The Filter is Off Podcast

The boys are back with a bang.. and Michael is on fire. We look At Deadly Dozen's inaugural Sprint event in Sheffield, we go all zen over the Hyrox Cruise & discuss what might happen for age group athletes with Hyrox and World Triathlon joining forces and the excitement around the new fast and ultra race formats. Add to this an exceptional pb for one of Michael's clients, practical coaching advice on pacing, specificity and building mental resilience. (spoiler alert Michael & Mark may differ here!!). We finish with Michael's EMOM training tips for breaking the dreaded Wall Balls and previews of upcoming races in Birmingham and Poznan.

BONUS EPISODE: EXCLUSIVE interviews with @jason.curtis.official @davejparkin and the inaugural Deadly Dozen Sprint. Jason outlines the growth of the format and the whole DD brand whilst Dave recaps solo and doubles world record.

BONUS EPISODE: In exclusive interviews we grab Jason and Dave straight after the inaugural Deadly Dozen Sprints. Jason discusses the event atmosphere, high judging standards, inclusivity and scaling for adaptive athletes, and the vision to make Deadly Dozen a global, versatile fitness-racing brand. Dave tells us the new challenges of the Sprint in both solo and doubles format and how he enjoyed the rapidfire nature of the event.

The Three Musketeers cover all the latest news including the end of meals for UK hyrox volunteers (* since recording Hyrox have announced that this was a communication mistake and meals have been reinstated, we are awiating parking update. We discuss Sportograph consent bands and Hyrox's cease-and-desist actions over data scraping from third‑party apps. We also consider the financial and access pressures on elite competitors, the implications of higher costs for parity in the sport and the growing reliance on sponsors. After the industry debate we revisit recent races in Budapest and Cornwall, explores marginal gains in training and performance, shares predictions for upcoming Elite series in Hamburg. Michael & Gerry reflect on race-day lessons and look forward to see how good training blocks translate into good race times.

In this conversation with Ciaran Parkinson (ciaran_fit4rox) he talks candidly about his priorities and the challenge of balancing fatherhood, coaching and elite-level Hyrox competition. We discuss a wide and varied range of topics including event travel logistics and sponsorship realities, race strategy and nutrition and supplement habits, his priority for individual client attention in his coaching business. We look at what success means for Ciaran and his goals for the coming season.

In a wide-ranging episode we cover Hyrox' "Ultimate Package" and whether VIP add-ons are worth the cost, concerns over data scraping and third-party apps being forced to remove live results, rules and control around elite athletes and videographers, and a discussion on World Championships qualification standards and should there be a minimum qualifying time. We also touch on race-day logistics, sponsorship kit rules, training mindsets, gimmicky fitness products and the revelation Gerry won't go the World's if she qualifies...perhaps.

We unpack an episode covering the various way that life's stresses can impact performance. We look at a customs perfume false alarm and the toll of family life and emotional stress on training and the non-stop nature of social media. Plus the increasing stress on Elite 15 as they have to travel the world for points. We look at the tough choice between pushing for performance or prioritizing recovery.

With Michael competing in Bordeaux we are delighted to welcome Gerry back as co-host. In a packed hour, aside from finding our shared cynicism for nose strips and crocs, we cover training routines and the need for honesty, nutrition, supplements, the effect of stress and travel on recovery, Hyrox competition culture and escaping instagram algorithms.

In a packed hour we cover all things hybrid! Gwen & Myles share their individual paths from running, rowing, bodybuilding, ultras and cross‑training into hybrid events, and how they formed a successful mixed doubles pairing breaking the age group world record in their first race together. Our conversation compares personal experiences of Deadly Dozen and Hyrox formats, race strategy, supplements and training, and highlights issues around event organisation, podium recognition and equipment inconsistencies. We look at the important role of aesthetics for the three of us and perceptions surrounding aging in sport, the need for greater age‑group recognition, and finally their plans for upcoming competitions, including another Hyrox world record attempt for Myles.

We are joined by Gerry to gain a head judge's perspective on a range of issues. We look at the fallout from Beijing and the event's response, social media fallout, judging challenges, and the wider impact on both age group and elite athletes. We also the wider effect of the constant rule changes and whether a more simple approach would benefit competitors and judges alike.

