Months of 5am morning runs were all worth it when Nathan Bartlett earned victory.
The 28-year-old from Perth was delighted to earn a national kickboxing title on Saturday evening.
He brought a WKA Scotland 67kg (full contact) belt back to the Fair City after an impressive performance at Rivals Gym in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire.
Nathan, who represents Style Combat Fitness, defeated Derek Patterson to claim the honour.
“I’ve been coming back from a knee injury and, in the past few months, my coach (Ryan Lyall) has been pushing me and saying I’m still capable of doing the kickboxing,” Nathan said.
“I’d had the odd competition here and there. There were competitions in Glasgow and Newcastle where I came out with medals.
“But for this latest fight night, there was a title on the line. So no pressure.”
Nathan, discussing the deciding moment, continued: “We were in close and I managed a left hand to the body.
“It caught him with enough volume and the referee counted to six seconds, then eight. At that point I knew he wasn’t getting back up.
“I was bouncing around the ring but my coach Ryan was screaming at me to calm down. I couldn’t contain my excitement.”
Family and friends were ringside to share the special moment of success and Nathan made sure to give his thanks.
“Again I had family and close friends supporting me,” former Perth Grammar student Nathan continued.
“One of my pals, Lewis, phoned me at 5.15pm on the night of the fight saying he’d just woken up.
“But the bus had left at 4.30pm! Somehow he still managed to get to Wishaw from Scone.
“The dedication from my pals is great and I’m glad they made it - because it only lasted 16 seconds.”
The success was not just the product of what was produced on the night but instead the culmination of weeks and months of hard work.
Nathan said: “I had been getting up at 5am every morning and doing between three and five mile runs.
“I was waking up my partner when the alarm was going off, so thanks to her for putting up with it.
“The only day off I was taking was a Wednesday. You need it to let the body recover.
“I’ve actually been really addicted to my running. It gives you an engine and I don’t think I’ve had fitness like this in my life.
“It didn’t matter how tired or weak I was feeling, you keep going. In that first 20 seconds, I gave it my all.
“I wasn’t getting up at 5am in the morning to lose. I put the effort in and got the reward.”
