January can feel tough. The post-Christmas comedown, dark mornings, cold air – and this year, it feels like the rain has been absolutely relentless. Grey skies, muddy ground, soggy trainers… it’s enough to make anyone want to stay under the duvet. And yet – so many of you are still showing up.
One of the most common questions we get this time of year is: “Will Bootcamp still be on tonight because of the rain?”
If you’ve been around Bootcamp SE16 for a while, you already know the answer. The old-timers will tell you – sessions don’t get cancelled because of weather. Only when there’s a genuine danger to life (think extreme conditions or serious storms). Otherwise, we crack on.
Our coaches don’t think twice. We layer up, grab a rain mac, and get on with it. Steph has been running Bootcamp SE16 for 12 years, and in that time there have been very few occasions where the weather has stopped training. That’s because Bootcamp isn’t about perfect conditions – it’s about showing up regardless. If you can train in the pouring rain, you can train anywhere.
There’s something special about training at Stave Hill – even (or especially) in January. Running up the steps to get the endorphins flowing, tackling the mud down by the Shed, feeling your heart rate climb as the fresh air hits your lungs.
It’s not glamorous, it’s not filtered, but it’s real.
And nothing beats that post-workout feeling – even if we politely ignore the wet socks and soggy feet afterwards. Training outdoors in all weathers does something powerful. It builds mental resilience, confidence, grit and consistency. When you can get yourself out the door on a cold, wet January evening, everything else in life feels that bit more manageable.
That resilience doesn’t just stay at Bootcamp – it carries into work, family life and everyday challenges. All you really need for January Bootcamp is simple: waterproof shoes, a rain mac, layers you don’t mind getting muddy and a positive attitude. The rest falls into place.
January might be dull, the weather might be rubbish and motivation might dip. But your fitness goals don’t disappear just because it’s raining.
Bootcamp SE16 will be at the steps, rain or shine – and we hope you are too. Because if you can train in January, in the mud, in the rain… you’re already winning.