Two time National Indoor champion James Thie went from competition to the camera and still continues this unexpected hobby six years on.

By Alex Ridout

When the world went into lockdown in 2020 many people’s lives changed in ways they never thought they would.

People they wouldn’t be able to see, hobbies they wouldn’t be able to do, and a style of living that, at the time, felt alien to most.

This feeling of uncertainty and confusion were definitely felt by two time former National Indoor champion James Thie, who after spending his younger years running round an athletics track, found himself lecturing at Cardiff Metropolitan University, whilst also coaching the sport he loves to the best and fastest students.

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The constant interaction with others who had the same passion for athletics, and sport as a whole, was a big part of Thie’s life, so when Covid restrictions came in he looked for a new way to engage with fellow athletes, but this time, from home.

With a good knowledge of strength and conditioning work and plenty of time on his hands, Thie decided to stream live circuit sessions on YouTube, with the initial intention of helping his athletes train from home.

He called his channel Team Thie, with the name of the lives going under Team Thie Circuits.

To the surprise of the Cardiff lecturer, the first session went viral amongst the athletics community, with the current total of views now close to 4,500.

Over six years on from that first live and the free circuits are still going, with the latest being number 240 in the series.

The former 1500 metre man explained how he never thought he would be doing it this long after the start.

He said: “We never anticipated the summertime having restrictions.

So, I kind of thought in the very beginning, this was a maybe a two, three week project and a bit of fun and then that was it. 

“So, there was no kind of expectations on nothing I’ve done previously that kind of indicated that this was going to keep going.”

Thie also emphasised the benefits the circuits game him during lockdown, despite being unsure if enough people would tune in live.

The 48-year-old said: “That during that first kind of week of lockdown as an athletics coach not being able to coach a session face to face and I was like most people where I was trying to find something to occupy my time but maximize some kind of impact.

“I start the circuit not knowing that I’d have anyone turn up.

There was no guarantee that anyone even my own athletes where they’d actually turn up and then I kind of started it and I had some nice responses for feedback and then it was twice a week in the beginning, just again because we couldn’t leave the house.”

By the time the circuits had got into full swing, Thie was getting top athletes from all over the world watching and taking part in his lives, even some from other sports.

The university lecturer described the most surprising encounter he had due to the circuits.

Thie said: “It was in 2021 the European 10,000 meter championships in Birmingham and the race had Sir Mo Farah in it and he ended up finishing eighth.

“There was a German athlete, Nils Voigt, who finished fourth and ran like 27:40 I want to say that day.

“But I went out into the infield because I was commentating and this German athlete I’ve never met before started waving at me and he came up and he said, “James, I really want to meet you. I did your circuit over lockdown.”.

“I obviously recognized him because I was just commentating on him and luckily I had one of my really trusted athletes stood next to me otherwise I don’t think anyone would believe the story.”

“So I said, “You’ve just beaten Mo Farah.” and he says, “Yes”.

“I said, “You’re telling me my circuits helped you beat Mo Farah” and he turned around and said “Yes, your circuit help me beat Mo Farah” and the athlete stood next to me looked at me in kind of disbelief as if to say that can’t have actually happened.”

The health benefits of the circuits haven’t been lost on Thie himself, whose fitness has been very positive since starting them over half a decade ago.

He added: “I suppose my health does have to maintain to be able to do them because I haven’t missed one or had any kind of injuries that have stopped me.

“So again, I’m I feel kind of really lucky over the last six years I’m aging but luckily still able to do the circuits.”

As for the future of Team Thie Circuits, with a new generation finding them for the first time, it doesn’t look like they will be stopping anytime soon.

Featured image of James Thie during his first Team Thie Circuit: Permission given by James Thie for use