Hybrid Fitness Media

The finish line interviews from HYROX NYC Pro Men and Women Week 2 with Noelle Morrow, Julia Kleinhampel, Alex Shabo, Stephanie DeCarli, Bailey Cook, Michelle Navarro, Rachel Wade, Roman Khrennikov, Marcus Wallace, Dawson Mills, Ryan Callahan, Christian Harris, and AJ Golik.

Complete results from both weeks at HYROX NYC 2026.

Plus

Svenja Sommer's journey from gymnast and middle-distance runner to HYROX contender.

Running for the University of South Carolina and experiencing American college sports culture.

How a disappointing track season led her to try HYROX for the first time.

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Matt returns from HYROX New York with stories from Broadway, a Pro Doubles race, and a costly penalty that may have cost him and Matt Kemp a podium finish. The crew breaks down the sled pull mistake, racing outdoors at Pier 76, and whether HYROX should rethink refunds when weather shuts down competition. They also discuss the thunder and lightning that canceled Saturday evening racing, the community response at Training Lab, and how athletes handled the chaos. Plus, PUMA announces a new athlete program for age group world champions, Stockholm preparations ramp up, and Cheryl gets ready for HYROX World...

Dylan Scott's win and managing effort ahead of HYROX World Championships.

Stephen Pelkofer's runner-up finish and battle with Dylan Scott.

Greyson Kilgore overheating, wall ball struggles, and racing strategy.

Morgan Schulz holding off Kat Fahsbender in the Pro Women's race.

Kat Fahsbender's pursuit and wall ball charge late in the race.

Brittany Weiss on earning a podium spot and racing three times in 24 hours.

Kieran Hopping's rapid rise from beginner runner to HYROX contender.

Pro Doubles strategy, pacing, and qualification hopes for Sweden.

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Special guest, Matt Kemp returns, along with usual hosts Matt, Cheryl and Dave to discuss:

HYROX New York weekend recap and on-the-ground observations

Dylan Scott's win and the men's race breakdown

Morgan Schulz, Kat, and the women's race battle

The heat factor and racing conditions at Pier 76

The HYROX cruise race controversy

Whether HYROX is solving a problem that exists

Elite racing visibility and spectator experience

DEKA judging controversies and volunteer shortages

Can technology fix judging in hybrid racing?

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Enhanced Games records controversy and timing accusations

Fred Kerley’s 9.97 performance and reaction

False start confusion and event production issues

Thor vs. Mitchell Hooper deadlift mismatch

The Enhanced Games business model and SPAC stock collapse

Athlete payouts and whether competitors will return

HYROX Elite Series changes explained

The new HYROX Challenger Division and golden ticket system

Why Cheryl thinks HYROX keeps overcomplicating qualification

HYROX Cruise race backlash and Rich Ryan’s criticism

Why the cruise event has no livestream or o...

Enjoy the chaos that was the first ever Enhanced Games. Matt B. Davis, Cheryl Snow, Matt Kemp, and eventually Chris Strub watched as much as we could before we went to sleep.

Linda Meier join us to discuss :

Racing at every HYROX World Championship ever

How tiny HYROX crowds and production looked back in 2020–2022 compared to today

The mindset shift from underdog to defending world champion

Why Warsaw was mentally one of the hardest races of her career

Choosing to finish a bad race instead of taking a DNF

How Joanna Wietrzyk’s dominance is pushing the women’s field forward

Fixing wall ball depth and movement standards over multiple seasons

Balancing world title pressure while...

Dave’s HYROX Strong Ottawa experiment

Volunteer reactions and confused judges in Ottawa

Cheryl’s HYROX Conditioning Test

Self-reporting reps and flaws in the scoring curve

Matt’s Atlanta HYROX simulation in brutal heat

Gloves for sled pull and farmer carry debate

HYROX Ottawa venue and judging review

Wall ball judge training problems

HYROX Major races and the new points system

The “Grand Slam” debate in HYROX

HYROX Worlds prize money increases

DEKA Atlanta announcement and Ultra doubles id...

Brendan Rice is CEO at Wodify, the all-in-one gym management platform that started in the CrossFit space and has spent the last several years evolving alongside the hybrid fitness boom. Brendan has been with Wodify for over eight years, has competed in Spartan races, HYROX, Ragnars, marathons, and ultras, and brings a genuinely balanced perspective on where the fitness industry has been and where it's heading.

How Wodify started in CrossFit and evolved into hybrid fitness

Why gym owners work harder than any other entrepreneur and where that breaks down

The no passion...

