How to work two jobs and become a Hyrox champion

At just 31, Italian athlete Gloria Corbetta has already built an impressive résumé—first conquering Spartan races, where she claimed the 25–29 world championship in 2023, and more recently making her mark in Hyrox, winning the World Championship age group 30–34 in 2024–25. Splitting her time between coaching in the gym and working part-time, she still managed to train twice a day, waking before dawn to run before heading off to work. That discipline carried her all the way to the World Championship stage, where she discovered the sled push—her strongest station—felt light in her hands, a moment that changed the race.

The Hybrid Letter spoke with Gloria about how she found her footing in Hyrox, what it meant to represent Italy on the relay stage, and the mindset that keeps her locked in from the first lap to the final wall ball.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity

The Hybrid Letter: What kinds of sports did you do before Hyrox?

Gloria Corbetta: I’ve done sports my whole life. My mom was a runner, so I started running in elementary school—it was our bond. Later I moved to volleyball and played until I finished my degree. After school, I joined a gym and met people who were into Spartan races. I ended up winning the Spartan World Championship in 2023 in the 25–29 age group.

THL: How did Hyrox get on your radar?

GC: While I was at university, I started working at the gym as a trainer. I got into CrossFit and have been doing it for about ten years. Two years ago, I joined a new gym near my house. The coaches there had already done several Hyrox races and thought I’d be a good fit with my running background. I tried my first Hyrox in June 2024, won the open category, and from that point I put all my effort in that direction.

THL: What did you like about Hyrox when you first tried it?

GC: With CrossFit, every workout was different and every competition felt unpredictable. You could win one event, then finish last in the next. What I love about Hyrox is the standardization. You can track your progress over time and really focus on weak points.

The atmosphere is incredible. You’re running alongside so many strong women, everyone cheering. I’ve made great connections, and every race feels bigger than the last.

I also love the mix. It’s not just running, and it’s not just CrossFit. I’ve seen great runners struggle when they hit the sled, and strong CrossFit athletes get caught out by the running. You have to train for both.

THL: What do you think is your strongest part of the race?

GC: It changes from race to race, but the sled push is usually my strongest. At the World Championship, which was only my second pro race, I came into the zone and thought, This feels light. I did the first three lengths unbroken. I looked around and so many others were struggling. I thought, Okay, this is my moment. I finished the push, started running, and realized no one was leaving with me. That’s when I knew I had to hold the advantage and run hard.

I also love the lunges. I throw the sandbag on my shoulders and just hammer them.

THL: What does a typical week of training look like?

GC: I train twice a day, five or six days a week depending on the season.

Mornings are for running—sometimes a long easy run, sometimes threshold or hill intervals, which I hate but they’re necessary. That’s my endurance session.

In the afternoons I do Hyrox-specific training. I start with strength—deadlifts, back squats, bench press—then move to a short, intense workout and finish with core or accessory work. Some days I’ll do a full Hyrox-style session, 45 to 60 minutes with wall balls, sleds, burpees, everything.

Until recently I was doing all this while working two jobs—part-time trainer and part-time in a supermarket. I had to wake up early, get the first run in before one job, then squeeze another session in before the other. It was exhausting, but I made it work.

THL: What was it like participating in the World Championship invitational relay on Team Italy?

GC: I met [captain] Camilla Massa at the World Championship. Of course I already knew who she was—everyone does. When she invited me to join the Italian relay team, I was so proud. I thought, Oh my God, Camilla is asking me!

But it also came with pressure. We had about 60 Italians in the crowd, and I was one of the few chosen to represent. I did the sled push and the farmer’s carry.

It was my first relay ever, and way harder than I expected. You run 1K, do an exercise, rest a bit, then repeat. Everyone was sprinting. That sled push had to be unbroken. By the last lap my legs were finished. I tried to run but they wouldn’t move the way I wanted. Still, it was incredible to compete among the best in the world.

THL: Where does your mind go during a race?

