Derry gym owner Alec's milestone year

2023 has certainly been an eventful year for Derry fitness guru, Alec Given, who has just celebrated his 40th birthday.

“I’ve definitely had some ups and downs,” he said with his trademark grin.

This is a bit of an understatement.

Alec, who opened his gym AG Fitness in Springtown 18 months ago, was training with his friend Paddy on September 17 past, when he took a stroke.

Prior to this, in 2017, he underwent two open heart surgeries as a result of an aortic aneurysm - a condition which meant he could have dropped dead at any minute.

“I experienced all the classic signs of a stroke,” recalled Alec. “My face dropped. My hand went weak. Paddy stopped training and said to me, ‘You’re taking a stroke’.

“I couldn’t see it but he handed me a dumbbell and I just dropped it because I couldn’t hold it. My left-hand side was gone. I was dragging my leg. I couldn’t stand up. Paddy rang an ambulance but luckily my wife Ciara arrived before the ambulance, which was lucky. She took me straight to Altnagelvin and I was seen right away,” he said.

Alec Given celebrating his 40th birthday with family at the Waterfoot Hotel.

“I was immediately sent for a CT scan, which confirmed I had had an ischaemic stroke, caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain, due to my warfarin levels. I have been on warfarin, a blood thinner,  since 2017. 

“I was in hospital for two weeks. I had to get more tests, including an echocardiogram of the heart to make sure there were no complications before they released me.

“My speech was also affected while I was having the stroke. I was slurring my words. I had the stroke on the right-hand side of my brain, so it was my left-hand side which was affected, my fine motor skills. I couldn’t open bottles and cans. I couldn’t kick and my writing was affected.

“I was well looked after by the stroke team. I got physiotherapy and as I had been training all of my life, it all helped my recovery,” said Alec, who added he couldn’t wait to get the green light to get back to training.

“Unfortunately, I’m not sure I will ever be as fit as I was before the stroke,” he said. “I was doing triathlons and marathons before this.”

Ever the optimist, Alec was telling the organisers of the Ballymagroarty Hazelbank Community Partnership (BHCPG) he would be out of hospital in time to take the first night of its six-week community fitness programme. 

Laughing he said: “Ciara had to ring them and tell them to ignore me.” 

“Thankfully I am on the road to recovery but it is very slow. I have neuromuscular fatigue, which makes day-to-day activities hard. It is an actual condition, it's not ordinary tiredness. I feel exhausted at times. I try to push through but if I sit down at home, that’s me wiped out.” 

Alec’s cheerful personality belied the effects of the stroke, from which he said it could take up to a year to fully recover. 

“I am on the road to recovery,” he said, “but it is going to be a long road.”

Alec regards AG Fitness as his social life.

“I don’t drink or go out much but I love the gym. I love training all the different people who come in here from young to older,” he said.

“As well as the BHCPG, I train Irish dancers. They are working on their stability, balance and co-ordination because they all dance on one leg primarily so it is strengthening work, although they are effectively working everything. They are all champion dancers, aged from eight to 17.

“I love encouraging people who come here and seeing them benefitting from getting fit. We have one mother with five children ranging from seven year old twins up to 17, who started the gym about a year and a half ago.

“When she first came in, she didn’t know anything about training. She was a complete beginner.

“She is now able to do the tougher Thursday night group, thanks to her sheer commitment and dedication and turning up.

“I always say to people, even if you are not feeling 100%, just come along and do something.”

Alec who was born and reared in Ballymagroarty said he was always interested in fitness. 

The son of Alec and Jean Given, he played football down the years - D and D and Saturday morning teams in the town. 

“In the gym. I pride myself on changing things up and keeping the classes interesting for the people attending,” said Alec. “I love interacting with the people coming here and getting them to try something new.”

Although he qualified as a Trainer 20 years ago, thanks to a HND at the North West Regional College, he has constantly extended his qualifications.

He said: “Following my own heart surgery, I trained in cardiac rehabilitation - for people who had had heart surgery. I ran a six-week pilot programme called Brave Heart, during which I took six patients a block of exercise, including swimming and up to Brooke Park.

“The aim was just to get them moving again in a safe environment, to reassure them it was okay to get their heart rates up because your heart is a muscle and it needs to be exercised.

“That course went very well and I am hoping to run another one in the New Year. I love to go down that route to help people.”
As well as cardiac rehabilitation, Alec has recognised qualifications in cancer and pulmonary rehabilitation. 

“I loved the craic with the cardiac people,” he said. “I got great joy from getting them out and moving. It was so good. 

“I also train the Broadbridge PS cross country team. There is nothing I enjoy more than seeing the wanes smiling and enjoying themselves. It does my heart good. You can’t put a price on it,” he said. Alec’s older son, also called Alec, is a past pupil of the school. “He is a great wee runner,” said the proud dad, who also has a toddler called Zach.

“As we approach the New Year, my message to anyone reading this piece is to get up and get moving. 

“Exercise is a privilege that many people won’t get. When I had all of my sickness and couldn’t move I would  have given anything to be able to exercise. My fitness level helped my recovery massively.

AG Fitness's New time-table for the New Year.

“Get up. Get moving. Train. Be active. There is great fun and craic to be had at AG Fitness, as well as a friendly atmosphere,” smiled Alec, who added comically, “I didn’t think I would get to 40 so quickly. Time flies.”

AG Fitness can be followed on social media.