Was CrossFit the Original Hybrid Fitness Race? | Fitness Racing Is Changing Lives

Was CrossFit the original hybrid fitness race?

And why are so many CrossFit athletes now finding a whole new fire inside fitness racing and hybrid competition?

In this final episode of 2025, I sit down with Nikki Waters to explore the journey from CrossFit into the world of fitness racing and hybrid fitness events — and how stepping onto a start line can unlock an athlete you never even knew you had.

We talk honestly about:

• Transitioning from CrossFit to fitness racing

• Discovering the desire to race after giving it a go

• The buzz, energy, and community that mirrors the best of CrossFit culture

• How fitness racing is genuinely changing people’s lives

• The importance of community, goal setting, and identity as an athlete

• Balancing training, work, family, and normal life

• KELTX events, a KELTX win, and what that journey looks like

• ATHX Games Finals qualification and what it means to reach finals level

This episode is about more than races — it’s about belonging, purpose, and realising that being an athlete doesn’t stop when life gets busy.

Whether you’re finishing 2025 strong or listening in early 2026, this episode is designed to light the fuse and get you moving into a massive year ahead.

💥 Fitness racing is evolving. Communities are growing. And athletes are being found.

On The Rox – On Location | Inside the Institute of Fitness Racing (Pre-Launch Special)

In this special On Location episode of the On The Rox podcast, we take you inside the Institute of Fitness Racing on its pre-launch night—the future home and headquarters of the Deadly Dozen.

Before the doors officially open, we’re on the ground, soaking up the atmosphere and speaking to early affiliates, Deadly Dozen fitness racing athletes, and affiliate staff to get their thoughts on what this space represents—not just as a facility, but as a movement within the rapidly growing world of fitness racing.

During the opening minutes of the video version, you’ll get an exclusive look around the venue itself—its layout, its energy, and the vision behind it. But whether you’re watching or listening, you’ll come away with a clear sense of what the Institute of Fitness Racing is all about:

a purpose-built hub for competition, community, performance, and the future of gym-based fitness racing.

This episode captures the feeling of something being built from the ground up—the conversations, the excitement, and the belief that this space will become a destination for athletes, affiliates, and race organisers alike.

If you’re part of the Deadly Dozen community—or curious about where fitness racing is heading next—this is one you don’t want to miss.

Rucking Around the DEKA FIT Tree – A British Perspective on the DEKA World Championships

In this powerful and deeply human episode, Marshy sits down with the first-ever athletes from outside North America and Canada to complete the DEKA Trifecta in the Ruck division at the DEKA World Championships.

This is a raw, honest, and inspiring deep dive into the world of DEKA Ruck—from what the Ruck division really demands, to the rapid growth of Rucking within DEKA in the UK, and the ethos and community that sit at the heart of DEKA worldwide.

We follow the journey from the UK to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, unpacking what it’s really like to travel internationally with a ruck, the emotions of arriving at the Convention Center, and the overwhelming feeling of stepping onto the world championship floor.

The conversation goes far beyond racing. We talk openly about:

• Being a mum of three, the reality of mum guilt, and the emotional weight of leaving family behind to chase a world championship dream

• The moment it all becomes real inside the arena

• Gemma’s unforgettable story of leaving absolutely everything out on the course

• Kirsty’s one-year journey—from to returning and completing all three Ruck divisions to earn the DEKA World Championships Trifecta RUCK!

You’ll also get real insight, practical advice, and training tips for anyone considering their first DEKA Ruck, shared by two of the UK’s leading Ruck division athletes.

If you’re thinking about doing a Ruck, already racing DEKA, traveled to the World Championships, or simply love the world of fitness racing and the DEKA community, this is an episode you cannot miss.

🎒🌍 Ruck heavy. Dream big. Leave it all out there.

In this episode of On The Rox, we sit down with Rachel – elite road runner turned hybrid-fitness racer, and now the British Record Holder in the Deadly Dozen.

Rachel opens up about her journey from high-level running into the fast-growing world of fitness racing, how ADHD has shaped her training and performance, and what ultimately led her to her breakout moment at the Deadly Dozen Macclesfield finale, where she smashed the British record in her first ever attempt.

We dive into:

🏃‍♀️ Rachel’s transition from elite road running to fitness racing

🏋️‍♀️ How ADHD influences her training style, focus and competitive mindset

🔥 Her first season inside the hybrid world – HYROX and Deadly Dozen

🇨🇾 The Deadly Dozen Cyprus Hybrid Training Camp – how it worked, what it involved, and exciting hints at future camps

🏅 Top 3 tips for anyone taking on their first Deadly Dozen event

💥 What’s next for Rachel and what’s coming in the 2026 Deadly Dozen season

This episode is packed with insights for runners entering hybrid fitness, athletes with ADHD, Deadly Dozen rookies, HYROX competitors, and anyone inspired by the huge growth of fitness racing in the UK.

In this powerhouse episode we sit down with Athlete Mimi and Coach Mark to dive deep into the exploding world of hybrid fitness. From HYROX… to DEKA… to the Deadly Dozen… we explore how the industry has ignited a new fire in athletes across the world.

We talk honestly about managing a competition-year diary, balancing training across multiple formats, and what it takes to peak for several different race categories in one season. Mimi and Mark share how hybrid racing has become a second athletic chance for so many people—relighting passion, drive and competitiveness.

We celebrate the visionaries of the sport, from Yancy and the DEKA global community to Jason Curtis and the rapid rise of The Deadly Dozen. With DEKA World Championships 2026 on the horizon, we reflect on whether the 2025 Worlds may have been the greatest hybrid event ever held.

