Jamie sets himself an epic fitness challenge

Corporal Jamie Hagan, a past pupil of Larne Grammar School and son of former Larne FC manager Jim Hagan, is aiming to complete 50,000 burpees in 100 days and raise the sum of £2,000.

Jamie has taken on the feat with colleague Corporal Adam King and with 32,000 burpees already under his belt, he is determined to reach his target before December 17.

During each daily work-out, which he started on September 8, Jamie completes 500 of the full body weight exercises, a combination of press-up and jump squats, in temperatures of up to 25 degrees centigrade in Cyprus where he is stationed.

He says that these are the most unpopular exercises in military training despite being a “fantastic exercise for improving vascular fitness”.

His travels have taken him to South Africa where he worked out on Table Mountain, to Spain and to a training session with members of Northampton Saints rugby team as well as in front of the Chaine Memorial monument during a trip home.

He says that age is no barrier to this form of exercise and on one occasion, he was joined by a man of 80 years old.

“Other people have been getting involved and it has been great in that sense”, he commented.

Despite the aches and pains, he says that he is “cruising” through the challenge.

“It is almost more psychological than painful, then I remember why I am doing it and that keeps me going.”

Jamie says that he is fundraising for the Cancer Research UK charity following the death of his nana from the disease last April.

And he believes he is on target to set a new world burpee record.

To support Jamie’s “50,000 burpees in 100 days” challenge, visit www.justgiving.com/50000Burpees