IT’S not quite boot camp but it is definitely no holiday camp either.

Military-style fitness training is coming to East Lancashire — and it promises to be a fresh ‘air’ challenge to all those who accept it.

Ozonefit, which has been holding sessions across the North West for the past 18 months – including Chorley and Preston – is setting up camp in Witton Park.

The outdoor fitness training regime is run by fitness director Rob Partington who has called on all his past exploits and experiences — and having served in the Royal Marines, he has plenty of those to call upon.

“It is a real passion of mine,” said Partington. “Training outdoors is really exhilarating. Of course it can be hard, cold and muddy but, at the same time, it can be fun and rewarding.

“You get the benefits of training in the fresh air and also the chance to get out of the gym and try something different.”

Ozonefit, founded in June 2009, has moved away from the ‘bawl-them-down’, boot-camp style to accommodate for all ages and abilities.

And Partington insists it is not just for wannabe commandoes as each session is geared up to take people of all levels of fitness.

“We welcome everyone, no matter how fit or unfit they are,” he said. “The whole idea is about improving your fitness and moving on to the next level.

“So it does not matter if people have never done this sort of thing before.”

But despite moving away from its boot camp origins, don’t be fooled in to thinking that Partington, who served with 40 Commando, is going soft.

“There is still an element of military training involved. Of course we shout, but we always shout words of encouragement.”

Ozonefit have already held a ‘taster’ session at the Blackburn venue when they were invited by Blackburn Road Runners to put its athletes through its paces. Partington said that he would be happy to work with other clubs in East Lancashire if they were looking to vary their training programme.

“Blackburn Road Runners is the first club we have worked with directly but we would be happy to work with, say football or rugby clubs, who may want to freshen up their training or try something a little different.”

For the Witton Park sessions, Partington has recruited Andrew Sutherland, a PE training instructor from Blackburn and Darwen firefighter and ex-Marine, Neil Cameron, a world record holder and multi-champion ‘gymathlete’.

“We have a good blend of instructors with different backgrounds so it means we can offer a fushion of military and main-stream fitness techniques,” added Partington, who is an advanced trainer and qualified diet and nutritionalist.

“Getting Andrew and Neil is a great addition to the team.”

A typical training session is a blend of aerobics, hard running and the use of the surroundings such as step climbs and hills reps. The military side of things kick in with the use of Power Bags — popular with the Armed Forces — for a bit of fetching and carrying.

“The beauty is that we try to keep things fresh and change things around,” he said. “Our aim is to make each session different. That’s not really something you can do in the gym. It can be hard work because we are always pushing people to improve.

“But it is all a bit of fun, as long as you don’t mind getting a bit muddy and wet.”

Camaradie is key during a session and Partington said he is proud that very few members – or Ozonians as they are called – leave when they sign up.

“Working in groups is a big help to those individuals who want to push themselves because there are always people there to encourage them,” he said. “There is real bond in the groups that we already run. People don’t like to miss out on sessions because they feel like they may be letting the side down.”

It seems that Partington’s passion for the great out-doors is rubbing off on his Ozonians.

Witton Park sessions, which will be held three times a week, begin on Saturday, March 12 from 10-11am. Anyone wishing to take part can phone Rob Partington on 07983 507121 or email: outdoors @ozonefit.co.uk