Nick Cox Coaching

21/10/2026

Good goodbyes!

Today was a bitter-sweet 9am session as it was the last one that will be doing with me. Sally has been great to work with: starting off with 2 sessions per week & then settling into a weekly rhythm of once each week - coupled with yoga & pilates. Throughout this time, I've had the privilege to see her grow in confidence in the gym as well as seeing her lifting improve significantly- in form and numbers.

She has also been great fun to have around, and even came along to support me at

This really is the definition of a 'good goodbye', with Sally making some great & exciting changes in her life ❤️❤️😜 and able to confidently step into a new training facility, knowing she has the increased knowledge & ability to keep working hard and hitting her goals.

9am on a Wednesday is now available, so if you or anyone you know might be interested, DM 📩 for more info.

19/10/2026

Families that train together....

It was great to welcome and Meghan in for a HYROX UK & Ireland prep session - joined by a fitforlife_ayr regular Colin Gilfillan.

Meghan is taking on her first official Hyrox pairs in a couple of weeks, so we had a look at some areas she's struggled a bit with during her prep - although it really was just a case of another pair of eyes helping her tidy things up - because she's looking great 💪

Whatever your event or sport, my background in professional rugby, high level indoor rowing, now Strongman, and a lifelong passion for all things sport & training, mean that I am uniquely placed to help you maximise your performance. Plus, there's nothing I love more than finding out more specifics about a sport I'm less familiar with, and shaping sessions around it & your ambition to help give you an even better chance of reaching your goals.

DM 📩 for more info and to see how we might connect & work together.

15/10/2026

07/10/2026

🔥🔥 HONESTY & HUMILITY 🔥🔥

This post is about two things 👆👆

Honesty: I have avoided the rower for too long. Yes, I've made excuses for it that sounded plausible in my own head. But they were only that: excuses. No more. I will be hitting all of my conditioning (& some extras) on this piece of kit that I believe in for other people, but have neglected for myself. It won't be pretty, but I'm up for it.

Humility: I will need this in spades. 10 years ago I rowed a 6:16 2km. I have won the scottish indoors over 500m & placed 2nd in the UK. I am not there anymore. Am I excited by the potential of harnessing my strongman training into a fast sprint? Yes. But there is a lot of work to go before even thinking about that seriously. This will require humility.

Honesty & humility. Two stumbling blocks that stop many of us reaching our potential.

Don't be one of them 👊👊

06/10/2026

Massive congratulations to my friend & client, EElaine Young, who completed her first half marathon on Sunday in Glasgow.

Elaine is a machine: hitting not just her run training, but a weekly RowFit class as well as her PT session where her strength numbers keep on climbing. She doesn't always feel like it: but she always shows up, and she should be very proud of herself.

Rumour has it, she also gave up drinking 24hrs before the big race to allow her to focus fully on her prep. The sacrifices that athletes make.... 😜

05/10/2026

Ragin Apparel model, innit 👊💪🤣

Seriously, though...as both a sponsored athlete & a customer, I can promise you that these guys go above and beyond to make things work for their clientele.

Check them out, and use code: nick10 for a cheeky wee discount 😉

22/09/2026

A final post from me on this, but here are some of the photos taken by my talented friend, The Fullsterkur Photographer from Official Scotland’s Strongest Man ™️ on Saturday.

What an event to be a part of - made even more so my sharing it with Andrea Birrell, my daughters, step-daughter & friends. Unfortunately they haven't all made it into the pics, but along with hearing Andrea cheering in the videos, the pictures of my youngest through the truck pull demonstrate perfectly how it isn't just the athletes who go through the ringer at these competitions!

20/09/2026

🔥SCOTLANDS STRONGEST MAN '26🔥

My first Official Scotland’s Strongest Man ™️ in the open category, and what a day it was.

First, a huge thanks to all of the team who made it possible: loaders; judges; the folk on the door; the ladies trying to make sure we were in the right place at the right time. The spectators see us - but we see you 🙌🙌 Also to Stuart Murray, who holds it all together - thank you, one and all.

Second, a massive well done to my fellow competitors. You all did amazingly well, and have certainly helped inspire this old boy to work to make it a second time next year.

Third, CONGRATULATIONS to Chris Beetham - since starting out, Chris has been a guy I've admired from afar - perhaps the rugby background played a part. Safe to say, he's a great guy also, and thoroughly deserving of two-time-champ 💪💪

Personally, I was pretty happy with my day, although disappointed with my placing. Here's why/how:

1. Viking Press 140kg: 7 reps. I hit 11 reps, although 4 were given as no reps. So, I'm pleased with how I did, and disappointed with how I didn't do - clear? As mud 🤣🤣

2. Deadlift ladder: 315kg & 325kg (10kg PB). I wanted to give the 350 a hit so didn't go quick enough through the first 2 which cost me.

3. Stone run: way too conservative here before the husafell pick. Then I got my right leg in a bad position on the block, which is why I bailed. What a great event!

4. Yoke: wasn't expecting the start command so quickly, so a bit flustered and put it down early. But straight back into a really good run at a PB weight.

5. Truck: it was slippy, my grip was going; but it epitomises Strong Man - what a cool think to do on a Saturday afternoon!

6. Stones: biggest disappointment of the day (same at qualifiers) - & the only time I felt out of my depth. But I'm determined to right it, as I love the stones.

Thanks to my coach, Callum Crozier for getting me prepped, and to my amazing friends who came cheer me on, and my sponsor Ragin Apparel for all the support. Also to my incredible daughter's & step-daughter who never stop screaming!

And most of all to my beautiful wife, Andrea Birrell- I love making you proud ❤️❤️

SSM '27 - let's be having you...

17/09/2026

On the 20th April 2025 I set myself a goal: qualify for Official Scotland’s Strongest Man ™️ - but I had no coach, relatively little experience [1 beginners, 1 inters, and Natural Strongman 🌍 Scottish opens (didn't finish it)], and no idea of the pathway to get to it.

So, i started with Scottish Masters Inters at Conquer Your Goals Fitness - which I was delighted to win...still with no coach. After this, I started working with Andrew McWilliams - and discovered I had less strength than I thought & zero technique. Scottish Masters '25 at Fullsterkur Fife and a qualifying spot for Brits was my goal - and we surpassed that with 2nd place behind Leon Paterson, and I repeated that again at Brits a few weeks later.

In the New Year my goal was SSM qualifier, SSM Masters, and British Masters. Andy stepped back from coaching, and recommended - so poor Cal has to deal with my lack of technique...

First up came the Masters where I managed a first place. Then came the qualifiers- and I qualified.

And this Saturday, 1 day short of 17 months since I set that goal, I will walk onto the comp floor with some of Scotland's best strength athletes.

I am just shy of 45; I am stronger than I've ever been; and I've even started to get some technique (you can decide on Saturday how much!)

There are loads of people who've helped me get here: from the fellow strong-people at Martin Lennox who offer advice and help; to the athletes involved who, even if it might count against them one day, are always willing to help. There is my sponsor, Ragin Apparel who sorts me out with kit to train in; my excellent and patient coach, ; and my favourite training partners, and equal loudest cheerleaders- my daughters.

Most of all there is my wife, who I love so much, Andrea Birrell- and who puts up with me eating a second breakfast at 9pm & hands that smell of WD40 most of the weekend; and all the other strongman husband based dramas 🤣❤️ One goal achieved. But, darling, I'm afraid there are more & bigger where that came from.