How I Found A Love Of Group Fitness

Caitlyn Davey • April 2, 2025

My love for group fitness first began back in 2007, when I joined an outdoor bootcamp after relocating from the UK to Sydney.


At the time, it wasn’t just about exercise—it gave me something far more important:
➡️
A community.
➡️
A sense of belonging.
➡️
Relationships built through shared hard work and shared victories.


I loved it so much that I decided to take a leap of faith:

  • I left my full-time job.
  • I earned my Cert 3 & 4 in Personal Training.
  • I launched my own outdoor group training business.


And you know what they say:

"If you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life."

That was true for me.


Helping people feel better, working towards their goals, and watching them achieve them?


➡️
There’s no better feeling.


A New Chapter: Moving to Brisbane

In 2015, life shifted again.


This time, we
moved to Brisbane—this time with a baby in tow:

  • My son, Jack.
  • Shortly after, our little girl, Matilda, arrived.

Finding a gym that felt right for me in this new chapter was a challenge.


Nothing clicked—until I found
Rebuild Health and Fitness.


At first, the idea of CrossFit was daunting:

  • Would I be strong enough?
  • Was I fit enough?


But the moment I joined, none of that mattered.


Rebuild instantly felt like home.


Becoming a Coach: Another Leap of Faith

Fast-forward five years, and my love for Rebuild has grown so much that I took another leap of faith:

✅ I completed my CrossFit Level 1 Trainer course.
✅ I became a
proud member of the amazing coaching team.


Why?


Because I believe in everything that Rebuild stands for.


It just makes sense—even when stepping into a new role feels a little scary.


My Coaching Philosophy

When someone walks through the doors of Rebuild Health and Fitness, I want that to be the best hour of their day.


I’m here to:

  • Help them feel good about themselves.
  • Share their wins—big or small—every single session.
  • Encourage and celebrate their achievements, no matter how small they may seem.


And as a mum, I especially understand how hard it is:

  • To carve out time for yourself.
  • To deal with the mum guilt of prioritising your own health.


I believe it’s crucial to set the right example for our children:

  • To be active.
  • To have a healthy body image.
  • To foster a positive relationship with food and fitness.


If I can help someone feel even a little bit better—


If I can
make a difference in someone's day


➡️
That’s the best part of being a coach.


Final Thought

Fitness isn't just about strength or speed.


It’s about community, belief in yourself, and celebrating every step of the journey.



At Rebuild, that's exactly what we do—and I’m so proud to be part of it.

Previous Blogs

September 2, 2025
Bring A Friend Week 🗓️ September 22 – 28 📍 Rebuild Capalaba You’ve got a friend who trains at Rebuild – and that means you’re already the right kind of person. They’ve hand-picked you to join us for Bring A Friend Week , a full week of free unlimited training at Rebuild Capalaba. No judgment. No pressure. Just good training, great people, and a community that shows up for each other. 💥 What You’ll Get (For Free) Unlimited group training for 7 days Expert coaching and world-class programming Strength, conditioning & cardio workouts tailored to you Access to our supportive, ego-free community Whether you're getting back into it, trying something new, or just curious about what your friend’s always raving about — this is your chance.
July 22, 2025
If you live in Wynnum or Capalaba , chances are you’ve seen a bootcamp in action — high-intensity sessions in parks, with lots of burpees, sprints, and shouting. While bootcamps can be a fun way to get sweaty, there’s a reason more people are choosing structured strength training instead. At Rebuild, we often meet people who’ve jumped from one bootcamp to another, chasing results they never quite achieve, or can’t maintain. Here’s why strength training, not bootcamp-style fitness, is the smarter long-term approach for your health and body. 1. Progress Over Punishment Bootcamps often focus on burning calories and pushing people to their limits every session. It feels intense — but it’s usually random. There’s no plan beyond “go hard”. Strength training is different. It’s measured, progressive, and adaptable . Whether you’re lifting a barbell or doing bodyweight movements, the goal is to build skill, strength, and confidence over time. You're not punished for where you're at — you're coached toward where you want to be. 2. Stronger Muscles = Better Results Cardio-heavy bootcamps might help you lose weight quickly, but they rarely help you build muscle, and muscle is the key to long-term fat loss, strength, and mobility . When you train with resistance (weights, bands, or bodyweight), your body becomes more efficient. You burn more calories at rest, move better, and feel more capable in everyday life. And unlike bootcamps, strength training actually preserves lean mass while you're in a calorie deficit — which matters if your goal is body composition, not just weight loss. 3. Individual Coaching Matters Most bootcamps have one instructor yelling instructions to a big group. There’s rarely time to check your technique, let alone adjust for injuries, experience, or confidence levels. At Rebuild, our group sessions are coach-led and purpose-built . We take time to teach proper form, scale movements to your ability, and track your progress. You're not just surviving a workout — you’re learning how to move better and train smarter. 4. It’s Not Just About Today’s Workout Bootcamps often lack structure. You show up, do something exhausting, and leave. There’s no continuity or long-term planning. Strength training follows a programmed approach , meaning each week builds on the last. You’ll have sessions designed to improve specific movements and outcomes — whether that’s lifting more weight, increasing core strength, or mastering your first pull-up. That structure keeps you consistent, motivated, and injury-free. 5. Sustainability Over Shock Tactics If you’re tired of the “go hard or go home” mentality, strength training is for you. It’s adaptable to all ages, bodies, and goals . You’ll get fitter, stronger, and more confident — without burning out or breaking down. Ready to train with purpose? If you're looking for something better than a bootcamp in Wynnum or Capalaba , join us at Rebuild. We coach real people — not fitness models — to get real results. 📍 Structured training 📍 Expert coaches 📍 Community that has your back You don’t need to be fit to start. You just need to start.
July 22, 2025
A lot of people have completed a marathon but how many people have collapsed at 40km?

