PEDs

So - not sure what thread you were referring too - I was only on this one as it’s the one I was sent links to. Happy to check out the other.

The first thing I should probably clarify - Mark Lewis, YouTuber is as “real” as Ricky Gervais on stage. It is me, but it’s me playing that role. Sometimes that’s all me…other times it’s less of it. So nobody should take anything I say too seriously - hence why I’ve said a million times…“no advice, I’m not your mum” So with that in mind - no, I don’t think Hyrox are discriminating against me . It is a sport I will never do again and had quit before they even introduced the drugs policy. It’s simply not an activity that interest me anymore. As I said in that very video, it has turned into something quite different to what it was when I began. The reason I raise it is because I receive many questions about it daily and often from people who do require age related TRT and feel self-conscious or ashamed or embarrassed because they now feel like they are cheating. It is a tactic I often employ as part of my content - highlighting an issue I am encountering, not because I really care myself, but because I know I can act as a proxy for those that do.

As for parkrun, I love Parkrun and without it would never have even found fitness let alone social media fitness but I have zero interest in setting up anything community based. Again, Mark Lewis is not a real person. It’s not even a real name. Taking that persona into the public is of no interest and something I very rarely did on camera. In fact, the vast majority of my competitions and races were competed by me, as me, not Mark Lewis. Ultimately, there’s a reason I live in the countryside surrounded by absolutely nobody. :joy:

But your main point about peds is absolutely spot-on. I’m a father of three boys who all went through their teenagers while I was on testosterone. I’m also a grandfather of a boy who will encounter goodness knows what when he walks into a gym in 15 years time. So I’m acutely aware of the issue. And my parenting isn’t going to be matched by every parent so yes, plenty of kids will end up on gear. I just don’t think I’m really the person to address it. I don’t think there are many teenagers using Mark Lewis as their motivator to score underground gear so I don’t feel responsible for too much of the problem. Compared to any random hollywood actor, I’m a nothing on that scale. So I tackle the other end of the problem which is men in their 50s terrified of telling their wives they are considering tackling their hormones because they think they will look like they’re more focused on achieving a physique they should feel stupid to want rather than trying to get their head in a good place to get out of bed without feeling like shit. I can help there and get a huge amount of feedback to know peoples lives have been changed by me for the better.

Of course, hyrox is in an absolutely impossible situation. And I’ve done long podcasts on the topics for other channels. They are clearly riddled with people using testosterone for performance enhancement and have to address it but a blanket ban was, in my opinion, just a rather lazy way of doing so. It’s a bit like banning knives. People carrying knives when they shouldn’t don’t care and the carpenter who keeps a box cutter in his works van stresses over whether or not he should. What’s the solution? I have no idea, but nobody is even discussing it so I thought I would.

But dont even read too much into that choice - I have a need to tick over the channel for sponsors and such so need the odd video now and then. I flick through my emails, see what people are contacting me about and just go with that. Lately its lots of - are you doing Hyrox, are you still or drugs…so theres my video. I put on my Mark Lewis hat, write a one liner about triathletes cause it makes me chuckle (but could just as easily be any sport…I’m punching up either way so anyone is fair game) and chat to camera for half an hour before going back to feeding my goats.

I dont take it too serious. I hope others dont either. Its youtube, its 10 mins of brain off. It’s not real life…unless someone wants to tell me I changed theirs and they now feel great - then I’ll take all the credit :joy:

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