Dr. Hyrox
Alandra Greenlee, known to many as Dr. Greenlee, is a board-certified foot and ankle surgeon and an exceptional elite athlete in the hybrid space. She has competed in the Elite 15 in Hyrox and has placed strongly in Deka events, Thieves + Beggars, and the GoRuck Games. Her unique perspective and background shape how she approaches competitive racing and her passion for helping others.
Alandra spoke with The Hybrid Letter about her path to sports medicine, how she integrates training to complement her life, and her approach to the competitive hybrid world.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
The Hybrid Letter: Can you give us a little background on your professional journey and what led you to sports medicine?
Alandra Greenlee: I’m a foot and ankle surgeon in a multi-specialty orthopedic group affiliated with a hospital. I’ve been doing this for four years. It was something I was always drawn to. In undergrad, I majored in microbiology but wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. Coming from a healthcare family—my mom is a nurse, my dad a hospital administrator—it felt like a good fit. I liked the idea of helping people and thought about nursing, but I realized I didn’t want to take orders. I wanted to be in control and be the person who helps directly.
That led me to think, “If I want to be a doctor, what kind of doctor should I be?” I really liked foot and ankle surgery because it involves both surgical and non-surgical treatments. For example, earlier today, I saw a patient with an Achilles tendon rupture, which will need surgery. I also treated patients with plantar fasciitis who can benefit from injections or exercises.
I have a lot of patients who come in from different sports. Having a background in sports is helpful because I understand where they’re coming from. One patient, for instance, is training for the New York City Marathon, something she’s been working toward for 13 years. She has terrible Achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis, so we’re figuring out how to get her in shape to race, if possible.
THL: Have you always been into competitive sports?
AG: Growing up, I swam competitively until college, and then I took up fencing. After that, I exercised just to stay in shape. I did a bit of endurance stuff, like half marathons, but I got into the hybrid space around 2022. Someone at the gym mentioned Hyrox, and I looked into it. It has various events and no Olympic lifts or heavy stuff, which I don’t particularly enjoy.
THL: What are some aspects of hybrid races that come naturally to you, and what have you had to work on?
AG: I think my strength is not quitting when things get hard. If I see others struggling, I use that to push myself harder. It’s more about the mental game—getting through it because there’s no other way to finish.
What I need to work on is running. Hyrox has evolved, and now you need to be a strong runner to do well. That’s something that’s changed over time.
THL: How do you focus your training to align with your races?
AG: Honestly, I believe fitness should be fun and contribute to your longevity and health. I don’t want it to become my whole identity because being a competitive athlete doesn’t last forever. I don’t focus much on hybrid training. Maybe a couple of weeks before a race, I’ll think about pushing sleds or running more, just to prepare. But overall, I do the programming at my CrossFit gym, which is versatile. I also do other endurance activities like biking or hiking, and I run occasionally, depending on the day.
THL: Do you have a mental approach to races?
AG: There are pros and cons to my approach. The pro is that I’m not attached to the result—whatever happens, happens. I’m here to have fun. But during the race, I sometimes question why I’m doing it. Either way, I know my life will go on regardless of the outcome.
THL: You work with a lot of athletes dealing with injuries. What’s your approach to rest, recovery, and body maintenance?
AG: I base it on how I’m feeling. For example, today I didn’t feel like doing anything too intense, so I still moved but didn’t go for a PR or heavy lifting. There’s value in continuing to move, even if it’s less intense or modified.
With patients, it depends on their condition. For acute injuries that need surgery, we fix the issue first and then focus on how long healing will take. I communicate with my patients, especially athletes, that while I’ll get them into physical therapy as soon as possible, we need to let things heal first. Some people think starting PT earlier will speed up healing, but that’s not always the case.
For chronic conditions like plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendonitis, once we confirm the diagnosis, I talk to patients about modifying their training. If they’re marathon training and can’t run, we explore alternatives like swimming, biking, or rowing to maintain cardiovascular fitness. Runners often worry that missing a week will throw them off, but I try to guide them toward what they can do.
THL: What keeps you competing in hybrid sports?
AG: I really enjoy meeting different people and the sense of community. Most people I know around here aren’t interested in Hyrox, so I’ve connected with others online. There’s a strong community, and I love the sense of accomplishment after an event.
THL: Is there a race that stands out as unforgettable?
AG: The GoRuck Games in 2023 were insane. It was multiple days in the woods, and I still have flashbacks. I’d do it again, though—I’m better prepared now. The beach ruck stands out: an unknown distance where you don’t know when you’ll stop running. It created camaraderie among everyone who participated.
THL: What advice would you give someone looking to sign up for a race or get into this kind of training?
AG: Just have the confidence to sign up. Everyone’s scared at their first race, but you’ll figure it out. I see a lot of people do open weights at Hyrox and then hesitate to move up to Pro because it’s a bit heavier. I say go for it—sign up for Pro. What’s the worst that can happen? You take longer to finish. People don’t really get hurt in these events.
You can follow Dr. Alandra Greenlee on Instagram or listen to her recent interview on The Herd Fit Podcast.
A very weird pre-race trick that might work
Colleen Quigley, a 2016 Olympian in the 3000-meter steeplechase and the 2019 US champion in the indoor mile, recently shared a very odd pre-race ritual that she claims allows her to perform her best in endurance competitions. Quigley grabs her tongue and pulls it in different directions. She claims this releases the muscles in her jaw, which also relieves tension in her pelvic area.
There is no scientific evidence that backs Quigley's theory. But the jaw is connected to the pelvis "through the body’s myofascial network of connective tissues." And Quigley learned the technique "from Dr. Noah Moos, a chiropractor based in Texas who has worked with other US Olympians."
Hybrid Athlete of the Week: Kelsey Hochleitner
Name: Kelsey Hochleitner
Age: 31
Hometown: Allentown, PA
Why did you start Hybrid training? I felt a bit stuck—in both my training and life. I wandered into Elevate Interval Fitness (in Washington, DC) on Thanksgiving Day, 2023, and my passion for fitness and racing was reignited in a new way. It felt like a pivotal moment, finding the hybrid style of training. It was exactly what I had been searching for from a fitness perspective.
Favorite race to date? NYC 2024 at Pier 76. I went into that race not feeling particularly confident—my body was tired, my stomach hurt, and I was a bit of a mess mentally and emotionally. But as soon as I stepped onto the course, all of that faded, and I was fully present in what I was doing. I felt like my most authentic self. That day, I discovered a deeper part of myself, and it felt so special. I won the race, but even if I hadn’t, it would still be my favorite for that reason. Sharing the experience with two of my oldest friends and having the Elevate community supporting me meant so much.
Do you have a race goal? I don’t have a specific race goal just yet. I’m still new to the sport and figuring out what I’m capable of. I have so much to learn. My biggest goal is to reach my fullest potential—to tie together all my training, race experience, and heart, so that one day I can have a race where I know I gave everything I had. I don’t want to leave anything on the table.
Favorite station? The rower. It’s where I get to regroup, refocus, and usually when my second wind hits. It’s also the point when I start smiling again and remember that I’m actually having fun!
Least Favorite station? Wall balls. The race should be over, but no—now you have to do 100 wall balls. I also usually end up hitting myself in the face at least once.
Things you wish you knew when you started racing? That it never gets easier—you just get tougher each time. Also, training with a community of athletes is the key. I used to train almost entirely alone, but recently that’s changed, and it’s made a huge difference. Training with people who push you, support you, believe in you, and inspire you makes you so much better. It makes training, racing, and the entire process more fulfilling.