Sometimes you do everything right, and shit still doesn’t go to plan.
 Last weekend I ran in the Gold Coast Marathon, my first ever marathon. I trained properly, my body felt relatively good (all things considered when preparing to run 42.2km), I carb-loaded, and my race day nutrition was dialled in.
 I was ready.
 We set off. Jess and the kids met me at different points on the course with signs, the atmosphere was great. I loved seeing the kids with their signs. Pacing felt on point. The first 21km? Easy. I felt great. Maybe I should’ve drunk more water, but I didn’t think too much of it at the time.
 At 25km, I felt slower, but pace wise I was still holding well. I’d kept telling myself throughout the day "The race starts at 30km." And let me tell you, it does.
 By 30km, the sun was out, and I was starting to struggle. My watch started glitching so I had no real idea of my splits. I thought I was slowing down a lot (turns out I wasn’t), but the effort to keep the same pace suddenly felt 10x harder.
 I hadn’t taken on enough water. Usually, I can get away with lower fluids. Not this time. Dehydration crept in. hard.
 At 35km I was in survival mode, one foot in front of the other, flicking between moments of pain and little short lived waves of “let’s go.” But by 39km I was delirious. I could see the finish line, I hit the 40km mark (where I thought enjoyment might return to finish), and I collapsed.
 I was gone. Scary stuff.
 The last few hundred metres were a complete blur. All I remember is the crowd, the medics, and about five paramedics suddenly around me. I was vomiting, shaking, confused, in and out of it. I had this overwhelming, indescribable feeling, and honestly, for a moment, I thought I could die.
 My memory went. I couldn’t recall the day, the year, where I lived, or how to spell. I only knew who Jess and the kids were, and that I didn’t want them to see me with wires in me. 
 My temperature had hit 40°C. Blood pressure crashed. Thankfully, the medics and paramedics were incredible, I had a drip running into me within 10 to 15 minutes.
 As I already knew, I’m stubborn. I wanted to run it all. Not walk. Not stop and breathe and In hindsight, I should have. 
 Seems like my mind was just a bit stronger than my body on the day. I never thought I could push myself there in all honesty. 

Am I gutted? Of course, I was only 2km away but I gave it everything I had on that day. Heat stroke, exhaustion, and dehydration got me. 

I am always reminded here of the quote ‘The man in the arena’ look it up if you need. 
 Will I run 42.2km again? Yes, I feel I need to. 

Would I do things differently, now I’ve run 40km under race conditions? You bet, lessons learnt. Always lessons. Never be scared to not succeed. Be scared to never try in the first place. 
 We go again.
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