From an overweight smoker to one of the fastest men in Hyrox
Fabi Eisenlauer transformed himself from an overweight partier, to a pro-triathlete, to one of the fastest men in Hyrox. He only started the sport in 2024 but has already dropped some extremely impressive times, finishing an open race in Stuttgart in 52:30 and a pro race in Amsterdam in 58:40. He also partnered with Hyrox World Champion Alex Roncevic in a Pro Doubles race and finished in 50:30, just seconds off the world record.
The Hybrid Letter talked with Fabi about overcoming an eating disorder, struggling to move a sled ten centimeters, and managing injuries.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
The Hybrid Letter: How did you get started in sports?
Fabi Eisenlauer: As a kid, I wasn’t very active. I didn’t like sports at first. I tried everything: football, hockey, table tennis—all that stuff. Nothing caught my interest, so I stopped after a few sessions. Then at 20, I was a little overweight and didn’t have the healthiest lifestyle. I was always partying, drinking, and smoking cigarettes. I had to change my life.
I started running, and it was immediately fun for me. I got hooked and started doing triathlons six months later. I competed in triathlons for 11 years, including five as a professional.
Now, I work at a running store doing running analysis and helping people find the perfect shoe for every event. I’m there about 24 hours a week. The rest of the time, I’m training or coaching. My online coaching business, The Daily Athlete, focuses on building a community where people can connect, support each other, and have fun.
At the moment, I’m dealing with a femur injury, so I’ve been using crutches for six weeks. I’m trying to get back to the sport. Normally, I train about 20 hours a week. Coming from a triathlon background, that’s not the highest volume I’ve done.
THL: What kept you competing in triathlons?
FE: At first, it was about getting good results and improving. The progress was amazing. Later, it became a struggle because of my eating disorder. I felt like I had to train enough to “earn” my meals. That mindset kept me in triathlons for so long because I couldn’t stop. I didn’t know how to break the cycle.
Eventually, I started seeing a psychotherapist. It took two years, but I found a solution and was able to stop doing triathlons. I wasn’t having fun anymore. Then I discovered Hyrox, which gave me a new opportunity to enjoy sports again.
THL: What got you involved in Hyrox?
FE: I didn’t start racing Hyrox until early 2024. My first contact with the sport was through Florian Gast, an Elite 15 athlete and my doubles partner for the season. He reached out for running coaching, and during a session, he introduced me to Hyrox.
In January 2024, I met Sebastian Kienle, a retired triathlete who’s now into Hyrox. He invited me to a session. That’s when I started doing wall balls, rowing, and other Hyrox-specific movements. From the beginning, it was a lot of fun.
THL: What did you have to focus on to transition from triathlons to Hyrox?
FE: As a triathlete, I wasn’t used to spending much time in the gym. Most of my time was spent swimming, running, or cycling. I had done some strength training but had to build more general strength and learn new movements. At first, I couldn’t even push the sled more than 10 centimeters. That became my focus—adding gym work and high-intensity simulations.
I stopped swimming after triathlons and haven’t returned to the pool since. Now, I mix gym sessions with cycling, which is great for endurance without taxing the body too much. I still run as much as I did during my triathlon days.
THL: What stuck out to you about your first Hyrox race?
FE: My first race was the European Championships in Vienna, a doubles race. I had only done three Hyrox-specific sessions beforehand. I was a total beginner, but I’m a strong runner. Florian and I managed to win the title. It was a close race with a sprint to the finish line—we won by one second. So, my first race was also my first victory and European champion title.
THL: What do you like about doubles?
FE: Doubles are great because you’re working with a partner, which is motivating. I enjoy singles too, but doubles is more fun. It’s about teamwork and finding the best strategy for each partner’s strengths and weaknesses. For example, in the mixed doubles World Championships with my girlfriend, she focused on running while I took on more of the stations. It’s all about playing to each other’s strengths.
THL: What do you look for in the ideal doubles partner?
FE: Ideally, I’d partner with someone who can run as fast as I can. Running is crucial in doubles races, and you can’t make up as much time on the stations. A strong runner with high peak power and output makes a great partner.
THL: What was it like racing with Alex Roncevic?
FE: I met Alex at a party after the Nice World Championships. We hadn’t talked much, so I was nervous to race with him. He’s the best of the best, and that’s my goal—to reach his level. He’s so calm and focused during races. He’d give me instructions throughout the race, which was invaluable given his six years of experience. He’s one of the most humble and composed athletes I know.
