"Doing something like this makes me think, how lucky are we to be alive?"

Danielle Gertner is known to many U.S. Hyrox athletes as the start-line MC. Her job is to set the tone for athletes during the nerve-racking moments just before the race begins. She has been in the role since 2020, seeing the sport grow and sending off thousands of Hyrox athletes. 

But who is the woman behind the mic? How does she keep her energy up over hours and hours of racing? And what keeps her coming back? The Hybrid Letter chatted with Danielle to find out. 

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

The Hybrid Letter: How did you get started with Hyrox?

Danielle Gertner: I love this story because I really had no idea what Hyrox was. My friend James Quigley was the MC for Hyrox back in the day. He’s had an incredible career, being the MC for the CrossFit Games and traveling all over the world. Hyrox was looking for a start-line MC, and even though we didn’t know each other that well, he knew I loved speaking and leading. He was just like, "You want to try this thing?" I didn’t really know how to lead a start line besides saying, "3, 2, 1, go." My first race was Austin in 2020, and now I’m in my fourth season with them.

THL: How would you describe what you do?

DG: I would say I’m the vibe curator of Hyrox because I set the tone and vibe when you’re about to start the race. I take my job very seriously. It’s my responsibility to bring you into the present moment and help you really understand what you’re about to do. So I’m your hype girl, your start-line gal, your motivator, your cheerleader—I just bring the vibes.

THL: What do you think prepared you for this role?

DG: I’ve been a cheerleader my whole life, starting when I was three years old. I used to joke that I’d be a professional cheerleader—not for a team like the Miami Dolphins, but in a way where I’d inspire people to see their potential. Hyrox has been the perfect fit for that. When I first started, I didn’t know much about the sport. Now, after four years, I’ve come to love it. I train as if I’m competing, although I’ve never actually raced. It’s just so special to see people, no matter where they come from, shock themselves and the world with what they can do.

I’m really passionate about inspiring people to see themselves the way I see them. When I’m on the mic for 15 hours, people ask how I keep my energy up. But every wave is a fresh start. The athletes don’t know I’ve been doing this all day, so I make sure to give them the same energy as I did with the first wave.

I’ve always been big on movement and positivity, partly because I’m not innately positive—I have to work hard at it. Growing up, I was more negative, so it’s been important for my mental health to cultivate a positive mindset. On the fitness side, I ran track and played a little flag football. When I got to college, I wasn’t playing sports anymore, so I went to the gym for the first time. 

THL: What were the biggest challenges for you when you started in this role?

DG: Learning Hyrox was a big part of it. Even though I wasn’t competing, I started training for the sport because I needed to know what it felt like. I’m in a Hyrox training program now, and it kicks my butt every week. I also had to learn what people want to hear when I’m on the mic and how to be a leader and storyteller. At the start line, I paint the picture for athletes of what they’re about to do. When I’m on the main mic, I try to tell the story of what it’s like to compete.

Managing my energy was another challenge. I’ve gotten better at it over time. I make sure to get good sleep before the event, go grocery shopping, and pace myself between waves so I don’t lose my voice. I’ve also got my snack game on point—I know exactly what I need to eat and when to keep my energy up all day.

THL: What have been some of the most memorable moments at the start line?

DG: There isn’t one specific moment, but I love seeing the fear set in, especially with women. You can see the moment they think, “What did I sign up for? Can I really do this?” Those beliefs really amplify at the start line because they’re about to expand their comfort zone. I love seeing that moment—not because I enjoy seeing people nervous, but because I know that once they cross the start line—and especially when they cross the finish line—they’ve leveled up. I believe how you do one thing is how you do everything. If they can do Hyrox, they’ll show up stronger somewhere else in their life.

I get especially excited for the women. I ask them, “Who do you want to become? What ceiling are you ready to shatter today?” I tell them to stay in control of the story they’re writing. Sometimes, I see tears start to fill up. People are racing for a past version of themselves or for someone who’s no longer here. For me, a big part of my “why” is my brother. Losing him and turning grief into purpose and passion is a huge part of my story. He would have loved this—well, he would’ve hated it at first, but maybe loved it by the end! Doing something like this makes me think, how lucky are we to be alive? How lucky are we to show up and push ourselves?

THL: What differences do you see between male and female start waves?

DG: The biggest difference is that men typically don’t show their emotions or vulnerability as openly. They might be nervous or excited, but they hold it in. Women tend to be more expressive—you’ll hear cheering, crying, and all kinds of emotions. I try to bring that same energy out in the men too, so they can feel that powerful moment.

THL: What keeps you coming back to Hyrox races?

