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What a year it's been for Deadly Dozen. In this episode, we sit down with Deadly Dozen founder Jason Curtis to look back on an unforgettable year of racing — from the standout moments and incredible performances to the challenges, lessons and stories that helped shape the season. Jason takes us behind the scenes of Deadly Dozen's continued growth, reflects on how the racing has evolved, and shares some of his favourite moments from a year packed with competition, community and plenty of suffering. We also look ahead to what's next as Deadly Dozen continues to grow and the next chapter begins. Whether you raced, supported from the sidelines, or you're discovering Deadly Dozen for the first time, this is the perfect way to round off an incredible year.

Jude Reynolds is one of the most exciting young athletes coming through HYROX, Deadly Dozen and the rapidly growing world of hybrid fitness racing. At just 23, Jude has already become HYROX U24 World Champion, recorded a 55:27 HYROX Pro Solo PB and made the move towards becoming a full-time professional hybrid athlete. But Jude doesn't just want to be a HYROX athlete. In this episode of the Deadly Dozen Podcast, we sit down with Jude to talk about his ambition to become one of the best all-round fitness racers in the world — competing across HYROX, Deadly Dozen, DEKA and other hybrid racing formats around the globe. We go deep into Jude's experience racing Deadly Dozen, why the format presents a completely different challenge for a 6'4" athlete, and what it takes to compete against athletes such as Dave Parkin at the very top of the sport. Jude also looks ahead to the Deadly Dozen World Championships, where he'll be taking on both the Solo and Male Doubles events, and discusses the level of competition he expects as athletes arrive from multiple countries to compete for significant prize money. The conversation goes beyond Jude's own racing as we discuss what Deadly Dozen is trying to build as a global fitness racing format — from strict movement standards and investment in judging to international expansion, global leaderboards and creating an accessible race built around simple movements, running and serious work capacity. We also break down what actually makes a great hybrid athlete. Is specialising in one race format the answer? Or can competing across HYROX, Deadly Dozen, DEKA and other events actually make you a more complete athlete? Jude explains why he wants to be able to turn up at ANY hybrid fitness race and compete for the win. In this episode: • Jude Reynolds' journey into hybrid fitness racing • Becoming HYROX U24 World Champion • His 55:27 HYROX Pro Solo PB • Going from PT to full-time hybrid athlete • Jude's first experience racing Deadly Dozen • Why Deadly Dozen presents a unique challenge for taller athletes • Taking on Dave Park and the world's best Deadly Dozen racers • Jude's plans for the Deadly Dozen World Championships • Racing Solo and Male Doubles • The growing international standard of Deadly Dozen • Prize money and the professionalisation of fitness racing • Why strict judging and movement standards matter • The future and global expansion of Deadly Dozen • HYROX vs DEKA vs Deadly Dozen • Why Jude refuses to specialise in just one race format • Training 20+ hours per week as a hybrid athlete • Zone 2 vs high-intensity training • How to train for fitness racing with only 3–6 hours per week • Why muscular endurance and work capacity are so important • Sponsorships, agents and making professional fitness racing financially sustainable • Jude's goal of becoming HYROX and DEKA World Champion • The future of professional hybrid fitness racing One of the biggest themes of this conversation is what it really means to be a HYBRID athlete. Not simply being great at one event, but developing the running, strength, aerobic power, muscular endurance and work capacity to perform across multiple race formats. For Jude, that means HYROX. It means DEKA. And it means Deadly Dozen. If you compete in fitness racing, are training for your first Deadly Dozen or HYROX, or simply want to become a better all-round hybrid athlete, this episode is packed with insights into training, racing and the future of the sport. Subscribe to the Deadly Dozen Podcast for conversations with elite athletes, coaches and some of the biggest names across hybrid fitness racing. #DeadlyDozen #HYROX #JudeReynolds #HybridFitness #HybridAthlete #FitnessRacing #DEKA #HYROXTraining #DeadlyDozenTraining #HybridTraining

