The good, the bad, and Ugly Dave
Dave Claxton, known online as "Ugly Dave," was recently named Head Official for DEKAFit. He also is an experienced obstacle course racer and media personality. Dave hosts the Obstacle Fitness X Podcast and is a panelist on Hybrid Fitness Media's Monday night live show. Dave's passion for the hybrid fitness world is unrivaled.
The Hybrid Letter chatted with Dave about the appeal of DEKA, his goals in his new role, his aspirations for the future of the sport, and why some top athletes aren't competing this year.
The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
The Hybrid Letter: Have you always been active and into sports?
Dave Claxton: I was always active when I was younger, even before grade school. I grew up on a horse farm, so I was always a physical kid. I was one of the stronger kids. I wasn’t really into sports, though. I played hockey, like everyone else up here, but I was more of a strong farm kid. I got into weightlifting in my early teens, and the most competitive thing I got into was judo. I started competing in judo when I was around 17 and taught it for a long time. But when I got married and had kids, I dropped off and, like a lot of people, got complacent and out of shape. When I was 35, I had to go to the hospital for two weeks. That was my wake-up call to get in shape. So, I started to get back into martial arts a bit. To be honest, that just ended up being hard on my spine with all the breaks and falls.
The gym I went to for martial arts also had circuit training, and that’s where I started again—basic circuit training at CircaFit in Georgetown, Ontario. I started getting in shape, but I missed competing. That’s when I found obstacle course racing (OCR).
THL: When was your first race?
DC: My first race was local. I can’t remember if I did the Tough Mudder or Spartan first, but I did both that year. I think Tough Mudder was first. One of my judo students' mother, who was a documentary director, wanted to do a documentary on Tough Mudder. She asked me and another instructor if we wanted to be on a team and go through it. We were completely unprepared, made all the typical mistakes—wore the wrong shoes, things like that. The only smart thing I did was wear a bathing suit, so I didn’t get weighed down by waterlogged shorts. Later, I did a Spartan race with some family. I decided to start taking it seriously in 2017. I found out you could compete in OCR and started training for it. The first competitive race I did was Concrete Rush in downtown Toronto, a 2k obstacle race. Through that, I qualified for the OCR World Championships, which happened to be at Blue Mountain, just 90 minutes from my house.
THL: How did you get involved in DEKA competitions?
DC: DEKA was something that a lot of people in OCR were into. I thought it would require more strength, but it turned out to involve a lot more running. Running isn't my strong point. My strength in OCR and Ninja Warrior has always been the obstacles. I didn’t run well enough to place higher, and while I could have improved, I preferred the strength and obstacle aspect.
When DEKA came out, it seemed fun. It’s what people wanted—no risk of twisting an ankle or running in extreme conditions. I was immediately drawn to it. We drove four and a half hours for our first DEKA Strong, and after that, we were hooked.
THL: What do you think DEKA offers to competitors?
DC: I used to say the same thing about martial arts. Ninety percent of the people who do martial arts don’t compete; only 10% actually do. It’s similar with fitness. Most people go to the gym and never compete, even though they train regularly. DEKA gives them that outlet—a way to test themselves.
For people just starting their fitness journey, it’s a great opportunity. I’ve seen many people at the gym win their first-ever competitive medal through DEKA, which is really cool. It’s accessible to everyone and gives people a chance to compete, even if they’ve never done it before.
THL: There are more competitive athletes getting involved in DEKA. Are you noticing a trend in the type of athletes that excel?
DC: Rugby players, surprisingly. They have power and explosive speed, which makes them excel. People with a strong "30-minute engine" — those who’ve done circuit training or CrossFit for a while — also do really well. But I’ve been blown away by how well rugby players adapt. Hockey players also do great in relays because they’re used to short bursts of intense effort followed by a quick rest.
THL: Why should a Hyrox athlete try DEKA?
DC: I think everyone should try both — they’re like siblings. Hyrox athletes who try DEKA find it fast and exciting. Similarly, DEKA athletes are stepping up to do a much longer event. I’ve always said you don’t need to be fitness monogamous—you can try everything.
THL: Earlier this month, you took the job as Head Official for DEKA Fit. What do you hope to bring to the sport?
DC: My day job involves contracts and agreements, so rulebooks and interpreting rules come naturally to me. From day one, I’ve been vocal about movement standards and rule policies. I’ve always tried to offer respectful critiques—suggesting adjustments where needed. I had my first crack at officiating in Ocala, and while it wasn’t controversy-free, I was happy with the overall feedback. You don’t always get positive reviews online, but I didn’t receive any negative messages, which is a good sign.
In DEKA, we used to see people get tons of warnings and keep going, which might work for beginners, but it’s not fair for elites competing for money and world records. They deserve consistent judging standards, and that’s what I’ve been pushing for.