GC: I try to stay completely focused. One lap at a time. I tell myself: breathe, relax, run your own race.

I never think about the whole event or what’s still to come. I break it down. During wall balls, I count in chunks: 10, 15, 20… At 60, then 70, I tell myself: only 10 more, push now. One rep at a time—that’s how I get through it.

THL: What are your plans for the next Hyrox season?

GC: The season in Italy starts in September in Rome. My main goal is to improve my performance, but I also want to try a new category.

I’ve teamed up with a girl to do Pro Doubles. We can’t in Rome because it’s the same day as the Pro Solo, but we’ll race doubles the following month.

I also really love Mixed Doubles. With a male partner, he usually pushes the pace on the runs and I stick close behind. I always perform better in that format. At Worlds, I did Mixed Doubles, but my teammate wasn’t feeling well. We struggled, but still finished seventh—a good result, though not what we hoped. Maybe next time.

You can follow Gloria on Instagram.

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Shoe corner: A new contender for Hyrox racing

The most common shoes at Hyrox races are Puma (Deviate Nitro and Deviate Nitro Elite) and Saucony (Endorphin Pro and Endorphin Speed). A substantial number of runners also chose Adidas (Adios Pro) and Nike (AlphaFly, VaporFly, and Zoom Fly).

But a handful of the very top competitors opt for the Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro. Three-time world champion Lauren Weeks and pro doubles world record holder Rich Ryan have both raced in the Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 2. Dylan Scott won a major and finished third at the 2025 World Championships in the older version of the shoe.

The Wave Rebellion Pro offers excellent grip for sleds and a carbon plate that delivers powerful energy return for runs. For most Hyrox racers, however, the Wave Rebellion Pro 2 is unusable. Mizuno has gone to extreme measures to provide a massive stack height — 61mm at the midfoot — while still conforming to World Athletics standards.

World Athletics limits the stack height to 40mm for road racing, measured at the center of the heel and the forefoot. So Mizuno just took a giant slice out of the heel and tapers the stack at the forefoot. This creates a massive bulge in the middle of the shoe. The newer Wave Rebellion Pro 3 has a similar geometry.

This can still work for Hyrox if you are a forefoot striker (which allows you to use the bulge like a trampoline) and can manage the balance issues on lunges and wall balls. But many Hyrox racers are midfoot or heel strikers, especially when fatigued, and already struggle to maintain their balance during lunges and wall balls.

Mizuno, however, has recently released a new version of the shoe called the Wave Rebellion Pro Low. It keeps the components of the shoe that work really well for Hyrox — great grip and a snappy carbon plate — without the funky geometry. The stack is still just about at the World Athletics limit of 40mm, but it’s distributed normally, creating a more stable platform.

It’s a strong option to consider if you’re looking for new Hyrox race shoes this season.

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Athlete of the Week: Cliona McKinney

Name: Cliona McKinney
Age: 32
Hometown: Buncrana, Ireland

When did you start hybrid racing? My first race was a year ago in Singapore. I had only started training two months earlier, in July 2024. I was disappointed with my time, but it was my first race and I knew I had a lot to learn.

Favorite race to date? Perth Pro Women’s Doubles 2025. I had put in months of training for it, and the goal was to qualify in our age group—that’s exactly what we achieved. Our goal time was a little off, so there are still things to work on going into the next race.

Do you have a race goal? I’d love to try another solo race to compare with my first. Possibly Melbourne 2025.

Favorite station? In a solo race, definitely rowing—I’ve always loved it. In doubles, I like the wall balls because we work so well as a team. It feels great knowing that once you’re through them, just a few minute,s and the race is done.

Least favorite station? Burpees in a solo—they’re my worst enemy and take so much out of you. In doubles, it has to be the sled pull at pro weight. That’s the station I need to put more work into.

Things you wish you knew before you started?I wish I had realized from the beginning that it’s really a runner’s race. When you look at the top athletes, that’s where they shine. Running is the main area I can improve and make up time.