Matt’s HYROX PFT disaster and bad coaching experiences

F45 classes and why some group fitness coaching fails

Cheryl’s upcoming HYROX conditioning test with Lauren Rantala

Enhanced Games update, leadership questions, and ticket confusion

HYROX Tampa selling out in minutes and affiliate frustrations

New HYROX athlete license / pro card system discussion

HYROX Worlds prize money increase compared to Spartan

DEKA Austin and the missing elite coverage problem

Deadly Dozen Swim, ATHX updates, and Ottawa preview

Today’s episode is sponsored by Wod...

Deadly Dozen Sprint format and indoor racing Indoor vs outdoor race experience World Championships prize money and opportunity Global growth vs why the US is behind Gym race formats and how they work Fitness racing vs OCR long-term outlook Deadly Dozen business model and gym strategy Why the US hasn't caught on yet San Antonio race and qualification path HYROX ticket demand and sellouts Race for Impact charity entries Princess Games and youth fitness

Matt is joined by Jason Curtis to break down the current state of Deadly Dozen, including the new Sprint...

Season inconsistency and chasing the top athletes Why times are misleading across races Course differences, sleds, and performance impact HYROX growth and long-term sustainability Balancing racing schedule, work, and priorities Full-time athlete vs job security mindset Final build to World Championships

Relay selection controversy and best U.S. lineup Phoenix race and "on the day" performance swings Elite Working Group and rule consistency issues Path to beating Ronco at Worlds Deeper men's field and evolving race dynamics Course changes making HYROX faster and more runner-focused...

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Quick life update as we get the new coffee setup dialed in and knock out a few home projects.

A deep dive into the Moriah Wilson documentary, breaking down what actually happened and why the story still hits so hard.

Latest HYROX news, including the...

Amber Tait and Chelsie Grant are two of the most decorated athletes in the DEKA and the co-founders of Build Method, an online training platform they launched in February 2026. We cover how their partnership started, what they've built together, and where it's going.

Matt sits down with Eric Botsford to break down the next evolution of fitness racing, including the launch of The Gauntlet under Wodapalooza. The new format introduces five distinct stages with built-in recovery, a central "terminal" for athletes and spectators, and a more gamified, festival-style experience aimed at a broader...

Elite 15 briefing culture and verbal rulebook tension Warsaw penalty situation with trash and littering enforcement Mid-season rule shifts versus consistency debate Rapid cooling rule clarification and enforcement Athlete perspective rules are clear in briefings even if not public Fan perspective lack of written rulebook creates confusion Grid versus non-grid racing chaos and safety concerns Course factors behind fast times cold weather sleds and layout World record inflation discussion and athlete skepticism DEKA Sacramento preview and format differences versus HYROX Flat Out UK race breakdown and format innovations LT Games preview and elite matchups

This episode...

Calypso + Meg

Aleem (Suit Man)

Calypso Sheridan breakout weekend and what it means going into Worlds JK does what JK does and closes hard again Luke Penney DQ and the ongoing "how early is too early" problem on the SkiErg The "HYROX Illuminati" and the idea that we just aren't getting explanations Breaking down the official challenge and appeal process and what it actually says Finish line confusion and where the race actually ends Course comparisons and why some times don't translate across events Are we done with world records and fast courses or not Pro card debate and whether majors should be more...

Runner vs hybrid athlete mindset Orangetheory and HYROX and where fitness is heading Why HYROX is dominating social media The importance of authenticity in content and brands HYROX ecosystem and partnerships strategy Roxzone strategy and rookie mistakes Racing for a love connection Doubles race strategy and pacing breakdown Wall balls, lunges, and burpee broad jump lessons HYROX patches, photos, and athlete experience The ROXFit App and why data tracking matters HYROX growth vs traditional running races

Matt sits down with Chris Strub to break down HYROX Miami from...

Dave's Peak 500 score vs Matt Kemp Matt's AG podium + pacing breakdown Hunter McIntyre's Miami performance Kris Rugloski and Bridget Brown Surf Dating mixed doubles wave Worlds qualification controversy New Elite 15 points system, real data. HYROX Youngstars Sled inconsistency issues

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Rachael Wade On The Verge Of Elite 15 College running career at Texas and Alabama Injuries, disordered eating, and a torn Achilles Last minute Atlanta entry with no idea what she was getting into Las Vegas 1:01:01 and the ChatGPT goal Sled pull and wall balls as her biggest weaknesses The Roxx gym in Birmingham and the growing sim scene Moving to Salt Lake City this summer Houston and Miami back to back.

Harry Gordon / Wilder Games From Durham student to co-founder via the Fight Nights Pairs format and why it makes the event accessible...

Topics Is Peak 500 a race, a test, or a multi-stage fitness competition? HYROX's new rule eliminating post-race athlete-on-athlete reporting VAR judging: improvement or more missed calls? Viral "bad judging" content: real issues vs attention-seeking HYROX Division 1: new tier below Elite 15 Mat Lock hinting at salaried or full-time pro athletes ATHX Miami Invitational: Dave's role as Director of Sport Deadly Dozen's rapid international growth vs minimal US footprint ATHX races: no US dates, no clear public schedule

Summary This episode covers where hybrid fitness is right now, across competition formats, governance, and growth. Peak 500...

