FHITpros Take On HYROX NYC

HYROX, the world’s fastest-growing fitness race, is taking over Pier 76 in NYC for two full weekends of racing, and three of our FHITpros have thrown their hats in the ring for the competition. Eric + Dale will be competing as a Men’s Doubles team and BLD will be competing in the Men’s Solo Open and Men’s Doubles division. Read more to learn why they’re competing, how they trained, and what their advice is for anyone thinking about making their HYROX debut. 

Is this your first HYROX race/fitness race?  
BLD: This is my second HYROX. I did my first in 2023. As you know, I love running marathons but I’m looking forward to doing something that isn’t only running.

Eric: I’ve participated in other endurance events from Triathlons and half marathons and the NYC Marathon but this will be my first HYROX race. 

Dale: This will be my first HYROX race and honestly my first official race or competition ever. I’ve always been drawn to endurance and fitness events, but I never actually committed to one until now. It feels exciting, slightly nerve-wracking, and long overdue in the best way possible.

What made you decide to participate in HYROX this year? 
BLD:  I loved it the first time I did it and I had signed up in 2024 & 2025 but was unable to do either of those races. So this year I was so determined to make it work that I signed up for 2 races! I really like having goals to train and also things that focus more on what my body can do vs. how my body looks.

Eric: I’ve seen the immense popularity with HYROX and like many fitness races, I thought it would be great to try it out firsthand and then help other clients train for it. Also because it was my first one, I thought it would be great to do it as a team. Dale was a perfect FHIT as he is driven, strong, has a great endurance engine, and could carry me to the finish line…literally. 

Dale: Eric initially brought up the idea, and it took me less than half a second to say yes. I’ve always been intrigued by events like Spartan Races, Tough Mudders, and even traditional running races like 5Ks and 10Ks, but I never made them a real priority. My focus has always been on my clients and personal training, so the idea would come and go. Having a partner who was equally excited about it — and someone who could hold me accountable — completely sealed the deal.

What did training look like for HYROX? 
BLD: Over 50% of the race is running so that has been my main focus alongside some strength and conditioning sessions. It’s been a nice change from marathon training which is more about endurance. I’ve shifted my focus to intensity which has allowed me to add a bit more variety to my training and get some good workouts in with Garen & Dale each week.

Eric: Training has been more intense than a normal workout, as I’m usually in and out of the gym in 45 minutes. When training for endurance events you need to spend more time building an aerobic base. So HYROX got me out and running again for 60-90 minutes at a time. Training for HYROX with Dale has been fun. We get to push each other, hold each other accountable, and just bond like brothers. 

Dale: Over the last two years, I’ve been running more consistently, mainly for maintenance and to continue building my aerobic capacity. I’d never trained specifically for an event before, so following an actual running program has been awesome. It’s been rewarding to see my endurance and intensity improve over time. On top of that, Eric and I have been following a HYROX-specific program focused on strength, endurance, and threshold training. From the beginning, we wanted the process to feel fun — another way to connect and share a goal together. With our busy schedules, some sessions have been together, and others separate, but I’ve also been lucky to have accountability buddies like Garen and BLD jump into training along the way. Training alongside my friends and fellow FHITpros has made the entire experience genuinely so enjoyable.

What has been the hardest part of training? 
BLD: The hardest part of training for me has been reintroducing strength training. For half and full marathons you just need to be strong enough, but now I need that extra strength in the HYROX stations.

Eric: The hardest part is that we’ve had to put a large focus on our aerobic training (running, rowing, and ski) as strength training isn’t a priority but something we just need to maintain. And you have to be OK with that because this is a endurance event. Also our sessions have been longer and more taxing, so recovery and nutrition is paramount. You wouldn’t put cheap gas in a Ferrari and expect peak performance — so why do that to your body? (And yes, I like to think of myself as a Ferrari F80 in red lol)

If you want to perform at a high level, recover better, and feel your best, you have to fuel yourself accordingly. High performance requires high-quality fuel & sleep. This is what a lot of people miss out on.

Dale: HYROX is very much an endurance-based fitness competition, and running is the main component. The hardest part has been learning how to run efficiently on fatigued legs. Combining the fitness stations with the runs is a completely different challenge than traditional strength or conditioning work. There’s definitely been some trial and error — especially with calf cramping, heavy legs, and figuring out pacing — but that’s all been part of the process.

How do Fhitting Room classes help you train for HYROX? 
BLD: It’s actually the best form of training for HYROX because it offers a variety of different movements that help improve form, strength, and endurance not only for a lot of the specific movements in HYROX but also the intensity of the race when doing EMOMs, AMRAPs, circuits, and especially the FHIX. You then just have to run 2-3 times a week outside of classes to complement that training.

Eric: What I love is that everything we do at Fhitting Room translates well to HYROX, everything from rowing, ski, burpees, wall balls, and farmer’s carries. Our Signature FHIT classes can help prepare for the event overall and our Just STRENGTH classes ensure you can push, pull, and lunge without fatiguing. Sprinkle in some running and you’re set up well for your next HYROX event.

Dale: Fhitting Room’s interval-based style of training has helped us tremendously. It’s trained us to sustain a high cardiovascular output while also recovering quickly between efforts, which is essential in HYROX. Beyond that, all the strength work — deadlifts, swings, squats, lunges — has built the kind of lower-body strength and resilience you really need for this type of competition.

What part of the competition are you most excited for? 
BLD: I’m looking forward to the running portion of the competition the most since that’s where I feel most confident, but I’m excited to see how much I can push myself on the stations and how much I have improved throughout my training.

Eric: I’m excited to dance while Dale is doing burpee broad jumps! But in all seriousness, I’m most excited that we experienced the entire journey together. The early mornings, the training, the preparation, and finally stepping onto the race floor knowing we earned the opportunity to be there. I trust our training, but more importantly, I’m grateful to be doing this alongside a close friend. I know this will be a memory and experience I’ll carry with me for a very long time.

Dale: Getting to share the entire experience from training to race day with Eric is what I’m most excited about. The event itself will be amazing, but being able to go through the process together and support each other along the way is worth its weight in gold. 

What would you say to anyone who is thinking about racing HYROX? 
BLD: If not now, when? HYROX allows you to compete as a team of 2 or even a team of 4 and there is a wide range of fitness levels and athletes that compete, so you really can pick your own adventure. While you might not feel ready to do it right now, that’s normal and that’s what training is for. You can be ready to do it in 8, 10, or 12 weeks time. You’re likely already doing 3-5 workouts a week so you’re 90% of the way there!

Eric: Do it! Sign up for something that challenges you and forces you to grow. Too many people wait until they feel “ready,” but growth doesn’t happen inside your comfort zone. HYROX is hard and that’s exactly why you should do it. The training teaches discipline, resilience, and confidence. You learn a lot about yourself when things get uncomfortable and you choose to keep moving forward anyway. And remember: the things that scare us the most are often the things that change us the most. 

Dale: What do you really have to lose? If you’re even remotely curious about it, I’d say go for it. Keep the pressure off yourself and treat it as an opportunity to challenge yourself, have fun, and work toward something specific and rewarding. You might surprise yourself with what you’re capable of.

Feeling inspired? Book your next class here!