How Portsmouth's landmarks are inspiring Christian Burgess' fitness regime

Now bicycle rides to Portsdown Hill and runs along Southsea seafront have been introduced to the Pompey favourite’s training regime.

Based in Old Portsmouth, Burgess has become a recognisable presence around the city since settling on the south coast in the summer of 2015.

Now he’s using his intimate knowledge of Portsmouth to bolster a fitness programme distributed to all Blues players – and monitored by an Apple Watch.

Certainly the 28-year-old is knuckling down as he awaits the call to return to full club commitments.

He said: ‘Nothing replicates training with the lads, the intensity and the physical challenge.

‘Obviously it’s challenging at the moment, but you just have to make the best out of what you can and do as much as possible.

‘Then, when we do eventually get the shout, we’re as ready as we can be – and hopefully it doesn't take too long to get us back up to that level.

‘We are given work-out programmes and exercise stuff to do at home, while the club’s physio and sports scientist draw up different running sessions to carry out on different days.

‘I like mixing it up, in-between interval training and high-intensity training, there’s running, going out on my bike and also using weights at home, trying to utilise different things.

‘I run down the seafront, but is very windy, often like being in a wind machine, which makes it hard and, I suppose, is actually better.

‘The other day I went on my bike and travelled a big loop of the island and to the top of Portsdown Hill and then back down, going up the hill was a nice challenge.

‘I think the distance was about 26K. I wouldn’t have liked to run that!’

Like all his Pompey colleagues, their exercise is monitored from afar by backroom staff.

Burgess added: ‘I share my work-outs with the physio, Jack Hughes, through my Apple Watch, so he can see what I have done.‘Both he and Jeff Lewis have been really good throughout my time at the club, giving me advice, work-outs and techniques.’

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