Happy Saturday, Vitalizers!

We’ve got a lot to catch up on: Wellness on Tap recaps, our upcoming NYC Marathon Shakeout Run, and planning for Retreat #4.

Plus, HYROX Boston and the Chicago Marathon are coming up next week. Good luck to everyone competing!

Let’s dive in 👇

Here’s what to expect this week:

🧠 Mindset
🍻 Wellness on Tap recap
📅 NYC Marathon Shakeout
🔥 Training + recovery
📰 The industry
⚡ VTLZR+

🧠 Quote of the Week

Community does not remove the work.
It gives you more reasons to keep returning to it.

Every one of you brings something to VTLZR. Some come to work out. Some come to run. Some just want to get better. Others come because they want to meet more people who care about training, wellness, and doing hard things.

That mix is the point.

This week’s takeaway: Your effort makes the community stronger, and the community makes it easier to keep showing up.

🍻 Wellness on Tap was a vibe

The first Wellness on Tap brought 36 athletes to 902 Brewing for a group run followed by cold plunges, fitness competitions, wellness experiences, samples, giveaways, music, and a social afterward.

Huge thanks to 902 Brewing, adidas, MyProtein, Alpha Fit Club Jersey City, Spear PT Hoboken, Realign Spine and Wellness, Smearcase, Slate Milk, The Plunge Room, David Protein, and SunLyte for helping us bring the night to life.

​CHECK THE INSTAGRAM RECAP →​

And thank you to everyone who joined us on your Friday night.
The first edition proved the concept. Now we build the next one bigger.

📅 Upcoming Events

NYC Marathon Shakeout Run

Saturday, October 31 · 8:30–11 AM​
​Baker Health · 1450 Garden Street, Hoboken

We’re teaming up with Run Club USA and Baker Health for a community shakeout the morning before the NYC Marathon.

We’ll start with an easy shakeout run, then move into race-day visualization, mobility, and stretching. Afterward, stick around for bagels, hydration, giveaways, and a live DJ.

Whether you’re racing, supporting someone who is, or simply want to be part of marathon weekend, come start it with us.

​RSVP FOR THE NYC MARATHON SHAKEOUT →​

Before then, a big race weekend is coming up.

HWPO HYROX Boston runs October 8–11, with the Chicago Marathon on Sunday, October 11.

Good luck to every Vitalizer competing. Trust the work, race smart, and enjoy the moment.

If you’re racing either event, reply and let us know so the community can follow along and cheer you on.

Help us build our 4th Annual VTLZR Hybrid Athlete Retreat

We’re officially planning our fourth VTLZR Retreat for 2027.

Before we choose the weekend, location, pricing, or programming, we want input from the people who may actually come.

The survey takes about two minutes and covers potential dates, destinations, pricing, and what would make the next retreat a genuine “hell yes.”

​TAKE THE RETREAT #4 SURVEY →​

​WATCH THE RECAPS + GET RETREAT ALERTS →​

🔥 Training hard? Check your recovery

A hard training week is not automatically a bad training week.

The problem is a hard training week paired with a body that is no longer absorbing it.

A recent study analyzed 15,420 training sessions from 156 competitive athletes. Higher training loads were associated with more injuries, but the relationship strengthened when recovery was poor. Sleep, fatigue, stress, and perceived recovery all mattered. PubMed​

Here’s a practical coaching check you can use each morning. Rate each from 1–5, 5 being best, 1 being worst. Less fatigue, soreness, and stress = a higher score.

• Sleep quality
• General fatigue
• Muscle soreness
• Life stress

If two or more are trending in the wrong direction for consecutive days, adjust before your body forces the decision.

That might mean:

• Reducing the day’s volume by 20–30%
• Keeping the movement but lowering the load
• Swapping intervals for easy aerobic work
• Practicing station technique without chasing fatigue
• Taking the full recovery day you keep trying to negotiate away

One bad score doesn't mean you should cancel the workout. A pattern means pay attention.

Coaching takeaway: Follow the plan, but coach the athlete standing in front of you today.

📰 In Other News

🏋️ HYROX is moving into your gym’s app

HYROX Training+ brings official workouts, structured training plans, and follow-along classes directly into participating gyms’ existing member apps. An October 1 partnership with ABC Fitness will expand access through a phased rollout. The bigger shift: HYROX is becoming a year-round training offering, not just a race.

​Read about HYROX Training+ →​

👟 Mizuno unveiled a 96-gram racing shoe

The Hyperwarp 96 has a full-length carbon plate, new Enerzy XP+ foam, and a spray-on upper with no laces. Mizuno lists its weight at just 96 grams. Mizuno is making only 696 pairs, on sale December 4. The race-shoe arms race keeps getting lighter.

​Read Mizuno’s announcement →​

🇩🇪 Berlin delivered another historic marathon

Tigst Assefa won the September 27 Berlin Marathon in 2:11:04, setting a course record and recording the third-fastest women’s marathon ever. Guye Adola won the men’s race in a personal-best 2:02:50.

​Read the official Berlin Recap →​

🌆 Chicago expects its largest field yet

More than 200,000 people applied for the October 11 Chicago Marathon, with over 55,000 runners expected to finish. Defending champions Jacob Kiplimo and Hawi Feysa return to lead the professional field.

​See the Chicago Marathon Preview →​

⚡ What’s Happening in VTLZR+

Race week does not need more noise. It needs better decisions.

The VTLZR+ library includes our full Jon Mott marathon masterclass, HYROX race-execution sessions, recovery conversations, mindset work, and practical race-preparation resources.

If you’re racing Boston, Chicago, or another fall event, use the library to sharpen the final details without trying to build new fitness at the last minute.

All Access members also receive monthly expert calls, community check-ins, Q&A access, the private community, and VTLZR+ partner perks.

​JOIN VTLZR+ →​

Wellness on Tap reminded me that VTLZR is bigger than a workout or an event.

It is the people who decide to show up.

Thank you for being one of them.

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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