Gerry Dwyer

My training journey over the past two years has been truly life changing.

My journey began in 2025, when I focused on building a stronger and fitter foundation. At the time, I was carrying an additional 16 kg, and my goal was to improve my overall fitness, strength and wellbeing. Through regular training, I progressively developed my strength and muscle while learning the importance of consistency, discipline and good nutrition.

In January 2026, my focus shifted towards a much bigger goal — preparing for the Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB).

From then on, my training became much more specific. Under the guidance of my Personal Trainer, Robbie, at Vision PT Wollongong,  incorporated the different types of training required to prepare for the demands of the TMB. This included strength and conditioning, lower-body strength, hill-specific preparation and building the fitness and resilience needed for long days of walking. I also committed to weekly hikes and hill training as part of my preparation.

Robbie's support went far beyond the physical training. There were times when I questioned whether I had trained enough or whether I was really capable of completing such a demanding trek. Robbie continued to encourage me, challenge me and give me the morale boost I needed to keep going. His guidance helped me trust the training process and believe that I could achieve the goal I had set for myself.

Robbie also supported my preparation through nutrition and personalised meal plans, which became an important part of my overall training. Having guidance on how to fuel myself properly helped me prepare for the physical demands of the TMB and understand that nutrition was just as important as the training itself.

The wider Vision PT Wollongong community was also a huge part of my journey. The encouragement and support from my gym friends gave me motivation on the days when training felt difficult. Having people around me who understood what I was working towards made the journey even more enjoyable.

In August 2026, after months of preparation, I finally took on the Tour du Mont Blanc, walking approximately 170 km through France, Italy and Switzerland. It was physically and mentally demanding, but the preparation I had done gave me the confidence and resilience to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Completing the TMB without injury was one of the proudest and most emotional achievements of my life. Standing amongst the Mont Blanc massif, I realised just how far I had come.

Looking back at where I was two years ago compared with what I am capable of today, the difference is enormous. What once seemed almost impossible became something I actually accomplished through consistent training, preparation and perseverance.

My TMB journey taught me that big goals aren't achieved overnight. They are achieved through consistency, discipline, perseverance, trusting the process and taking one step at a time.

I am incredibly grateful to Robbie, the entire Vision PT Wollongong team and my Vision community for believing in me, supporting me and helping me prepare for this incredible challenge.

The TMB may have been the destination, but the journey to get there changed me. It strengthened my self-confidence, deepened my appreciation for life, and taught me to believe in myself and embrace new challenges. Vision PT Wollongong was an important part of that journey, and I am so grateful to have had such an amazing team and community behind me.