Fitness is a big passion FULL STOP
KILKENNY & BALLYHALE ACE TJ HAPPY TO DEVOTE HIS LIFE AND CAREER TO DOING WHAT HE LOVES...
The Kilkenny star (below) is on the brink of making it 12 All-ireland senior wins – between club and county. He turned 32 in November but is arguably at the peak of his powers as an All-star and Hurler of the Year nominee. That could be down to his decision in 2016 to quit his job as a sales rep and set up a gym - a move that allowed Andy Moran to thrive in his 30s and memorably become Footballer of the Year. Hurling stars Brendan Maher and Conor Mcdonald have made similar moves though Reid, who owns TJ Reid Health and Fitness and has gyms in Kilkenny and Galway, said it isn’t about maxing out his hurling career. Chasing his fifth AIB All-ireland club medal, Reid said: “It was never a case of, ‘Oh, I’ll open up a gym now and I’ll prolong my hurling career’. “It was a business I researched and developed and it was something I was passionate about. “From being involved with Kilkenny from 2007, strength and conditioning and nutrition was a big part of it and that progressed as the years went on, the science behind it now is much better with GPS trackers and recovery shakes after training. “I studied sport and recreation in Waterford as well so it was something that I just liked. “It was a business that I saw a market for in Kilkenny, I went after that market and capitalised on it and here I am, three years on.”
Reid’s gym in Kilkenny is a 12,000 square foot facility and he employs nine staff, meaning some days start for him at 5.30am and don’t finish until 9.30pm.
But with his body shape transforming in recent years, there’s clearly been a big payoff for his hurling career. Reid said: “I’m 32 now but I feel fresh. I control my own hours. I can be up at half five in the morning or if I want I can get up at 11 o’clock. I can work 40 or 50 hours in a week if I want to or I can work 10 hours in a week, so I have that comfort which is a great benefit.
“On the day after we beat Slaughtneil in the Allireland semi-final, I had that comfort of walking into my own gym and doing a recovery session.
“Previously you were getting into a car and driving for seven or eight hours on a Monday at work. You’d be broken up after the game anyway and then after sitting down for the day in a car seat you were even more broken up.”