DG: I think we’re just continuing to redefine what’s possible. Races are getting faster, and all different types of people are coming out to run races—people who might have looked at Hyrox before and thought, “There’s no way I can do that.” Then, there’s someone who has battled cancer and is now cancer-free, running a Hyrox. The stories of the people—I call them everyday athletes—are so powerful. I love my pros, you know, the Elite 15 athletes, but my favorite part of Hyrox is the everyday athletes. Their stories aren’t shared as much, and that’s something Hyrox America and I have worked closely on. How do we continue to tell those stories, just as much as we do for the Elite 15? They are the 99% of the Hyrox population.

It’s also the people I’ve met and been able to connect with, seeing their progress. I think it was maybe in Dallas. There was this girl, Brittany—so sweet. It took her about four hours to finish her first race, and we were there until the end. She was one of the last people to finish, if not the last person. She was hurting and wanted to quit when she got to the wall balls. We were cheering her on, and I got to drop in with her and say, “It’s not always about how you start. It’s about how you finish. How do you want to finish this?” And she just keeps coming back. She’s cut off so much time and is feeling more confident. That confidence translates into every other area of people’s lives. You train hard, so you show up hard in life. 

THL: Where do you see Hyrox in the next few years?

DG: I think we’ll see even more everyday athletes coming to races—people who wouldn’t have considered doing something like this before. The growth of the relays has also deepened the sense of community and teamwork in Hyrox. We’ll definitely keep expanding to more cities, which will be incredible. I’m also pushing for a kids’ version of the race. I think it would be really cute!

I don’t know how much longer I’ll be with Hyrox, but I hope my legacy is amplifying the voices of the everyday athlete. I want people to remember that, whether it’s your first Hyrox or your 15th, you have the opportunity to be a version of yourself you’ve never been before.

THL: Do you have a personal goal for this season?

DG: My goal this year is to take 1,000 selfies. I have stickers that say, “Own your shit,” and I want to make some that say, “Stay humble, stay hopeful, stay Hy,” because I say that all the time. So if you see me, come take a selfie and get a sticker! I love meeting new people, especially post-race. The energy is so different after the race—they’re tired but glowing. I’ve learned so much about myself in this role, so come give me a hug. I love sweaty hugs!

You can follow Danielle on Instagram @daniellegertner or check out her podcast, Own Your Shit.

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10 steps to achieving and sustaining excellence

Author and performance coach Brad Stulberg recently published a piece outlining 10 concrete steps to achieving and sustaining excellence. Here are two:

2. Adopt a process over outcomes mindset:

First, set a goal. Then, figure out the discrete steps that are required to go after your goal. Next, largely forget about the goal and focus on nailing the discrete steps instead. If you catch yourself worrying about the goal, use it as a cue to come back into the present moment. Dig where your feet are.

3. Focus on consistency over intensity:

Anyone can go out and bury themselves, crush it for a day, and post to social media. But what leads to enduring progress is the ability to ​show up day in and day out​ for long periods of time. There’s a difference between what looks badass on social media and what is actually a badass performance trajectory.

Small steps taken regularly over time compound for big gains. The goal isn’t to peak on every single day, it’s to develop a rhythm over time. This often means showing a bit of restraint now so you can get more out of yourself in the future.

Read the rest on The Growth Equation.

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Athlete of the Week: Kristin Sinclair

Name: Kristin Sinclair
Age: 43
Hometown: Washington, DC 

When did you start Hybrid racing? I've always been an athlete—played basketball in high school, and after college, I started playing ultimate frisbee. I’ve been a runner and triathlete for a while, and after my son, Charlie (8), was born, I started incorporating more strength training. Then, after I had Molly (3), I wanted to challenge myself with something new, so I started taking Hybrid classes at Elevate Interval Fitness. After about a year, I was finally convinced to sign up for my first Hyrox, and I loved it!

Favorite race to date? Probably DC 2024. It was really special to have my family and brother there to watch me race. You can even see them in the background of my race pictures. Charlie can't wait for Hyrox Youngstars to come to DC.

Do you have a race goal? I’ve only done two races so far, so I just hope to keep improving my time. Ultimately, my long-term goal is to podium in the open division—and then maybe try my hand at pro!

Favorite station? It’s a toss-up between the rower, lunges, and farmer’s carry. I’m pretty strong in all three, so they usually go smoothly and help build my confidence toward the end of the race.

Least favorite station? Burpee broad jumps, hands down (no pun intended). I mean, you get to lie down on the ground and then have to get back up again!

Things you wish you knew when you started racing? I still struggle with figuring out the right pacing for races. Generally, I start out easier and amp it up toward the end, but sometimes, I wonder if I leave too much in the tank. So, I guess I wish I knew the answer to that question!

And I wish I knew how wonderful the community and support would be at races. I’m used to running races where you don’t know anyone and see your friends or family maybe once or twice. The crowd support at Hyrox races is just electric and constant!