1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

The '9 day Kick Start' holiday with this operator in Kenya was above even my very high expectations, having dreamed about going for over a year - genuinely a life-changing experience. Baraka House is a beautiful place on one of the world's top five beaches and the small team of trainers is very carefully chosen (Tara Wood, the founder, says she gets a CV a day now). Trainers come and go over the seasons but ours included a Kiwi Ironman, a Kenyan sprinter and a British physio, plus Tara's expertise in nutrition and Checkie Wood's (her mother) in yoga and energy work. Add to that superb cooking under William (who would have known it was healthy food?!), wonderfully friendly and very efficient staff under Tina and the idyllic setting, and the mind/body focus was complete. All the trainers were both professional and great fun, helped by the fact that they clearly love what they do (or give a damn good impression of it!) We felt at home from the beginning in the lovely - and huge - rooms, sleeping to the sound of the Indian Ocean and surrounded by lovely touches such as towelling bath robes made locally, natural materials and cucumber-based toiletries. The 'exercise' was nothing like exercise I had ever known, based on a concept of fitness for real life, not just for the gym and it was actually fun! Best of all I came back with a new awareness of my mind and body and a desire - so far fulfilled - to continue increasing my fitness and health. Last seen doing 'suicide shuttle runs' in a London park on a Sunday morning ... believe me, it's never been known before.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

Whether you're a top triathlete or a sedentary office worker, as long as you have the desire to improve your fitness and wellbeing, get booking a fitness holiday with this operator. As one of the latter I had the most amazing 9 days while I was there and am now actually excited about getting and staying fit and well.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

The food is locally sourced and organic where possible; most of the staff are also local including a wonderful masseuse whose services are much appreciated and Joash, one of Kenya's fastest sprinters who cooks up a mean beach assault course. It helps that Tara, Checkie and Tina are all locals, so they have a knowledge and care of the local area that is hard to beat: it's their home, not just a short term investment. The operator supports a local turtle conservation charity, not only with a financial contribution but also by inviting the charity to talk to guests (a slideshow on the roof under the African stars). Guests can then sponsor a turtle or a nest, so extra funds are leveraged.

4. Any other comments?

Plenty of places claim a 'holistic approach': this is the first I've experienced that matched the claim: health, fitness, care for the environment, local issues, the whole shebang. Just brilliant. You may be able to tell I'm a little evangelical about it!