What actually makes a good coach: knowledge, experience, and care Blame the sled, blame the carpet, blame the erg. Or maybe it's the pizza and beers the night before Why most people pick the wrong coach and stay too long The red flags: long bios, fake credentials, and "business coaches" who've never done anything Why authenticity is starting to win and the cookie-cutter content is getting exposed Content vs experience: why doing the thing matters more than talking about it HYROX vs CrossFit: race vs training methodology Why you can't just "do CrossFit" and expect to be...

The Not So Live Show with Cheryl, Matt and special guest IanK from UKHXR.

DEKA production upgrades: new start line, finish line, and overall feel The new Lycan machines: faster times, different feel, and athlete reactions Why changing machines resets the entire leaderboard The real issue: long wait times and races starting up to an hour late Judging, volunteers, and the bottleneck problem inside DEKA Does DEKA owe athletes better communication on major changes?

The Fastest HYROX times ever and a suspect course. HYROX London setup: 10-day event, Elite 15, and a new level of production...

Lexi Johnson built her platform long before she ever stepped onto a start line. What started as at-home workouts during COVID turned into a massive online and in-person community. Now she's taking that base into competition, with clear strengths and a lot of room to grow.

Then there's ErgShoot, a new format trying to carve out its own lane. It blends ergs with precision shooting, backed by real tech and early traction inside CrossFit events. The goal isn't just to be part of the space, but to build something entirely new.

<...

We start by catching up with Alyssa McElheny after her attempt to get a 2nd race in before the cutoff for The HYROX Warsaw Major. Saliva slowed her down, let's find out why. Then the Not So Live Show with Cheryl, Matt and Dave.

Morgan Schulz - 3rd - $6,000 Kris Rugloski - 5th - $4,200 Carolyn Watkins - 4th - $4,800 Katherine Fahsbender - 11th - $1,800 Terra Jackson - 8th - $2,700 Lauren Griffith - 7th - $3,000 Vivian Tafuto - 2nd - $9,600 Lauren Weeks - 1st - $15,000 Kelsey Hochleitner - 12th - $1,500 Audrey Skiver - 6th - $3,600 Lianne Girard - 13th - $1,200 Rachel Legacy - 15th - $900

Frédéric Dubé - 7th - $3,000 Ryan Callahan - 15th - $900 Cole Learn - 1st - $15,000 Dylan Scott - 2nd - $...

After the backlash over the 60+ World Championship race schedule, the company sent a new email saying they are exploring reversing the decision.

Matt, Cheryl, and Dave break down the response, read comments from the first Watergate episode, and discuss new details that came out about the Elite 15 athlete briefing:

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• HYROX "Watergate" controversy after Cole Learn dumps water on himself mid-race • Whether rules are actually being enforced consistently in Elite 15 racing • The growing "trust bank" problem between HYROX and athletes • 60+ athletes furious over Stockholm Worlds schedule change • HYROX email claiming the change was "for their benefit" • Age-group athletes forced to choose between singles and doubles • Alondra Greenlee barred from racing after missing athlete briefing • Kent allowed to race despite also mis...

Matt sits down with Kaʻeo Kruse from Stryd to break down how running data can improve HYROX performance. Later, Alaskan athletes Chad Trammell and Lars Arneson join the show to talk about their impressive Pro Doubles debut at HYROX Phoenix.

• Hawaii → Harvard → UVA running career • Training with USA Triathlon in Boulder • Understanding running power and pacing • Matt's HYROX Phoenix data breakdown • Cadence vs stride length • Efficiency and avoiding anaerobic spikes

• Chad winning World's Toughest Mudder • La...

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Fun to watch who will qualify for HYROX Worlds Full breakdown of Rancher Strong race in Texas Why Red Bull keeps winning in this space XENOM launches and calls itself the Decathlon of Fitness $500 entry fees, max snatches, and muscle ups 26.1 wall balls and the HYROX handshake meme

Matt walks through Rancher Strong from the Pro Am all the way through my race effort. What went well...

• Alyssa's 1:00:55 Vegas debut • Marathon to HYROX transition • Sled push issues and split analysis • Elite 15 cutoff timing • License rule change confusion • Non-counted qualifying races • Guadalajara scramble • Leaderboard and alternate reality

Summary Alyssa McElhaney joins after her 1:00:55 HYROX debut in Vegas. We talk marathon background, sled push problems, and what she needs to clean up to push into true Elite 15 territory.

Then Ryan Callahan breaks down the Elite 15 athlete license confusion that invalidated two of his early times, forcing a last-minute qualifying scramble. We unpack communication issues, leaderboard quirks, and what alterna...

