INSPIRATIONAL PT
Ade Aboaba
Katie Scott talks to FIT CITY founder and personal trainer
Ade Aboaba about giving exercise an urban edge
M
ost people think of outdoor exercise as
bootcamp sessions in acres of green space.
Architectural designer and personal trainer
Ade Aboaba has other ideas however,
seeking to challenge this stereotype with her city centric
fitness brand FIT CITY, an innovative fusion of city
exploration paired with outdoor workouts that utilises
the landscape around us.
With 10 years experience in city regeneration, urban
design and community engagement, Ade has always
been passionate about city life, her interest in all things
urban only matched by her love of fitness and running.
‘Five years ago, not happy in an office and with limited
community contact, I decided to try something new. I
decided to put together the things I’m passionate about
– heath and fitness and urban regeneration – hence FIT
CITY,’ she elaborates.
Offering run tours, personal training, run improve and
networking fit events, FIT CITY aims to connect people
to the environments around them, as well as the various
networks within it, all through the medium of fitness.
Ade states that she wants to support city dwellers by
helping them to better integrate exercise in to every
aspect of their life, ‘rather than thinking of it as a chore
or add on activity.’
She continues: ‘We all know exercise does not have
to happen in a gym, but we find people often lack
confidence in the where, how and when. You can do it
on your way to work, at work, on your way home, with
friends, whilst meeting new people and helping others.
In particular, FIT CITY Run Tours builds on the growing
trend for outdoor fitness, interval training and urban
exploration, mixed with running.’ Also believing that
fitness can help invigorate urban areas and communities,
Ade adds: ‘Fitness enlivens urban areas and communities.
I love the way London’s green, blue and brown spaces
can be transformed with activity throughout the day
and at night. Our Run Tours can help communities to
rediscover their own neighbourhood, and the great thing
is people taking part often forget they are exercising.’
Ade is an advocate for taking fitness away from the
typical gym environment. ‘Fitness out of the gym has to
happen to help truly tackle the rising levels of obesity. Of
course the gym has its place, but making the fit choice
has to become the norm. Can we actively commute to
work? Can we take the stairs instead of the escalator?
Can we make more time to have fun playing with our
children? Can we walk and catch up with our friends?
You catch my drift,’ she explains.
Ade’s energy and enthusiasm for combining city life and
exercise is infectious, as she exclaims ‘I can’t get enough
of exploring urban environments and attractive routes in
and around them.’ Making notes of every
aspect of the scenery, from the material,
Visit
terrain, gradients and street furniture,
www.fit-city.co.uk
to the trees and shade, she comments
for more
information
‘the workout uses these ingredients.’
@REPsUK 41
REPS_OCT_ 55 Inspirational.indd 55
21/04/2016 11:37