Jay Stapley isn't a professional athlete. He's a full-time worker, a dad of two, and someone who only recently decided to take ultra running seriously. Yet he just won the Read On Backyard Ultra after running an incredible 61 hours and 254 miles, becoming the last person standing. In this episode, Jay shares: • How he went from hiking in Wales to competing at the highest level of backyard ultras
• Why mental resilience matters more than physical fitness in extreme endurance events
• The reality of running for 61 straight hours
• Hallucinations, sleep deprivation, fuelling strategies, and race tactics
• The psychology behind becoming "last man standing"
• His qualification for Team GB and the Backyard Ultra World Championships
• What it's really like to push beyond the limits of human endurance If you're interested in endurance sports, ultra running, mental toughness, performance psychology, or simply hearing an incredible story of resilience, this episode is for you.

In Episode 31 of the Deadly Dozen Podcast we sit down with Lorraine Fitzpatrick, Sales Director and founder of the Power Circle Club, to discuss why traditional networking is broken—and how fitness is changing the way professionals build relationships.   From selling a successful mortgage business in her 20s to creating one of the UK's most unique networking concepts, Lorraine shares lessons on entrepreneurship, sales, LinkedIn, community building, and taking calculated risks.   We cover: • Why traditional networking events fail • The rise of fitness-based business networking • How LinkedIn can generate real business opportunities • Building a powerful professional network • Community, retention, and business growth • Lessons from selling a business • Entrepreneurship, confidence, and taking risks • Why high performers are drawn to fitness challenges   Whether you're a business owner, gym owner, entrepreneur, salesperson, or fitness enthusiast, this episode is packed with practical insights and inspiration.   🎧 Listen now and discover why your next business opportunity might start with a workout.   #BusinessNetworking #Entrepreneurship #LinkedIn #BusinessGrowth #FitnessBusiness #Sales #Networking #HighPerformance #DeadlyDozenPodcast #PowerCircleClub

In Episode 30, we sit down with Luke Greer — the UK HYROX Men's Pro Solo record holder and one of the fastest fitness racers in the world right now. Coming from a background in football and elite distance running in the US collegiate system, Luke has rapidly become one of the most exciting athletes in hybrid racing — with a running engine capable of challenging anyone in the sport. From NCAA track and cross-country to chasing Elite 15 qualification, Luke breaks down exactly how he trains, recovers, and structures his week to compete at the very highest level in HYROX. This is a fascinating conversation around performance, hybrid training, and what it really takes to become world-class in fitness racing. We cover: Becoming the UK HYROX Men's Pro Solo record holder Luke's journey from football goalkeeper to elite endurance athlete Training and racing in the US collegiate system Why running is still the biggest separator in HYROX Building strength without sacrificing endurance Threshold training, intervals, and race-specific conditioning The biggest weaknesses holding him back — and how he's fixing them The future of HYROX and how fast the sport is evolving His mindset around training, competition, and becoming the best in the world Luke also shares why he believes he has the potential to become the top athlete in the sport — and how improving the stations could unlock another level of performance. His philosophy is simple: "Be serious about the work — but don't take yourself too seriously."

In Episode 29, we sit down with Bill Boylan — a 67-year-old CrossFit veteran turned fitness racer who is redefining what performance looks like later in life. From starting CrossFit in the early days in the US to now competing across HYROX and Deadly Dozen, Bill shares how a more balanced, hybrid approach to training has led to his highest fitness levels yet — in his late 60s. This is a powerful conversation around longevity, consistency, and what it really takes to keep improving as you age. We cover: Why hybrid fitness is ideal for long-term health and performance The challenge of transitioning from strength to running Competing — and winning — in fitness racing at 67 Training structure: strength work, running, and weekly racing Nutrition, recovery, and supplements for health span The role of community and competition in staying motivated Bill also shares his mindset going into the UK and World Championships — and why his goal is simple: be better than yesterday. His philosophy is clear: "You don't stop moving when you get old — you get old when you stop moving."  If you're interested in longevity, fitness racing, or pushing your limits at any age — this episode is essential listening.

