Naval Ravikant once said, "The most important decision you will make is who you spend your time with."
That is why I chose to be at Network School. I wanted to surround myself with the best minds in crypto, AI, and tech. But there is a specific kind of person that appeals to me the most: the ones who are building the future but are also jacked and competitive.
I want to be in a room where the standards for intellect are high, but the standards for discipline are higher. That is where this Hyrox competition was born.
The Match Up
On one side, you had Sam and Jackson — the two beasts of NS. Two Americans. Pure strength.
On the other side, you had Colin and me. An Austrian and a Singaporean.
I am the ultimate average guy. I've never been good at sports. I've never been athletic. I'm the shortest, lightest guy in this lineup. My fitness journey didn't start in a gym; it started in 2019 running marathons because I listened to David Goggins and decided I needed to test my mind.
But Colin? Colin is a machine. We went on a 3x 2km run recently. I was running at a 4:30/km pace, hitting my threshold, heart rate nearly Zone 5. After the run, I asked Colin what his RPE was.
He said, "Four."
My dying pace is his warm-up.
The Strategy: Speed vs Strength
We knew we couldn't out-lift Sam and Jackson. The plan was simple: leverage our engines.
Go hard on the 1km runs — 4:30 pace. Colin would bang out the stations while I catch my breath, stepping in to help when necessary so I could be 60-70% recovered to push the pace on the next run.
In theory, we would build enough of a lead on the track to survive the stations.
Two Americans vs an Austrian and a Singaporean. Let's see which approach wins.
The Reality of the Race
We lost. By 86 seconds.
The data tells the story. We were significantly faster runners. We clocked a total running time of 35:18 compared to their 38:37. Over three minutes faster on the feet.
But in Men's Pro, strength is the equalizer.
Where we dominated:
- 3:19 faster in total running
- Won all 8 running segments
- Best lap: 4:06 vs their 4:23
- Biggest gap on a single lap: 46 seconds
Where we got crushed:
- Sled push: 49 seconds slower (they ranked #1 overall)
- Wall balls: 2 minutes 36 seconds slower — this killed us
- Rowing: 23 seconds slower
- Sled pull: 39 seconds slower
Their size and power saved them nearly 2:36 on wall balls alone. While we were gasping for air trying to throw the ball to the target, they moved with efficiency.
Our running advantage was erased by raw power.
Alone vs Together
For years, I have trained alone. Running marathons has always been a solitary act. It is usually me against me.
When you run a marathon solo, you eventually hit that lonely stretch after 30km. It is pain. But the goal is to transcend that pain, to come out the other side stronger and more synchronised with your own will. Ownself check ownself. It's quiet. It's personal.
Hyrox was none of that.
There was no transcendence. There was no romance. It was loud, chaotic, and fueled by adrenaline. Before the adrenaline even had a chance to wear off, the race was done.
But I unlocked something else.
During the race, my ribs felt like they were being pierced. I hit a new max heart rate — higher than I've ever reached doing 2.4km sprints for IPPT.
In a solo run, when the pain gets that bad, I can ease off. I can negotiate with myself.
But here? I couldn't let Colin down.
That is the difference.
I can push myself when I am alone, but there is a different gear you find when you are suffering alongside someone you respect. I wasn't running for me; I was running for us.
What's Next
I am never going to be the biggest or the strongest. I will always be the smaller guy compensating with discipline, consistency, and will.
Next week, seven days after this, I am running a full marathon with two other guys from this circle. We have been training together for two months — every weekend at 6am, running 21-33km.
Most runs, we don't speak for three hours. No music. No shouting. No encouragement. Just go.
Alone, yet together.
Excited to see how race day turns out.