• Vegas was not the "exhale" after Phoenix, 17,000+ showed up • Mandalay Bay venue exceeded expectations • Lounge couches, neon relay vibe, and actual Vegas energy • Judging adjustments post-Phoenix and penalty transparency questions • Daria on NYC ticket chaos and affiliate presale reality • $270 solos and $450 doubles and pricing creep • Should NYC expand beyond two weekends? • Dave's DEKA Strong PR and Strong as a bigger lane

We break down why Vegas was anything but a quiet follow-up to Phoenix. Mandalay Bay handled the volume, the relay felt like a nightclub, and HYROX leaned into the Vegas vibe in a way that actua...

Bobby Capobianco came on the program after a HYROX weekend and discusses:

• Why HYROX works • From elite basketball to burnout to rebuilding • Why some brands connect and others miss • The power of visuals and experience • Authenticity in the influencer era • The ceiling of HYROX

This one starts casual and turns into a bigger conversation about HYROX and the fitness moment we are in right now. Bobby shares his path from high level basketball recruit to completely burned out former athlete who gained 100 pounds on purpose, then rebuilt through CrossFit and eventually moved into the experiential...

HYROX Vegas tickets, map, and relay start times DC getting the buzz over Vegas Glasgow as a HYROX hotspot Gauntlet UK format and 30kg hurdles as a fun twist Doubles twist: hold kettlebells while your partner skis Puma shoes and NYC tickets Buc-ee's yay or nay

Matt debates the merits of Buc-ee's after his first visit while driving back from Alabama. Daniel Clafferty joins from Glasgow to break down the Gauntlet UK's unique station format, including 30kg hurdles and a doubles twist where partners hold kettlebells while the other skis. The...

HYROX Chundering with Lauren Stockley. Plus Squeaky Toy Judging with Mark Day.

Matt sits down with Mark Day and Lauren Stockley to discuss Elite 15 judging controversies and athlete experiences. Mark breaks down his viral videos on Rich Ryan's wall balls and movement standard inconsistencies, advocating for professional judging pathways. Lauren shares her devastating Phoenix DNF after throwing up on the rower, her Stockholm penalty, and balancing full-time teaching with Elite 15 racing.

Guest Links: Mark Day | Lauren Stockley

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• Elite 15 judging controversy from HYROX Phoenix • Wall ball depth calls and sled line penalties • Judge positioning and why some no reps are impossible to see • Why HYROX should back judges publicly and fix issues privately • Passport and birth certificate requirements for regional championships • Certified copy confusion for U.S. athletes • U.S. versus European passport culture • Spartan DEKA Discovery activations at race festivals • What worked and failed with Spartan Games • Mixed doubles judging and workload imbalance • Why sim times do not count as real race results

This Monday Not So Live starts with the HYROX regional championship requirement that you p...

Matt B. Davis and Cheryl Snow breakdown their HYROX Mixed Doubles and how they took off almost 5 minutes from last year's time with Coach Matt Kemp.

Then we head into more interviews from the HYROX floor over the weekend in Phoenix with Mo Fuerste, Christian Totske, Faith In Pink, Kat Fahsbender, Amy Bevilacqua, Emilie Dahmen, Vicky McIntosh, Danielle Low, Lauren Rantala, Karyn Guidry, Kris Mendoza, Jack Goras, Jarrett Newby, Brendan King, and Lance High aka Losing with Lance.

Finally Bryan Darling, Hedge Podcaster joins us for Knight...

We caught up with so many athletes over the weekend in Phoenix. Here is Part One.

For starters: Rich Ryan, Charlie Botterill, and Dylan Scott on Wednesday evening. Then a quick chat with Kate Hutchinson and Riho after their open doubles finish as they were first across the line on Thursday.

Thursday Night - Elite 15 Singles Finish Line Joanna Wietrzyk Vivian Tafuto Linda Meier Lena Putters Emilie Dahmen Rich Ryan Sean Noble Cole Learn Dylan Scott Charlie Botterill Luke Greer Jon Wynn Beau Wills Alexander Roncevic

Elite races and overall event takeaways from HYROX Phoenix Stadium venue pros and cons versus convention centers Live stream quality, graphics, and atmosphere Women's Elite race dominance and watchability Men's Elite race drama, late surges, and execution Judging standards, no-reps, penalties, and consistency issues Wall ball controversies and athlete–judge dynamics Doubles racing, records, and standout performances Tailgate activations, sponsor presence, and what actually worked Merch, branding choices, and the "plum/purple" qualification experiment Pro card confusion, wave assignments, and communication breakdowns Registration flow, warm-up logistics, and athlete experience inside a stadium U.S. expansion outlook and why stadiums ma...