Edmonton : Kingsway Garden

Doug Mcleod

Physical fitness and sports have always been a part of Doug's life. Growing up in a hockey family, naturally he started skating at age 3 and playing hockey at age 5 in BC. An ankle injury during a game at age 15 ended his hockey hopes, but it wasn't long before his competitive spirit drove him to 3 regional skateboard championships in the Okanagan. Around this time, he also took up skiing to keep active in the winter.

By age 17, Doug began cycling 20km round trip from home to school for a challenge and soon this lead to him becoming involved in cycling road races and time trials. In 1984 he was chosen to represent his region at the BC Summer Games, but a crash during a 3-day race 2 weeks before the games left him with a broken collarbone and destroyed bike. He went to the games as team manager, but it was hard to watch those races when he wanted to be in there competing. During these games Doug felt a real sense of satisfaction from helping the other athletes on his team and decided that a career in fitness and sports would be perfect for him.

He moved to Toronto and took the Physical Education program at York University. During his years at York, Doug founded and raced on the York University cycling team. He moved to Vancouver after university and was hired to set up the newly formed Personal Training Department at Fitness World, Vancouver's largest fitness chain. He worked as Personal Trainer and Director of the Department for 9 years, where he helped hundreds of clients enjoy the benefits of physical fitness. One client in particular Doug remembers is Pat, a blind athlete training for the Paralympic Games in Barcelona in 1992. His event was cycling and Doug and him spend many hours training in the club and out on the road with the tandem bike. During this time Doug was competitive in running and cycling and raced the Duathlon circuit in Vancouver, as well as some triathlons. As if this wasn't enough, Doug also took up snowboarding, rock climbing and inline skate racing. He then travelled to Japan for an extended holiday and loved the country so much, he decided to stay there for a year. He was living in a small surfing community about an hour south of Tokyo and soon was enjoying the waves, a childhood dream of his. One year turned into 8.5 years and in that time he met, fell in love with and married Akiko. They moved back to Canada in 2007, and decided to settle in Edmonton, where Doug's family now lives. He began working as a Personal Trainer at World Health Club in March of 2008 and in August was promoted to Fitness Manager of the Kensington WHC. He now enjoys working with a great Personal Training team and still has time to train a few clients. His next big goal is to be a great daddy for their baby, who is due in March 2009, and also train for a half Ironman Triathlon. Visit Doug up at the Kensington WHC or join on of his Bootcamps he runs at the Lululemon store at Kingsway mall!