The Shirtless Truth of Hybrid Racing

There is a specific satire to the modern fitness racing scene that is hard to ignore and that is the "mandatory removal of the T-shirt." We see men and women in prime physical condition who look like they were "sculpted from granite" and they are ready to tackle a lung-bursting workout. Personally I have always felt that sponsors would pay me good money just to put mine back on.

It is important to reference the "intimidation factor" here. Seeing these athletes in peak condition often triggers my own insecurities and the "green eyed monster." I have never stood on an Olympic gymnastics floor or beside a line of 100m sprinters but I imagine the feeling of inadequacy would be the same. At first glance it often feels more like an "influencer event" than an athletic one.

But as our recent guest Ray Shah proves there is a lot more to this sport than just the "Baywatch feel."

From the Chipper to the World Championships

Ray Shah is a DJ and the founder of Body First Nutrition as well as a "world class hybrid athlete" but he did not start as a "sculpted poster boy." During lockdown Ray reached 100kg and found himself "out of breath simply trying to put on his socks."

The wake up call did not come from a glossy Instagram ad. It came from the owner of his local chipper in Artane who told him "Jesus Ray, you’ve really let go of yourself." Ray set a "realistic 18 month goal" and lost 25kg before eventually finding himself competing at the "Hyrox World Championships." His journey is a reminder that while the "shirtless aesthetic" might be the first thing we see the engine underneath is built through grit rather than filters.

The "Poetry" of Fitness

Once you break through that initial barrier and actually give it a go the perspective shifts. It becomes "very much like a marathon." I do not stand shoulder to shoulder with the Kenyans and the Ethiopians and feel physically scared because they have light frames and stature. Yet when they move it becomes "poetry and a cinematic masterpiece" like a "David Attenborough documentary." In the same way "hybrid racing" forces you to look past the physique and admire the efficiency of the effort.

For the everyday runner these events are the "missing piece of the puzzle." We have long accepted that cycling benefits running but this "cardio based strength work" involving lunges and carries and sleds is the "perfect complement to a runner's health." It is "everything we are usually missing from our training schedules."

Local Community vs Global Machines

While global brands like Hyrox are becoming massive machines the "Irish fitness scene" is keeping it grounded. Ray notes that events like "TRYKA" or the "hybrid series in Athlone" are fostering a more inclusive and "community based vibe."

In these races the vision blurs from "maximum effort" so quickly that you do not even notice who has their shirt off. You are not worried about pace or heart rate because you are just "trying to find your next breath." The only people who care about what you are doing are the ones who came out to support you.

Ray’s "Top Tips" for the Hybrid Curious

• "Pace your ego." Do not go out "hell for leather" because you will catch the "shirtless wonders" at the sleds or the burpees when they have "blown their engine" in the first kilometre.

• "Less is more." As a DJ getting three hours of sleep Ray learned the hard way that you cannot "kill yourself in every session." Be smart with your training and focus on "rest and recovery" to avoid those nagging "calf injuries."

• "The lifestyle shift." Like any sport in Ireland you will find fantastic training partners and "genuine people" who are stepping away from alcohol and taking care of themselves.

The Final Word

A run without a watch is an "act of rebellion" but stepping into a "hybrid arena" is a different kind of challenge. It is a test of the "strength and conditioning" that makes us better and "more resilient runners."

So keep the shirt on if you prefer and ignore the "influencer vibes" to enjoy the "beautiful and crazy journey" of bettering yourself. Just be careful because this lifestyle is "as addictive as any marathon."