"I got addicted to the process"
Jack Driscoll is one of the most remarkable athletes in the hybrid space. He is one of a handful of people on earth to run a sub-5 minute mile and squat 500 pounds on the same day. He has also run a 3-hour marathon and completed an Ironman. He's now turning his focus to Hyrox and hybrid racing.
The Hybrid Letter talked with Jack about life as a firefighter, overcoming mental blocks, and the importance of managing your ego.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
The Hybrid Letter: What led you to become a firefighter?
Jack Driscoll: Honestly, the flexible schedule was a huge draw. It gave me the chance to prioritize fitness on the side. Of course, it’s also a rewarding job, and I’ve come to appreciate that more and more since I started. I always tell people that if you’re trying to train like a professional athlete but aren’t quite one, this job gets you as close as you can get.
I’m on shift for 24 hours, then off for three days, and I use that time to hit my gym and train as much as possible. I can usually manage a decent amount of training while I’m on shift too—if everything goes right. Yesterday, for example, I was working a 48-hour shift, and I tried to do the same workout four times. That’s the reality of it. It’s why I structure my workouts the way I do. I’ll schedule easier days during shifts and try to get in heavier training before I start a shift.
I call myself a “fitness enjoyer.” I just love doing everything and trying to make progress in different areas. Two years ago, I didn’t run at all.
THL: Have you always been active?
JD: I’d say I’ve had a decent athletic background—not exceptional in any one area, but I could pick things up quickly and make it look like I belonged. That’s how I’ve approached fitness too. I like being able to tackle anything—a hard swim or run with a triathlete, a brutal CrossFit workout, heavy squats with a powerlifter, or laps around the track with a marathoner.
THL: What drew you to hybrid-style training?
JD: I’ve been working out for over ten years, and the first seven were all bodybuilding and powerlifting—a lot of classic “bro lifting.” I built a solid strength base during that time. But when I got hired at the firehouse, a senior guy really emphasized that we needed to be “occupational athletes,” people who can use their strength and fitness on the fireground, not just look good or lift heavy weights. That really resonated with me.
I started adding in more cross-training and functional workouts. Growing up, I hated running. I played football and basketball, but running? No thanks. Before two years ago, I’d run exactly one 5K, and that was when I was 12. But I’ve realized how important it is to push yourself to do things you don’t like. There’s so much value in that—you can’t put a price tag on what you get from doing things you’d rather avoid.
Then, as often happens, I got addicted to the process. I ran my first marathon seven months later, finishing in 3:00:34—just missed sub-3 by 30 seconds. That lit a fire in me. From there, I dove in. I did an Ironman not long after and kept checking off challenges.
THL: How has training this way influenced other areas of your life?
JD: It’s all about believing you can do anything and applying that mindset across your life. Before I started running, I had this mental block of things I thought I couldn’t do. I’ll never run a marathon, I’ll never break three hours, I’ll never bike 112 miles for an Ironman. But the more challenges you tackle, the more you realize there’s nothing you can’t do.
I’m excited now to finally focus on one discipline for the first time in my life. I’ve never done a specific Hyrox prep. Even when I was training for a marathon or ultra, I was still lifting and doing CrossFit every day. I’ve always been “all-in” on the lifestyle, but not on a single discipline. I’ve made great progress that way, but now I want to see what happens if I really narrow my focus.
THL: Endurance events can be grueling. What keeps you going during tough races?
JD: I think it comes down to keeping your word. If I say I’m going to do something, I’m going to see it through. For example, during the Hyrox Anaheim last-chance qualifier, I was in so much pain, but I told myself I was finishing that race. Your word is golden—you’re only as good as your word.
That mindset applies to fitness and life. You’ll get so much more out of both if you fully commit. If you don’t follow through with the promises you make to yourself, why should anyone else believe you?
THL: What lessons have you learned since starting to train and compete this way?
JD: If you’re not learning, you’re not progressing. I’ve made more mistakes and failed more times than most people, but that’s because I’m always trying. The more you try, the more you fail.
I’ve always been great at the big-picture stuff—training, nutrition—but I ignored the little things, like recovery and sleep, for too long. Those things catch up to you. Sleep is tough to manage with shift work, but I’ve learned to listen to my body more.
Hybrid training is tricky because you’re doing so many modalities, and it feels like you can handle more volume. But if you’re not smart about recovery and programming, things will start to break down. You can’t just push all the time.
THL: How do you handle a bad race?
JD: It’s tough—it always feels worse before it gets better. I’ve got a decent following, so I know people expect me to perform, and when I don’t, it’s humbling. But I try to remind myself that sometimes it’s just the way it goes.
I also love the process of training so much that, win or lose, I’d still train the same way. I genuinely enjoy the day-to-day grind. Falling in love with that process is what makes it sustainable. Bad race? I reassess, learn from it, and sign up for the next one.
