Staying Fit and Active in Pattaya: Padel, Running and Why I Quit Drinking

I do something active every day. At 45, I find it hard to do more than one thing a day, so it's either padel, a run, or, if I'm not up for either, a long walk.

Why padel?

I was looking for a way to meet new people, and I'd heard padel was becoming more popular. It seemed like a good chance to meet a different crowd.

It has absolutely worked. I've met some really nice guys. When I started, there was only one place to play, in Pratumnak, with two courts. Now there are several more, including Prime Padel, one club with around seven courts, and another in East Pattaya. It's a decent scene now, and you can always get a game.

How do I run in the heat?

I run in the evening, at about 5:30 as the sun's going down. I used to run early in the morning, but evenings suit me better.

Most of the time I run the loop on Pratumnak Hill, a purpose-built circuit of just over a kilometre that's always in the shade, and I do as many laps as I feel like. Occasionally I run the 10-kilometre loop around Mabprachan Lake, but that's rare these days.

What happened to golf?

I used to be a teaching PGA professional in the UK, but I fell out of love with golf after I came to Thailand.

Back home, everyone was a member of a club. There was a community, you played the same course over and over, and I really enjoyed that. You don't get the same club atmosphere here, and I lost some interest.

Then my game got worse. To play at a high standard you have to play and practise every day, and once you start slipping it gets demotivating.

Then I had a family. Golf here takes all day: you drive to the course, play, and drive back. It didn't seem a good use of my time with young children. My boys are older now, but between padel and running, I just can't fit it in. If you do play, read my guide to golf in Pattaya.

What difference did giving up drinking make?

A big one. I haven't had a drink in over 10 years, and it's probably one of the best decisions I've ever made. It changes everything.

When you drink, you spend time with other people who drink, so it changed who I spend time with. My eating has definitely improved, because when you're drinking or hungover you don't eat well. And my focus and energy are much better. Personally, I'd recommend anyone knock it on the head, even if they only drink in moderation.

My advice for staying active in Pattaya

Get involved. Join the LINE groups and clubs for whatever you're into. If you play golf, join a golf society. For padel, join the LINE community group so you can see when there's a game. For tennis, join a club. There are plenty of clubs and communities here, and it's relatively inexpensive. You don't have to do it on your own.

For tips on food, read eating healthily in Pattaya. For more on life here, read living in Pattaya and what I wish I'd known before moving to Thailand.