We go deep on performance mindset:

• Why hard work beats talent every time

• What it means to be a coachable athlete

• How athlete–coach relationships can change careers

• Why the hybrid world might now have a true “Big Three”: DEKA, Deadly Dozen, HYROX

And finally, we look ahead at Mimi’s potential future in the sport—through the eyes of her coach, Mark, who believes she genuinely has the world at her feet.

This is a big conversation about ambition, growth, race culture, and the future of hybrid fitness.

If you love this sport, this is an episode you DO NOT want to miss.

In this episode, Marshy sits down with Martin for a wide-ranging conversation on all things hybrid fitness racing. From the origins of Hyrox and its first races in the UK, to the groundbreaking first DEKA Fit UK arena event, and the unique challenge of the Deadly Dozen, we dive deep into the sport’s past, present, and future.

We explore:

🏋️ The rise of hybrid racing and how Hyrox, DEKA, and Deadly Dozen are shaping the scene

🎥 Martin’s journey as a YouTuber — why he started, how authenticity fuels his content, and why it resonates with the community

📈 The booming business side of hybrid racing and why growth may eventually plateau

🌍 The exciting announcement of the first Deadly Dozen UK & World Championships

🇬🇧 DEKA Fit’s bold UK expansion with three arena events coming in 2026

👧 Martin’s daughter’s inspiring YouTube journey through parkrunThis is a must-watch episode for athletes, fans, and anyone passionate about the future of hybrid fitness racing.

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more in-depth conversations on the sport we love.

The First Ever Elite Winners Of DEKA FIT UK

This week’s podcast is a special on-site episode from the very first DEKAFIT UK arena event! Recorded straight after the elite solo races on Saturday, we had the privilege of interviewing the podium finishers from both the men’s and women’s elite categories.From the women’s race, we chat with Emma, Kate, and Mimi. From the men’s race, we hear from Jack, Jude, and Dave. Each athlete shares their story — from their background in hybrid racing and previous DEKA experiences, to how the elite race unfolded on the day.

We dive into:

🥇 Their breakdown of the race and key moments from the competition

How DEKA compares to other hybrid fitness formats

🌍 Why DEKA has a real place in the hybrid fitness industry •

👊 Why you should get involved and give DEKA a go

This is a landmark moment for hybrid racing in the UK, and we’re bringing you first-hand insights from the athletes who made history as the first ever elite winners of DEKAFIT UK.Whether you’re an athlete, coach, or fan of the sport, this episode is packed with inspiration and inside knowledge about the future of DEKA and hybrid racing.

In this episode of the On The Rox Podcast, Marshy sits down with Bex, the trailblazer who became the first ever female to complete the Deadly Dozen Ruck division.

Bex shares her journey through the hybrid fitness racing world — from a multi-sport athlete in her youth, to discovering Hyrox, to qualifying for the 2024 World Championships in Nice and fulfilling her dream of representing her country on the world stage.

The conversation dives deep into Bex’s first taste of Deadly Dozen at the Lee Valley race, exploring the unique demands of the event, the incredible atmosphere, and the role of the judges in creating a race experience unlike any other. She compares the Deadly Dozen environment to Hyrox, explaining why this format has such a strong place in the future of hybrid fitness racing.

We then relive Bex’s history-making moment — tackling the entire Deadly Dozen course with a 6kg Ruck vest and proving she could not only survive it, but beat the race. Bex reflects on the physical and mental demands of competing with and without the Ruck, her proudest achievements, and her vision for where Deadly Dozen can go next in our ever-growing hybrid fitness community.

If you’re a fan of hybrid fitness, race-day stories, and hearing from athletes who break barriers, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

What is KELTX? | The Origins of the UK’s Newest Premium Fitness Race

In this episode of the podcast, Marshy sits down with James—one of the five co-founders of KELTX (pronounced Kelt-X)—to unpack the story behind the UK’s newest fitness race.

💥 We dive deep into:

• The origins and founding vision of KELTX

• Why Cornwall and the South West was chosen as the launchpad

• The core values of KELTX and its emphasis on human movement

• What makes this competition different and why it’s being called a premium fitness race

• A full breakdown of the workout format, the stations, and the programming decisions behind each element

• The vital role of the next generation and how KELTX is building around the foundations of movement, health, longevity and most importantly community

Whether you’re a competitor, coach, or curious listener, this episode gives you an exclusive look behind the scenes of a race that could serve the UK hybrid fitness scene.

📍 First KELTX event: 11th October 2025

🧠 Built on movement. Driven by purpose. Powered by community.

👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share if you enjoy the episode!

World Records & Community Power: Cam on Deadly Dozen, Rancher Strong & the Rise of Hybrid Fitness🟡🟣

In this episode of On The Rox, Marshy sits down with Cam — the reigning world record holder in the Deadly Dozen track race at the time of recording — to dive deep into the mindset, training, and community behind elite hybrid fitness.

Cam opens up about his experience at the Deadly Dozen Lee Valley event, where he broke the world record, and discusses whether his training was tailored for the event or simply a reflection of consistent hybrid readiness. As an F45 franchise owner, Cam also gives insight into leading a team of athletes into the hybrid race space, sharing how the Deadly Dozen has energized fitness communities and opened doors for everyday gym-goers to become race-day warriors.

From top tips on conquering the Deadly Dozen to stories from Red Bull’s Rancher Strong event in Fort Worth, Texas, this episode is packed with takeaways for fitness fans, studio owners, and hybrid racers alike.

We also explore the bigger picture — how hybrid racing is reshaping the fitness industry and where the Deadly Dozen fits into this evolving competitive landscape.