In this episode, we sit down with Lucy Hodgkinson — a dedicated fitness racer whose life changed in an instant following a catastrophic race injury. After years immersed in the sport, Lucy suffered a severe ankle injury that nearly resulted in the loss of her foot. What followed was a long and complex recovery, multiple surgeries, and a complete shift in how she viewed herself, her identity, and her relationship with fitness. We explore the moment everything changed, the reality of rebuilding after trauma, and the mental challenge of losing something that once defined you. This conversation covers: The race-day incident and immediate aftermath The physical and emotional reality of recovery Navigating identity loss and rebuilding purpose The balance between performance and wellbeing How adversity can reshape perspective Lucy also shares how this experience led her to launch her own podcast, Becoming Lucy, and how she is moving forward with a new mindset. If you've ever faced a setback, questioned your identity, or had to rebuild after a major life change, this episode offers an honest and powerful perspective. Content note: This episode includes discussion of a serious injury. Follow Lucy's journey: @miss.lucyhodgkinson

In this episode, world-record holder Dave Parkin breaks down how he's built elite performance through one key strategy: racing every weekend. With no UK track races in the early season, Dave turned to the gym race calendar — competing week after week across Air Bike, Row, Ski and Erg formats at the Institute. What started as a stop-gap quickly became the edge: refining execution, learning pacing, and chasing fine margins across all 12 stations. This episode dives deep into: Why gym races are the perfect build phase ahead of track season How consistent racing sharpens performance faster than training alone The mindset behind chasing — and breaking — multiple world records Using advanced leaderboard data, splits, and Performance DNA to plan races How Dave programmes his watch with exact targets to avoid blowing up mid-race We also look ahead to the upcoming track season, with top competition arriving and performance levels rising — but with Dave already race-hardened from months of real competition, not just training. This is a masterclass in execution, data-driven racing, and why the gym race ecosystem is becoming the proving ground for elite fitness racing performance.

Recorded in the brand-new studio at the Institute of Fitness Racing, this episode welcomes our first guest in the space: Danny Rae (DannyRaeHybrid) — ex-Army, HYROX pro, and all-round hybrid racer. We get into Danny's journey from military fitness to high-performance racing, including his PBs (57:16 HYROX Pro / 50:35 Pro Doubles), his first hard fitness event post-injury, and what it took to hit a sub-20 Deadly Fitness Test by learning from the best. We also unpack the real levers behind performance: strength vs endurance, why specificity matters, how the military's training culture has changed, and why Danny's now going deeper into testing, biomechanics, and marginal gains to chase the next level. We finish with "3-2-1 Go" — Danny's ethos, habits, and advice for anyone getting pulled into comparison online.

In this episode of the Deadly Dozen Podcast, we sit down with Neil Marsh, owner of Neil Marsh Health and Fitness in Cambridge. Known for his Purple Army, Neil shares his journey from a background in sport and triathlon to becoming a prominent figure in fitness racing. From starting his gym to navigating post-pandemic recovery, Neil dives deep into how fitness racing revolutionized his gym. We talk about his early adoption of Hyrox, DEKA, and Deadly Dozen, and how they boosted his gym's community. Plus, hear about his personal transformation from weight struggles to completing marathons, ultras, and Ironman challenges. Listen as Neil discusses the power of community and fitness racing, the lessons he's learned along the way, and why he's all-in on making fitness racing accessible to everyone. This episode is packed with inspiration, practical advice, and an insider's view into the evolution of fitness racing and gym ownership. Tune in now for an insightful conversation with one of the fitness community's rising stars!

In this episode of The Deadly Dozen Podcast, Jason sits down with Dave Parkin, the current Deadly Dozen world record holder and the first athlete in history to break the 40-minute mark, stopping the clock at 37:59. Dave's story is one of the most powerful journeys in fitness racing. A decade ago, he had no fitness background, weighed over 18 stone, and joined the gym to lose weight. Fast forward to today, and he's rewritten what's possible in the Deadly Dozen — not once, but twice — lowering the world record from the low 40s to under 38 minutes. In this conversation, Dave and Jason cover: How Dave went from zero training to elite endurance performance The mindset and consistency required to break a world record Why the Deadly Dozen Track Race rewards smart pacing over raw speed Lessons learned from cycling, endurance sport, and high-volume training What's next, including targets like Deadly Gross and future championships This episode is a must-listen for anyone who thinks they "aren't an athlete", anyone chasing performance gains, or anyone inspired by what long-term consistency can really achieve. From first gym class to fitness racing history — Dave Parkin's journey proves what's possible.

