Finding Home in RAK: Building communities, stepping up, settling: Part 2 of 3.
From there, I landed in RAK, UAE. And oh, what a place. I spent five years there! The most settled I’d ever been. I became Head Coach, built relationships that still mean the world to me, and created a community that I’m proud to say was a damn good one. But after three years, I felt that pull again. That whisper: it’s time for change. The Idea Takes Shape! And yes at first, it was just an idea. I didn’t even have a name for it. I looked at other gyms, other opportunities, and even when they said, “Yes, we want you,” it didn’t feel right. I stayed in RAK another two years, still talking about doing my own thing, but not actually doing it. Deep down, I knew I wasn’t ready. Thailand knocked four times during those years. Each time, I wanted to say yes. But then life, or fear got in the way. Covid. A gut feeling. Not enough time. The excuses of someone scared of the unknown. Until one day, Thailand knocked again. And this time I was certain. In 2024, I’m now coaching at one of the coolest spaces ever, and definitely the best space in Phuket! (If you ever visit Phuket, go check out The Cult Fitness Society). I’m feeling like I'm finding my voice even more, and the way I just fitted in was such a great feeling. Now the ideas started flooding through. I’m enjoying my time here but these whiteboards of mine were becoming more and more covered in scribbles, with post it notes stuck to my bathroom mirror, and pages filled with ideas: a landing page, a run club, a way to bring hybrid training online. The clarity was undeniable really. And for the first time, I wasn’t just dreaming, I was now planning. I even wrote down the kind of person I wanted to meet. Whenever that was going to be. But I was so sure, I had such a clear vision all of a sudden of exactly what I wanted in my life, and who I wanted whenever the time was right. Someone who would match my energy, share the passion for health and fitness, share my vision and help me bring it to life. The beginning of 2025 was the start of a whole new adventure. The best adventure yet.