Jun 13, 2026
What does it actually take to build a thriving HYROX program inside your gym — and turn it into a serious revenue engine? In this episode of Future of Fitness, host Eric Malzone sits down with David Magida, Global Head of Training at HYROX, to unpack everything gym owners and operators need to know about getting into the fastest-growing fitness sport in the world. David shares how he went from running a boutique gym in DC — nearly losing it all during COVID — to overseeing a global affiliate network of nearly 16,000 gyms. From the electric energy of a 40,000-athlete HYROX event in London, to the step-by-step framework for launching a HYROX program (whether you're crawling, walking, or sprinting), David breaks down the real business case: premium add-on memberships, ads that outperform at 3-to-1, 50% of gym revenue tied to HYROX, and a community so tight your members become your best salespeople. If you're a gym owner sitting on the fence about HYROX, this is the episode that will get you off it.
- 🏟️ HYROX events are exploding — from 40,000 athletes at the London EMEA Championships to 50,000 participants at the NYC event, the sport's growth shows zero signs of slowing
- 🏋️ Crawl, walk, run your way in — you don't need to drop $150K on equipment on day one; start with one class per week and build from there
- 🔥 Authenticity is everything — your coaches and head trainers need to actually race and train in HYROX; members will see right through a program with no real passion behind it
- 📐 Four class types to know — Foundational, Engine, Power, and Complete make up the full HYROX training methodology, each targeting a different fitness pillar
- 💰 The money is very real — David's HYROX program now accounts for ~50% of his gym's total revenue, and coaches he's mentored have hit $100K in six months
- 📣 HYROX ads convert at 3x — paid ads for HYROX programming dramatically outperform other gym program ads because people are actively searching for race training
- 🤝 Community = retention — HYROX athletes form tight-knit cohorts, plan group runs, share race results, and become your most powerful referral source
- 🛠️ Equipment investment pays off — Center's free gym layout and floor plan design service (developed in partnership with HYROX) removes a major barrier and replaces what used to cost $40K in architect fees
- 📈 Nearly 16,000 global affiliates and climbing — the affiliate program has scaled from basic PDF workouts to a full tech-enabled training ecosystem since David joined in late 2023
- 🎯 Every race keeps members locked in — once an athlete signs up for another race, you've secured them for another 6 months of consistent training and membership revenue
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