THL: Do you have a mantra for tough moments?
JD: “All fitness is good fitness.” Whether it’s someone walking for 30 minutes to get healthy or an elite athlete chasing PRs, it’s all valuable.
For myself, it’s also about owning my choices. If I sign up for a race or push myself to train before a 6 a.m. shift, that’s on me. Complaining doesn’t help—it’s a privilege to train this way, and I never take it for granted.
THL: What motivates you on a daily basis?
JD: I’m a huge fan of fitness, almost as much as I love doing it myself. Watching how others train inspires me. Everyone approaches it differently, and I love picking up ideas to improve my own routines.
Ego is the enemy of growth. Staying open to learning from others is crucial. I try to be a sponge when it comes to fitness.
THL: How was Dallas this year?
JD: It was incredible. The crowd energy was unreal—hearing people cheer as I ran was so motivating. The race itself was a mix of highs and lows. I probably pushed too hard on the rower, but that’s been a focus in training lately—doing a ton of erg work to build volume without overtaxing my body.
THL: What’s at the top of your fitness goals for 2025?
JD: My main goal is a sub-60 men’s pro Hyrox. I think I have the fitness, but I need more specific training. I didn’t touch a sled or do burpees leading up to my last race—I just relied on general fitness. That’s good, but it’s not enough at this level.
I also want to improve my marathon time. I’ve had terrible luck with weather—my Disney marathon was a downpour, and my 100-miler turned into a muddy mess. But those experiences just fuel my determination to get better.
For more, follow Jack on Instagram or check his website.
Video of the Week: How to weaponize the Sled Push
In this video, Rich Ryan, who recently ran a 54:28 pro Hyrox in Chicago, details how he transformed the sled push from a significant weakness into a weapon. Rich recommends emphasizing intensity over frequency in training, a specific variation of the hook grip, and controlling your runs before hitting the sled. For more, check out the whole video:
Hybrid Athlete of the Week: Matt Moosavian
Name: Matt Moosavian
Age: 30
Hometown: Westerville, Ohio
When did you start hybrid training? It started in 2016 when I first stepped into a CrossFit gym. It happened to be owned by Kristi Eramo, one of the top female CrossFit athletes in the world. I loved the intensity of the workouts, and honestly, I loved how bad I was at the sport in the beginning. That challenge made me hungry to learn and grow as an athlete. Watching Kristi train also inspired me—I wanted to train as hard as she did. Over time, I got pretty good at CrossFit and qualified for a few professional competitions around the world, including in Australia, Argentina, Seattle, Miami, China, and Norway. But when in-person competitions were canceled between 2020 and 2022, I pivoted. I focused on endurance sports—marathons, ultra-marathons, and an Ironman—while still maintaining the rigorous strength training CrossFit demands.
My introduction to Hyrox came through a LinkedIn message from Doug Gremman. He reached out about expanding their affiliate reach in the U.S. I own a few gyms that already follow a hybrid training model, so he thought we’d be a good fit. We affiliated, and my first race was a mixed doubles event with my wife, Caity, in New York City in 2023. After NYC, I shifted to a marathon and Ironman build, then focused on preparing for the Boston Marathon. My only solo Hyrox race so far was a men’s pro race in Chicago, where I finished in 1:04.
What has been your favorite race so far? Competing in the Australian CrossFit Championship in 2020 was an unreal experience. I traveled with my dad, and the three-day competition included an open-water ocean swim event—probably the most intimidating event I’ve ever done. The swells were up to 8 feet high.
Do you have a race goal? Sub-1:00 at Hyrox Houston in 2025.
What is your least favorite station? I love the wall balls. I enjoy pushing myself to very dark places in training—seeing how long I can endure—and that comes out in the wall ball station. It’s all about gritting it out and staying comfortable in that discomfort for a few minutes.
What is your least favorite station? I’d say it’s the sled pull. There’s a lot of technique involved—more than I expected. I initially thought it was just about brute strength, but it’s so much more than that. The length and flexibility of the rope, the weight distribution as the sled moves closer or further, and how to approach each pull—all of that makes it highly technical and sport-specific.
What’s something you wish you’d known when you started training for Hyrox? I’m still early in my development as an athlete in this sport, so there’s a lot to learn. For Hyrox Houston, I’ll be in nearly peak marathon shape, three months into my Boston Marathon build. I’ll also be 15–20 pounds lighter than I was in Chicago and aiming to run a sub-2:40 marathon. It’ll be interesting to see how the race feels with this level of running conditioning. After Houston, I’ll take what I learn back into my training to better prepare for Hyrox later in 2025. The runs are clearly critical, but the challenge will be holding onto enough strength for the sleds, lunges, and wall balls while maintaining marathon-level conditioning.