For years, the gym has been seen as a solo pursuit. Headphones in, eyes down, and one more set before heading home. But a new wave of fitness is proving that working out alongside others – and even competing against them – could be the key to pushing harder, showing up more often, and achieving real, lasting results.
From packed running clubs to partner workouts and live leaderboards, community and competition are changing the way we train. It’s a shift Body Fit Training (BFT) is putting into action with its new global PODIUM Series, bringing members together to compete, connect, and discover just how much further they can go when they train with purpose.
The accountability effect
Turns out, going it alone is not always the answer. People are far more likely to stick to their exercise routines when they have a team making them feel accountable—whether that’s a training partner, a coach on the floor, or a wider fitness community around them.
It is one reason running clubs, HYROX, CrossFit, and team sports continue to attract a huge following. Shared goals create stronger habits, giving people another reason to turn up, stay consistent, and keep progressing. When exercise becomes part of a structured routine that involves other people, real results follow.
For international fitness brand BFT, founder Cameron Falloon says accountability is key to building lasting exercise habits: “Motivation only gets you so far. Accountability gets you there every week after that. We see it constantly. The tighter the community, the more likely people are to keep coming back for more.”
Why competition makes us better
Friendly competition has a funny way of pushing people beyond limits they set during a solo session. Suddenly, that last rep doesn’t feel quite so optional.
Live scores, rankings, and heart-rate tracking add another layer of motivation, turning effort into measurable data that members can track and chase in real time. Recent research has also found that competitive exercise environments can increase workout intensity while keeping the experience positive for those taking part*.
“Ask any long-term member at BFT and it’s rarely just about the training,” added Cam. “It’s having a group of people that notices when you’re not there, celebrates your wins, and gives you another reason to show up.”
BFT bringing the trend to life
BFT’s PODIUM Series puts accountability, competition, and connection at the heart of the workout. Teams of two go head-to-head across four performance zones, with a live leaderboard adding plenty of friendly rivalry.
The inaugural event brought together 6,130 participants across BFT’s international network, with Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore taking top honours. In the UK, 100 teams and 200 competitors took part across seven studios, with BFT Battersea and BFT Streatham’s joint effort the best among the UK studios.
“Our PODIUM Series is a great example of how much the experience matters beyond the workout itself,” concluded Cam. “With friends and teammates competing side by side, PODIUM showed just how fitness can combine performance-driven programming with a stronger sense of belonging.”
To find out more about BFT’s PODIUM Series, click here. And to explore more about the holistic, science-backed member experience BFT provide, please visit www.bodyfittraining.au
*BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, The effect of competition on exercise, Aug 2025
will@revpr.co.uk
Body Fit Training
