Happy Friday, Vitalizers ⚡
Welcome back – we have a ton to cover!
Since the last issue, we raced HYROX DC, built a new tool to help athletes identify HYROX weaknesses, sat down with one of the best marathon coaches in the game, and kept building toward one of our biggest local events yet.
So yes – there's a lot to catch up on.
Let's dive in 👇
Here's what to expect this week:
- 🧠 Mindset
- 🏆 HYROX DC
- 📅 Wellness on Tap
- 🔥 Your HYROX readiness gap
- 🎧 Jon Mott's marathon masterclass
- 📰 The industry
🧠 Quote of the Week
"It is not enough to do your best; you must know what to do, and then do your best." — W. Edwards Deming
Most athletes are willing to work hard.
The harder question is whether the work targets the right problem.
You can add another interval session, another sled workout, or another high-effort circuit. But if the real limiter is your aerobic engine, station efficiency, pacing, or ability to run after loaded work, more effort in the wrong direction is still the wrong direction.
This week's takeaway: Before you add more, identify what is actually holding you back.
🏆 HYROX DC: Congrats to everyone who lined up
Every Vitalizer who raced HYROX DC – this one's for you. Toeing the line at a competition like that is a win before the clock even starts. Proud of everyone who ran.
For me, wallballs are still a challenge. So, we're doubling down. One lesson from this race that stuck with me and is worth sharing.
Matt Zelaya shared a line from Alex Hormozi that's stuck in my head: "Volume negates luck." You can't out-strategize a lack of training volume on race day. So that's where the next block is – more reps, more consistency, less hoping the plan holds up.
Identify the weakness, then attack it with enough consistency that it stops being one.
That goes for anything.
📅 VTLZR Events
ONE WEEK AWAY
Friday, September 25 · 6–9 PM
902 Brewing · Jersey City
We're starting with an optional community run or walk, then taking over the brewery for cold plunging, fitness competitions, recovery experiences, adidas demo shoes and a giveaway, protein snacks and samples, a live DJ, and a beverage from 902.
And the lineup keeps growing: SunLyte is officially joining us with daily hydration for the crew.
Our partner lineup now includes adidas, MyProtein, Alpha Fit Club Jersey City, Spear PT Hoboken, Realign Spine and Wellness, Smearcase, Slate Milk, The Plunge Room, David Protein, and SunLyte.
One ticket. All of it.
VTLZR+ members: your event discount is waiting inside Skool.
🔥 Fitness Tip of the Week: Find your HYROX gap
HYROX rarely exposes a complete lack of fitness. It exposes the one part of your preparation that cannot keep up with everything else.
You can be a strong runner and lose time at the stations. You can be powerful in the gym and fall apart between movements. Or you can have all the necessary fitness and still lose time through pacing and inefficient execution.
That’s why we built the free VTLZR HYROX Race Readiness Scorecard.
In five to seven minutes, it evaluates six performance areas, maps your preparation across all eight stations, and gives you three priorities for your next training block.
TAKE THE FREE HYROX READINESS SCORECARD →
We also published a deeper breakdown of how to identify the limiter holding back your complete race.
READ: WHAT’S HOLDING BACK YOUR HYROX TIME? →
🎧 This Week's Must-Listen: Jon Mott's marathon training masterclass
This week inside VTLZR+, we sat down with Jon Mott, a three-time U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier with a 2:17 marathon PR, for an hour of honest, technical marathon talk.
He covered mileage, quality work, tapering, returning after injury, and why marathon fitness is often misunderstood.
3 takeaways:
- Aerobic durability is king.
- More weeks are not always better.
- Your lungs recover faster than your body does.
We also got into the "rule of thirds," marathon-specific long runs, tempo work, and why short, fast reps are often overvalued in a marathon build.
VTLZR+ All Access members can watch the full recording inside the community.
📰 In Other News
🏁 HYROX reportedly valued near €600 million in new majority investment
A consortium led by L Catterton is acquiring a controlling stake in HYROX, with reports valuing the business at roughly €600 million. HYROX recorded more than 1.4 million participants across over 100 events in the 2025–26 season. The takeaway is clear: this is no longer a niche race format.
Read the Report →
👟 Nike just unveiled the Alphafly 4
Nike says the new Alphafly delivers 10% more energy return than its predecessor, is 5% lighter in a men's size 8.5, and uses new ZoomX LT foam, updated Air Zoom units, and a refined Flyplate. A limited release began September 17, with wider availability coming October 29.
See the Alphafly 4 →
🧪 Runna is putting more sports science behind its plans
Runna announced a partnership with Loughborough University to review how its plans progress mileage and pace, distribute intensity, and account for recovery. It is another sign that running apps are moving beyond simple plan generation and toward more evidence-informed coaching logic.
Read about the partnership →
🏅 HYROX Beijing: a forfeited win, and a hard call about toughing it out
Australian athlete Joanna Wietrzyk experienced a GI emergency mid-race at HYROX Beijing but continued competing, eventually crossing the line first. The clip went viral, HYROX's co-founder apologized for letting her continue, and Wietrzyk later withdrew and forfeited every point, saying: "I regret the decision to not have stepped off the track." HYROX is now reviewing race-day medical protocol. The takeaway: gutting it out isn't always the stronger move.
READ more →
🔔 What's Happening in VTLZR+
The Jon Mott recording is now part of the VTLZR+ All Access library alongside our sessions on HYROX execution, recovery, burnout, mindset, and race preparation.
All Access members get one expert call each month, one community check-in, the full recording library, Q&A access, the private community, and all VTLZR+ partner perks.
If you want conversations and resources that don't fit into one Instagram post, this is where they live.
Already a member? The call details are in the community. See you there.
VTLZR+ members save $50–75/month on gear, food, and fuel from our brand partners. The call pays for itself.
It has been a while since the last Dispatch. Thanks for still being here, and for continuing to show up for this community.
The next few weeks are stacked. Let's make them count.
Speak soon!
Derek Morgen
Founder & Coach, VTLZR
Lift for your mind. Run for your soul.
📩 Forward this to someone who needs a little extra motivation this week.
Questions, ideas, feedback?
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