly on natural ability and whilst I did spend time dryland training, I did not apply myself enough. Each year, the British Team's fitness camp highlighted my relative lack of fitness, which now fuels my mission to catch up.
After finishing school, I spent a year racing full-time in Italy, where I discovered that transitioning from winning British races to finishing near the back of the pack internationally was a humbling experience. Throughout the year, I worked on many mental, physical and technical components of ski racing and by the end of the season I had improved a great deal, being seeded in the top 15 racers, representing GB in the FIS A Team Championships and qualifying by right to start on the Europa Cup Tour (one down from the World Cup). Unfortunately, due to the lack of funding for the British Team, I reluctantly decided to retire from Alpine ski racing and head to university.
But not all was lost- university is where I discovered my love for indoor ski racing. After winning the University Ski Championships (BUCS) a couple of times, I spent the next 10 years balancing a full-time job and racing every summer in snowdomes across the UK and Europe. I claimed the overall British title 5 times and I remain the most decorated indoor ski racer. When I retired from ski racing for the second time, I realised I still had a competitive itch to scratch – much to my parents' dismay, who hoped I’d take up knitting instead. I was ready to fully embrace swapping ski poles for barbells and dive headfirst into the world of CrossFit competitions.
What initially motivated you to start doing CrossFit at Blitz and how has that motivation evolved over time?
Training has always been a significant part of my life. Before discovering CrossFit, I was a member at Nuffield Health in Surbiton. I wasn’t pushed enough, I had no goals, and I was getting bored. In 2018, a colleague introduced me to CrossFit, and I immediately knew I had to give it a try.
One memory that stands out is attending my first 6am class. I was struggling with the basics, whilst a regular member (I won’t name who, but I am sure you can guess) ripped off his top and turned into an absolute beast during the workout. I was both awestruck and deeply inspired to train like him.
What sets CrossFit apart for me is that there is always something—often many things—that I need to improve on, which I find incredibly motivating. As a competitive person, seeing others crush it pushes me to do better.
The truth is, I genuinely enjoy training and look forward to that post-workout high. Of course, dragging myself out of bed on a wet, dark morning to tackle my weaknesses, like running, isn't always easy. But I know it's key to becoming a better CrossFitter. When you discover something you love, you don't always need motivation to keep going.
What does your day to day routine look like and how do you fit your training into your schedule?
I like to train for 2 hours a day so balancing my “full time athlete” status with a demanding job is quite a feat (haha). I work with Americans and so I need to prioritise training before work, in case calls are scheduled over my evening session. Training is the highlight of my day and that’s why I enjoy doing it twice daily. I get so excited when the workouts are released and love examining the week’s programming to see which day will be the most fun. Those who know me well are aware of my tendency to overtrain, a habit rooted in my early experiences with exercise and my desire to now prove myself. I would channel my inner Daley Thompson, thinking I’d get a leg up (since he famously trained twice on Christmas Day while his competitors weren’t training at all, giving him a two- day advantage). I've finally caught on to the secret of champions: rest days and deload weeks - turns out, even "full-time athletes" need a break!
What physical or mental benefits have you noticed since you began consistently going to the gym?
I am a firm believer that engaging in intense exercise is like a workout for your mind—more than you might realise. Take the Mikko Triangle, for example: a 40-minute EMOM of cardio that tests your mental grit. By the 20-minute mark, you're ready to throw in the towel, but by focusing on just getting through the next minute, suddenly the workout is behind you. This kind of mental endurance translates to life, making you more resilient and driven when challenges arise. Personally, I find the mental benefits of training outweigh the physical ones – it’s my happy pill. My mum can always spot a rest day because I turn into Miss Grumpy!
I also have to mention the notable mental and physical differences between skiing and CF. Skiing is a high-stakes game where you need to complete two different courses, each run lasting around 90 seconds in Alpine or just 15 seconds indoors. It's all about being the fastest to the finish with zero room for error—one mistake and it's game over. All your training and perfect performance up to that point count for nothing. I was never the consistent athlete; I was either on top of the podium or crashing out in style. This is a very different mindset to CrossFit where progress is always visible, and a small mistake does not mean you have lost the competition. I have had to adapt to pacing longer workouts and the mental shift required for qualifiers and the Open where you can redo the same workout multiple times. I wish I could have brought this mindset to my Alpine skiing days – it might have made all the difference.
How does training at Blitz fill the void of being a professional competitor?
There is a similar mix of excitement and nerves at the start of a ski race and during the countdown at a CF competition. I live for the thrill of competition and the drive of pursuing a goal—it fuels my sense of purpose. I’ve also carried over certain rituals and habits, such as claiming my spot at the front of the room. However, nothing compares to the adrenaline rush of being in the start gate, looking down the race piste and then flying down the mountain at 100km/h.
How has training impacted other areas of your life, such as work, relationships, or personal growth?
When asked at work about my strengths, I have to resist the urge to mention bench press. On a more serious note, the biggest impact on my life has probably been the friendships I’ve formed. I have made many great friends at Blitz (and can I sneak in a TIO mention too?!) – a special shout out to my 7am crew who are as dependable as a sturdy tree, providing support both inside and outside the gym. It's wonderful to be surrounded by people who share similar interests and value fitness and an active lifestyle. It is still astonishing how much time you can spend discussing fitness and workout strategies.
Outside of the gym, how do you use your fitness?
What do you mean outside of the gym? This is where I spend all my free time! When I am not there, I love skiing recreationally, hitting the tennis courts, testing my strength by carrying all my shopping in one trip and setting new cleaning PBs (housework not barbell!). I also like to think I am the cool Auntie, I let my niece and nephew go high up on the climbing frame because I know I can either climb up or catch them if needed.
