Athletes We Talked To

Friday - Elite 15 Singles

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 - $9,600 Stephen Pelkofer - 3rd - $6,000

Saturday - Elite 15 Doubles

(Prize money paid per team)

Morgan Schulz & Katherine Fahsbender - 2nd - $6,400 Kristen Stein & Alandra Greenlee - 3rd - $4,000 Vivian Tafuto & Lauren Weeks - 1st - $10,000 Brittany McCall & Lianne Girard - 4th - $3,200 Danitza Leon & Madison Yaskowich - 8th - $1,800 Zoe Verkerke & Claire Haines - 12th - $1,000 Maria Fecik & Terra Jackson - 5th - $2,800 Marcus Wallace & Dawson Miller - 2nd - $6,400 Jarrett Newby & Hayden Warner - 3rd - $4,000 Dylan Scott & Stephen Pelkofer - 1st - $10,000 Cole Learn & Jay Muscart - 5th - $2,800 Ryan Douglas & Jack Driscoll - 8th - $1,800 Colin Stiefer & Ryan Kent - 6th - $2,400

Topics

• Cole Learn wins the men's Elite 15 race in Washington DC • Lauren Weeks takes the women's Elite 15 title • Vivian Tafuto finishes second in singles and wins doubles with Weeks • Dylan Scott and Stephen Pelkofer dominate the doubles race • Morgan Schulz podium finish in singles and silver in doubles • Kris Rugloski fifth in singles and third in doubles with Alandra Greenlee • Terra Jackson top 10 singles and fifth in doubles with Maria Fecik • Jarrett Newby and Hayden Warner podium finish in doubles • Ryan Kent and Colin Stiefer finish sixth • Frédéric Dubé top 10 finish in men's singles • Audrey Skiver's one arm sandbag moment • Rachel Legacy racing while pregnant • Quick reactions from athletes across both Elite 15 fields

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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:

• HYROX responds to the 60+ race controversy
• Whether the apology actually fixes the problem
• Community reactions to the first Watergate episode
• Dr. Alondra Greenlee responding in the comments
• New details about the athlete briefing
• Why athletes were told not to record the meeting
• The "yeet" rule and throwing trash on course
• Transparency and rule consistency in HYROX

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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 missing the meeting • Mandatory race briefings and whether they should exist at all • Transparency problems and HYROX's repeated "no comment" responses • How elite sports normally handle suspensions and rule enforcement • What HYROX needs to do to rebuild trust with athletes and fans

Summary

This emergency Sunday episode digs into what the crew is calling "Watergate" after video surfaced of Cole Learn pouring water on himself during a race, something explicitly prohibited in the HYROX rulebook. The discussion centers on inconsistent rule enforcement and whether the organization is drifting toward the same credibility problems that plagued Spartan in past years.

They also unpack two other major controversies from the weekend: a last-minute schedule change for 60+ athletes at the World Championships that forces many to choose between singles and doubles, and the decision to block Alondra Greenlee from racing after missing a mandatory briefing while another athlete who also missed the meeting was allowed to compete.

The common thread is transparency. With HYROX declining to comment publicly on several incidents, the crew debates whether the sport risks eroding the trust it has built with athletes and fans during its rapid growth.

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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.

Topics

Kaʻeo Kruse (Stryd)

• 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 Trammell & Lars Arneson

• Chad winning World's Toughest Mudder • Lars' Nordic skiing background • Training for HYROX in Anchorage • Fourth place in HYROX Phoenix Pro Doubles • Race strategy and pacing • Why lunges and wall balls cost them time

Summary

First up, Matt talks with Kaʻeo Kruse from Stryd about how running data can help HYROX athletes race smarter. Kruse explains his background as a runner at Harvard and UVA before transitioning to triathlon and training with USA Triathlon in Boulder.

Using Matt's race at HYROX Phoenix as a case study, they break down pacing, cadence, stride length, and running power. The data showed how maintaining consistent effort led to a five-minute improvement and why even small efficiency gains can make a big difference in HYROX racing.

In the second half of the episode, Matt catches up with Chad Trammell and Lars Arneson from Anchorage, Alaska. Trammell reflects on winning World's Toughest Mudder and the early days of obstacle racing, while Arneson talks about his background as a Nordic skier and mountain runner.

The pair recently finished fourth in Pro Doubles at HYROX Phoenix with a time of 50:41, despite only doing a handful of strength workouts together. They break down their race strategy, where they lost time, and whether they'll pursue the Elite 15 Doubles races moving forward.

Guest Links: Kaʻeo Kruse from Stryd| Lars Arneson & Chad Trammell

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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, what I overthought, and why HYROX training absolutely showed up when it mattered. It was short, violent, and a great reminder that fear is usually worse than reality.

We also dig into XENOM and whether it actually learned anything from HYROX. Big funding. Big talk. But accessibility still matters. Then we hit 26.1, Open numbers, and a full HYROX DC preview. The women's race feels structured. The men's race feels unpredictable. Doubles could get spicy.

• 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 alternate status really means heading into DC.

Guest Links: Alyssa McElheny | Ryan Callahan

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• 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 actually worked.

We also dig into judging changes, ongoing penalty confusion, and the NYC ticket madness — including what really happened with presale links and why tickets vanished in 90 minutes. Plus pricing talk, relay age group frustrations, and Dave's latest DEKA Strong effort.

Plus Bryan The Hedge Podcaster comes on to discuss KOTSK Final Episode of Season 1.

Guest Links: Ugly Dave | Cheryl Snow | Daria from The Training Lab NYC.

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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

Summary

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 side of the fitness industry.

At the core of the episode is why HYROX works. Not just the format, but the feeling. The look. The shareability. The fact that it makes everyday people feel like athletes. The conversation explores why other brands have not captured that same energy, where authenticity fits in a world of paid influence, and why real world experience may matter more than product specs. It is part sports talk, part business breakdown, and part where is this all headed.

Plus Bryan from House Darling aka The Hedge Podcaster returns for KOTSK Episode 5.

Guest Links: Big Bobby

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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 crew previews HYROX Vegas at Mandalay Bay with ticket updates and late relay times, discusses why DC is getting more buzz than Vegas, and explores Glasgow's emergence as a HYROX hotspot. Puma shoe launch and NYC ticket sales round out the conversation.

Guest Links: Cheryl Snow | Gauntlet UK | Daniel Clafferty

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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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