In this episode of The Deadly Dozen Podcast, Jason sits down with DEKA's head honcho, Yancy Culp, to dig into the origins, philosophy and future of one of the biggest names in fitness racing. Yancy shares how DEKA was born in Joe De Sena's kitchen, how it evolved from a simple idea into a global race system, and why the brand is built around one standard for every athlete – from first-timers to world-class performers. Jason and Yancy explore the relationship between DEKA, Deadly Dozen and the wider fitness racing ecosystem, discussing why collaboration beats competition and how both formats are working together to grow the sport worldwide. They also dive into: •⁠  ⁠Why low technical barriers and simple kit unlock millions of potential racers •⁠  ⁠How fitness racing can become a lifelong sport for "professional amateurs" •⁠  ⁠The role of independent gyms, coaching and community in making the sport sustainable •⁠  ⁠Jason's upcoming book on the history and philosophy of fitness and fitness racing If you care about where fitness racing has come from, where it's going, and how DEKA and Deadly Dozen can help shape the next 10–20 years of the sport, this is a conversation you don't want to miss.

In this episode of The Deadly Dozen Podcast, Ciaran Parkinson, an Elite 15 Hyrox athlete, shares his journey from a lockdown runner to one of the top competitors in fitness racing. Alongside his success in Hyrox, Ciaran also discusses his evolution as a coach, helping others reach their fitness goals. Whether you're aiming for personal fitness growth or training to compete, Ciaran's insights are invaluable. Key Takeaways: Ciaran's Journey to Hyrox Elite 15: From discovering running in lockdown to achieving success in one of the toughest fitness races. The Power of Consistency in Training: How Ciaran's consistent approach to fitness helped him break through limits and reach top-tier results. Coaching Insights: How Ciaran's coaching methods help athletes build strength and stamina for Hyrox and other fitness challenges. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to learn about competitive fitness, coaching, and the role of consistency in training.

In this episode of The Deadly Dozen Podcast, Jason sits down with James Kelly — one of the world's elite hybrid athletes — and his sister Bernice Kelly, Director of Deadly Dozen Australia. James and Bernice share the story behind their rapid rise in the world of fitness racing, from race wins and records in Brisbane to launching and expanding Deadly Dozen events across Australia. They discuss what it takes to compete at the highest level, how training methodology differs between Hyrox and Deadly Dozen, and why hybrid racing is becoming one of the fastest-growing sports globally. Key topics covered: James Kelly's progression into elite hybrid racing The launch and growth strategy of Deadly Dozen Australia Hyrox vs. Deadly Dozen: event structure, pacing, and athlete demands Training philosophy and strength programming for peak performance Predictions for the Deadly Dozen World Championships in London Whether you're an athlete, coach, or fitness racing fan, this episode offers valuable insights into competition mindset, training structure, and the future of the sport.

In this episode, Jason sits down with Vanessa to tackle the most frequently asked questions from Deadly Dozen athletes around the world. From transfers and selling your ticket, to race-day logistics, spectator rules, photos, results, and deferrals — nothing is off the table. With Deadly Dozen now active in 22+ countries and scaling into 2026 with bigger tech, timing, and support teams, the race experience is evolving. Jason and Vanessa walk through the new streamlined systems that allow athletes to manage transfers themselves from their dashboard, the introduction of on-the-day transfers, and what to expect when racing Solo, Pairs or Relay. They also break down: How ticket transfers work (free + self-managed via your dashboard) When race-day transfers apply, and the small admin fee Why deferrals aren't permitted as the race calendar expands globally Wave times, race schedule (Solos AM / Pairs & Relay PM), and elite wave structure When results & photos are released and how facial recognition works Spectator rules and why events remain family-friendly This episode is your go-to guide for navigating the Deadly Dozen experience with confidence — whether it's your first race or your tenth.