In this episode the we recap a dramatic weekend, discussing our individual races and experiences at London Tryka & Hyrox Tenerife — plus we reflect on the positive vibes coming from Deadly Dozen Worlds. We also discuss wider issues in the race scene: event organisation differences, positive update on volunteer pay and rewards, debate whether Deadly Dozen prize money could be extended for age groups, and a controversial ban on professional photography by Hyrox in North America.

We answer listeners questions and discuss training strategy, pacing and the value of recovery ahead of our first races of the season. Michael sharing practical taper tips and the need for carbonara and pizza! As the official brand supporter of the podcast we invite Jim from XEndurance to talk about the brand’s athlete community, product philosophy, and supporting age-group competitors across events like HyRox, Tryka and Deadly Dozen, in addition to triathlons and Iron Man events

We touch on the difficulties faced by adaptive athletes as Hyrox's model in this area evolves. Having set the ball rolling online we dive deeper with a full debate about Hyrox's volunteer policy, ticket pricing differences across countries, the shift to paid staffing/Office Angels, and the community reaction— We argue for better treatment and transparency from the organisers. On a lighter note we look at our upcoming events (Tenerife, Trika, Budapest) with a focus on endurance, zone 2 work, pacing, practical sessions. We both look forward to a new season of improvement.

Simon Passmore joins the podcast to discuss his successful Hyrox journey, record-setting races, and the obsessive focus that drives his training. We talk about race-day anxiety, mental health, parenting, the challenges of training while living in Costa Rica. Plus we look at the benefits of community and how that is important in training environments. We also touch on the use of supplements. Simon shares how he balances ambition with family life and why moving back to Scotland will help him regain routine and enjoyment in the sport.

In this episode we chat with Jay, founder of Deadly Dozen, about the race's origins, his military and fitness background, and how a simple, track‑based format is rapidly scaling into a global, community-driven event. We discuss the importance of judges, accessibility for athletes and the operational and financial challenges he has faced in growing an independent race brand. We discuss the importance of viewing quality customer service as a priority (free transfers and photos), the increasing use of technology in areas such as global leaderboards and in helping judging, mental resilience and stoicism, and how physical training supports mental health. Finally we look forward to the Deadly Sprint in Sheffield this October.

A week off from guests gives us the chance to discuss sharing coaching successes, training adjustments (especially Zone 2 work), and the challenges of balancing family, work and racing. Also this week is giveaway week with tickets for Tryka London Excel up for grabs and update on the group coaching programme). As the new season is gathering pace we discuss event pricing, the expense of spectating and share our thoughts on why most of the disqualification rules should be shelved. Finally details of a new, shorter midweek podcast. This will be 30-40 minutes of in-depth talks with athletes and specialists on a single chosen topic.

Aaron takes us through his Hyrox philosophy: prioritizing the process over outcomes, balancing intensity and recovery, and tailoring training for age‑group athletes. He explains why many people overdo high‑intensity work, how to use strength and strength‑endurance effectively, and why easy days should be very easy. The episode also gives practical race advice — warm‑up tips, station‑by‑station strategies, pacing guidelines, and how to practice movements and pacing in training to improve race day performance.

Brian shares his personal journey and passion and commitment to create a community focused, totally inclusive hybrid event. Much more than a race Tryka is an occasion. Come as you are, leave as more!" The episode covers rapid growth of TRYKA (most recent Dublin event exceeded 10,000 athletes & 15000 fans), the emphasis on fans and juniors, affiliate support, coaching standards, and plans for careful international expansion while protecting culture and quality.

On this episode of The Filter Is Off we discuss the practical side of coaching and training, including when and how to use AI, the value of human coaches, and real-world Hyrox experiences and training priorities. Michael covers his training structure (14-day cycles, zone 2 work, strength vs endurance), plus the use of data and recovery strategies, we touch on the increasing use of peptides and excited to announce a new totally free opportunity for an age-group athlete to win a training package through preparation to race day.

In a brief introduction we discuss the recent Dublin Tryka event including the ongoing effect of high humidity (heat, sled friction and technique). Then we welcome by popular demand Elite Hyrox Coach Chris Bayens as our first guest on the podcast. In an hour of discussion he covers a wide range of training and coaching matters specific to Hyrox athletes at all levels of ability. In a packed Q&A the episode covers practical coaching tips for age‑group athletes, mixed‑doubles strategy, how to structure easy vs. hard training, hydration and planning for people with busy lives, plus encouragement for older athletes aiming to improve. We hope you enjoy.