You Need To Earn The Right To Be Good At Something

Caitlyn Davey • July 8, 2025

- By Coach James Batey A few ago I was playing golf with a friend, he had played all of his life, week in week out, this was his sport. He was brilliant to watch.  Then take me, I go a few times a year. Maybe. I can swing a golf club, sometimes the ball goes straight, most of the time nowhere near where I want it to go.  I never take my driver out of the bag because I am sure it is broken - it never goes straight. Anyway one day we were playing and I started fairly well, I honestly thought about quitting my job and joining the PGA tour.  About the 6th hole, my luck started to dry up. I started to hit balls in the rough, the water. I lost 6 balls on the same hole during this course, all in the water.  My ball was a fucking homing beacon for puddles. I am pretty sure at one point, I hit the ball so wrong it went behind me. I didn't shout 'Four' (the shout you use when your ball goes off the course to warn other golfers) because I felt if it hit someone then they would be in as much pain as I was that day.  I started to get pissed off and a little angry, he was laughing and the next words to come out of his mouth changed everything. 'James, relax mate. You're not good enough to get angry'  In that moment I thought, fuck me he is right. Why do I deserve to be good at golf from maybe playing 2 or 3 times a year at best.  If anything I was probably discrediting him and all the hard work he has put in other the years. Why do I deserve to be able to compete with him? Why do I deserve to be able to hit the ball straight and my putting be amazing?  The amazing thing was, he still miss-hit shots in the rough, but he didn't bat an eyelid. He just knew what to do from here.  This got me thinking, about nutrition (obviously). The all or nothing approach  How many of us start a new diet to only go off track a little, think 'Fuck this' what's the point and stress about it? Yet people who understand food and nutrition go 'off track' and don't even give it another thought, they just make their next meal better.  You see when you are starting a new diet the aim should always be to educate yourself and look at your behaviours. You are going to make mistakes and plenty of them. This is all part of the process. It's your reaction to the 'mistake' which is where the breakthrough happens.  The people who have taken the time to learn will always cope a lot better when these situations happen. They have earned the right to deal with the situations better.  People who bounce from diet to diet, 6-week challenge to 6-week challenge will always find a lot more stress due to the restrictive nature they are taught. These people have not earned the right because they haven't taken the time to educate themselves.  Only looking for the quick fix and instant gratification.  If you want help, get help  It is not your fault you are bad at understanding nutrition, that is sadly the world we live in now but there are people out there willing and wanting to help you.  If I wanted to get better at golf, I should probably go and see a golf pro and get coaching.  I could try and learn for myself, but I would have to spend a lot of time clearing through the bullshit that is the internet to find great coaches, eventually, I may get better.  You see I play golf for fun and if that is the case I can not fail golf. As you can not fail food, it is just-food but we can certainly improve.  We need to learn to enjoy the process of trying to become better, get in better shape, lift heavier weights, learn a new skill, play a new sport.  Without enjoyment, there is no point in trying to excel at anything.  I was teaching the snatch (the most technical lift that has ever been put into the realm of mankind), to a bunch of my members for the first time. We were doing stage 1 of 10,0000645 in teaching the snatch and people were getting annoyed.  So I broke out this story. We laughed, then cried and now we are enjoying the process.  Earn the right to be better.  In James We Trust

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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.
By Caitlyn Davey July 8, 2025
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