MP: How did you get involved with fitness?

Isaac: Growing up I was always active, couldn’t stay still, always had to move. I’m still like that; even when I sleep my wife tells me I tap my fingers. Fitness or sports was my outlet to keep moving.

MP: As a personal trainer for eight years, what kind of training do you preach to your clients?

Isaac: Patients, number one thing I believe when you begin a fitness routine or goal, I see too many people give up because they didn’t see results straight away.

MP: You love cardio sessions more than weight training. Why do you think cardiovascular training is such a vital part of muscle growth and to get lean?

Isaac: I don’t do cardio for the muscle growth, but saying that it does and has helped me stay lean and muscular; as it has converted my muscles to fast twitch muscles from my sprinting

MP: What kinds of cardio do you focus on?

Isaac: I love to run. It used to be the longer the better, but as I’m beginning to bulk up more I’ve turned to short sprints.

MP: You like to do sprints for your cardio sessions. How do you go about doing this?

Isaac: I spend a lot of time doing short sprints up a very steep hill. Around 50 metres I sprint, giving myself full recovery rest than repeating till I’ve had enough. Or I zigzag my way up the range, sprinting one way, slowly jogging the other like a fart leg session.

MP: Do you believe hill sprints are a more effective way to get in shape and to get toned than running for a longer distance? Why is HIIT so effective?

Isaac: Longer distances are great I believe if you want a leaner look as you will be using slower twitch muscles. I’ve found switching to sprints, you keep a more toned more athletic look with the sprints. With hill sprints I’ve found it puts your abs under great pressure giving you nice abs and obliques.

MP: You train anywhere from 3-6 hours a day. Research supports the claim that you should only workout for an hour to prevent overtraining. Your body can only take so much; if you stress it for too long in the gym then it can hinder muscle growth and proper recovery. What are your feelings on this?

Isaac: With my work I have plenty of time to work out, so after my morning clients I do my weight session, which takes 45 mins. Go home and eat. Have a power nap, than I might go for my sprint session for an hour come back and eat, than after my night clients, I’ll do some ballistic training. On weekends I’ll do more sessions, but I have full recovery in between sets and constantly eat, so I always recover. I believe if you have plenty of rest, and keep fuelling your body with the best food, your body will recover. Everyone is different thou, I’ve trained my body to the limits I now know what my body needs and wants.

MP: You claim that you are a huge believer to “practice what you preach” and that it separates you from the rest of the personal trainers out there. How is this so?

Isaac: I know it separates me from the other trainers in my home town Toowoomba, as they are either overweight or have the look like they haven’t lifted any weights in their life. Personal training isn’t just a job, it’s a lifestyle. I wouldn’t give my clients an exercise I haven’t or can’t perform. How do you know if it works if you haven’t tried it before? I know if I went to a trainer I would want them to be fitter than myself or more muscular as they would be my role model – my inspiration so i could change myself to be like them

MP: You have an amazing 100-meter dash of 10.7 seconds but you are trying to improve your time to 10.18 seconds. Why 10.18 seconds? How do you plan on cutting down your time over half a second? That is a dramatic change considering every tenth of a second in sprinting is a world of a difference.

Isaac: Growing up i knew i was a bit fast racing at school, but i won more in endurance events because i was fitter than the other kids. Being fitter i run more 1500 metre – 3000 metre events. I used to trail the leader than in the last 200m let go and sprint the rest. I recently picked up a gift runner as a client; he asked how fast i could run the hundred. I didn’t know so we went to the athletic track, and with a standing start i ran 10.7. I was totally shocked by this. I have switched my training now to more explosive workouts, with this plus practising block starts i can see myself hitting lowering that time over the year. 10.18 seconds is the qualifying time for AIS.

MP: You are obviously a tremendous sprinter. You want to use that speed to eventually try out for the NFL. What kind of football experience do you have and what are your plans to reach this ultimate goal?

Isaac: I have played rugby league since under 7s I love NFL though, my plan is either to find a contact – as I’ve learnt it’s not what u know – it’s who you know. Or to hit that 10.18s mark in the 100metres, get to the AIS and see what my options are from there.

MP: You like to run with your 3 huskies and you believe they make the ideal training partner. How is this so?

Isaac: They have been great to run with, as they enjoy it as much as me. I can beat the pup and father now, but the mother still leaves me in her tracks. We sprint for about 70metres than they play as I recover than meet me to the start to run again.

MP: Your son was born recently. What went through your mind when you saw your son for the first time? Has he changed you as a person? How so?

Isaac: My son Achilles Jordan Lappin. People always say when you have a child it changes your life, but you never really know what they mean until you see them for the first time. I love him so much, and love my wife even more for giving me such a perfect son. He’s amazing and so strong already, can't wait to train with the little fella!

MP: Does having a child impact your fitness routine?

Isaac: With my training I get things done so much faster. I didn’t realize how much time I wasted before; I have quicker rest time through my weights, and sprints. This has intensified my workouts so I guess it has been a blessing in disguise.

MP: In your personal training center you own a massage studio. How does massaging the muscles help with recovery and ultimately, growth?

Isaac: Massage is the best when it comes to recovery, and to get rid off any aches or pains. Loosening your IBTs, to your glutes so you don’t get any lower back pain. But the best is to relieve stress from your self and the muscles – i use lavender as it seems to be the best for stress relief

MP: What are your future goals?

Isaac: Business goals would to franchise my fitness business to the Gold coast & Brisbane. My fitness goals are to try out for a NFL team.

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