THL: Some big names haven’t returned to DEKA this year. Do you have a sense of why, and what could bring them back?
DC: I’m sure Yancy would love to have people like Meg Jacoby and Ryan Kent return, but I don’t think their absence threatens DEKA’s survival. However, I believe many athletes are frustrated with Spartan's payment policies. Athletes want prize money delivered on time, and that hasn’t always happened. I don’t blame them for being frustrated. To bring them back, the solution is simple: pay them on time.
THL: Where can DEKA improve in the future?
DC: I’d like to see more consistent officiating and course setups at gym events. Sometimes you see times from gym events that raise questions. Some courses aren’t set up properly, and I’d like to see more accountability there. Having at least one qualified official overseeing gym events would help a lot. I’ve also said that videos should be required for world records. It’s easy to record runs now, and it would add credibility.
THL: What excites you about hybrid sports and competitions in the next year?
DC: I’m excited about the growth of local events. CrossFit gyms are hosting events with a lower skill barrier, focusing on fitness rather than high-skill movements like muscle-ups. Hyrox and DEKAFit have also done well with live streams, making competitions more accessible to fans.
I’m excited to see how hybrid sports continue to grow, especially seeing people who never saw themselves as athletes redefine who they are and start competing. That’s what excites me the most.
Workout of the Week: Heavy & Fast
Hyrox athlete and coach Rich Ryan shared one of his workouts to increase aerobic conditioning and strength as he prepares for Hyrox Chicago. Here is the rundown:
First 15 minutes, as many rounds as possible (AMRAP):
200 meter run
15 meter heavy sled push
200 meter run
25 meter walking lunges[2 minutes rest]
Second 15 minutes:
75 calorie EchoBike
Then, AMRAP300 meter ski
3 deadlifts
200 meter run
You can watch Rich put this workout into action here:
You can check out Rich’s interview with The Hybrid Letter here:
Inspiration of the Week: This 74-year-old just finished his 2,000th marathon
Last week, 74-year-old Henry Rueden completed his 2000th marathon in his home state of Wisconsin. The retired accountant didn't run his first marathon until he was 38.
He’s completed a marathon in all 50 states — 23 times — on all seven continents, and in all of the Canadian and Australian provinces and territories.
He ran the Great Wall of China Marathon, ran along the Berlin Wall in Germany and even ran a marathon in Iraq while on active duty in the United States Army Reserve.
…In many years, Rueden has done more than 100 marathons, with the most he’s done around 120. He still averages around 100 a year, often on back-to-back days.
Rueden has "no plans on stopping." You can read more in the Wisconsin Post Cresent.
Hybrid Athlete of the Week: Amber Tait
Name: Amber Tait
Age: 32
Hometown: Brantford, Ontario
Why did you start hybrid racing? I was a competitive gymnast growing up, spending years training 20+ hours per week. When I retired from training, I immediately started a career in coaching and judging gymnastics. I loved giving back to my sport, but I missed training! That’s when I discovered CrossFit. I really loved CrossFit (and still do), but after a few years, I was craving something different. I felt there was a gap in our community for a more endurance-based approach to functional training.
When COVID hit, my gymnastics career came to a halt. I started outdoor fitness classes, which eventually grew into my current gym, Pure Impact Athletics. At the time, I didn’t realize our training was “hybrid.” I just thought I had brought a different approach and intention to functional training within our community. In 2021, I did my first Spartan Race and discovered DEKA in 2022. Safe to say, the rest is history!
Favorite race to date? Oh man, that’s tough! Winning the DEKA Strong World Championships with Kevin last year was definitely a highlight. But there’s something I love about racing alongside rookies at gym-hosted DEKA events. I’ll always remember the energy I felt after my first-ever race, so being able to witness and be part of that for someone else will never get old!
Do you have a race goal? Of course! Defending mine and Kevin’s DEKA Strong team title at World Championships this year is an obvious goal, but I’ve also set a personal goal of breaking the 10-minute mark on a female DEKA Strong team this year. We’re getting really close!
Favorite station? I’ve randomly started to enjoy the grind of the tank. There’s something about knowing it’ll only hurt a little longer once you reach the tank!
Least favorite station? If you’d asked me a year ago, I’d have said the bike without hesitation. But I’ve worked really hard to improve. Now, I’d say lunges—I’m just not loving lunges these days.
Things you wish you knew when you started racing? I wish I’d understood that I didn’t have to be like any other specific athlete to thrive. The best thing about hybrid racing is that there are so many ways to conquer an event. You just have to figure out how to capitalize on your strengths and improve your weaknesses. I may never be the strongest at the starting line, and I don’t have a background in running, but I’ve got speed and power! Learning how to use my strengths effectively in a race was a game-changer.