THL: You’ve done a lot of endurance competitions. What are some mental strategies you use when competing?
FE: Enjoying what you’re doing is key. During a tough race, I tell myself to run to the next corner and that it will get better. I repeat that mantra over and over. I also try to embrace the pain and suffering—it’s a reminder of the hard work I’ve put in. It’s like withdrawing from a bank account of effort you’ve been depositing into for so long.
THL: How are you managing your injury?
FE: This is my second time with this injury—it’s on the other side of my body now. We’re trying to figure out the cause, and I’m confident it’s not due to overtraining. I think it’s more related to overall stress, like launching a new coaching business and frequent travel. I’m doing blood tests and checking my bones to rule out any underlying issues. Right now, my main focus is on rehab, not performance. I’m naturally impatient, but I’m learning to be patient because it’s essential for long-term success. Before Vienna, I think I was in shape for a 56-minute Pro singles time. Once I’m healthy, I’ll rebuild and see how far I can push myself.
THL: What got you into coaching in this sport?
FE: I coached for five years during my triathlon days. People were interested in my approach to running. There are many coaches out there, but not all of them consider the full picture. Coaching isn’t just about writing plans—it’s about managing stress and ensuring athletes can handle their load. I enjoy sharing my knowledge and helping others avoid the mistakes I’ve made.
THL: Any message you always try to share with newer athletes?
FE: Have fun with what you’re doing. Pushing yourself into something you don’t enjoy can lead to burnout or worse. I’ve been there, and it’s not worth it. Make sure you genuinely like what you’re doing.
You can follow Fabi on Instagram.
Shoe of the Week: Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro
Puma is the official shoe of Hyrox and now even offers a version of the Deviate Nitro Elite with the word "HYROX" printed on the side. Outside of Puma, the most common shoe at Hyrox races is probably Saucony, with many age groups and elite athletes lacing up the Endorphin Pro 4.
A shoe that gets less attention is the Mizuno Wave Rebellion 2. It's a funny-looking shoe but has been on the feet of some of the sport's top athletes during breakthrough performances, including Rich Ryan (First Place, Chicago), Pelayo Menendez Fernandez (Fourth Place, World Championships 2024), and Lauren Weeks (First Place, Amsterdam).
The shoe provides a massive pop on runs from the carbon plate and aggressive rocker while offering enough grip for station work. On the other hand, it has essentially no heel (a problem for some running styles) and a very high stack height (which can feel unstable).
Nevertheless, it's a shoe worth considering:
This month, Mizuno released a new version of the shoe — the Wave Rebellion Pro 3 — which seems similar but has not yet appeared in a Hyrox race.
Hybrid Athlete of the Week: Stephanie Hillman
Name: Stephanie Hillman
Age: 38
Hometown: Frederick, CO
How did you get into hybrid racing? Growing up, I did gymnastics from 5th through 10th grade, so I had an overall base of strength before I took up running in 11th grade. After running for the remainder of high school and college, I continued running as my sole activity for another decade. In 2022, I tried Spartan and explored DEKA at my local gym. I started racing Hyrox in 2023 in the open division. I worked on my strength and started running in the pro division last year, finishing in 1:10 in Anaheim in May 2024.
Favorite race to date? DEKA FIT Northeast in August 2023, when I had my big unlock. I got a huge PR and felt like I finally figured out how to translate a race goal into the right type of training to get there. I really enjoyed the level of competition in that race.
Race goal? My upcoming race goal is a PR (sub 70 minutes) in Hyrox Atlanta. I've qualified for the Hyrox World Championships in 2023 and 2024 as an individual but have yet to make the trip. With Hyrox Worlds in Chicago this year, my main goal is to grab a qualifier!
Favorite station? The sleds because they are intimidating and scare me into doing the lifting that I wouldn't have previously ever done as a runner.
Least favorite station? Easily the burpee broad jump, which I tend to avoid and need to practice more.
What do you wish you knew before you started racing? I wish I had not been so intimidated to enter the arena! I love that there are open weight and doubles divisions as great entry points for Hyrox. I always assume "I can't do that" when I first watch something, and in retrospect, I wish I'd approached racing as "just give it a try!"