Episode #4

Apr 10

Why Most People Fail in Fitness Racing

Eline Peterse is a sports physiotherapist and performance coach working with endurance and hybrid athletes across disciplines including running, triathlon, and fitness racing.

She combines her background in physiotherapy with real-world experience as a competitive athlete, having completed multiple HYROX races and long-distance triathlons, including a personal best of 4:41:45 in a Ironman 70.3.

Through her coaching, she helps athletes move beyond simply finishing events and instead focus on structured progression, durability, and performance.

Most people think fitness racing is just about being fit.

Run a bit. Lift a bit. Push through.

But that’s exactly where things go wrong.

In this episode, Eline Peterse breaks down why even strong, well-trained athletes struggle the moment they step into a fitness race like HYROX or GYMRACE.

It’s not just about your engine.

It’s not just about strength.

And it’s definitely not just about “pushing harder.”

So what actually breaks first?

For most athletes, it’s not their lungs or legs - it’s their decision-making. Their pacing. Their ability to stay in control when everything starts to hurt.

We talk about the reality of fitness racing - and why it attracts athletes from completely different backgrounds, from CrossFit to running to triathlon. On paper, all of them should perform well. In reality, each group brings its own blind spots.

Some lack endurance.

Some lack strength.

Most underestimate the transitions - and pay for it later.

Eline shares how she approaches coaching athletes at different levels, from first-time participants to competitive racers, and what actually needs to change when the goal shifts from simply finishing to truly performing.

“Most people underestimate how hard these races actually are”

We also get practical.

What should you focus on if you just signed up for your first race?
What’s a realistic target time?
Where do people lose the most time — without even realizing it?

And maybe most importantly:

How do you stay mentally in control when your body starts to negotiate with you?

From self-talk to attention control, this episode dives into the mental side of performance — including the idea that where you place your focus during a race can determine the outcome more than your physical fitness.

We also touch on:

Whether shoes actually matter (and what to look for)
How to balance running and strength training
Why injuries often show up weeks after training mistakes
And how athletes can think about using tools like AI in their training

If you’re thinking about doing your first fitness race - or trying to get better at it - this episode will likely change how you approach your preparation.

Key Takeaways:

Fitness racing is not just about fitness - it’s about execution
Most athletes fail due to pacing and decision-making, not capacity
Different backgrounds (CrossFit, running, triathlon) come with different blind spots
You don’t “rest” in a race - you manage intensity
Shoes matter, but grip and stability often matter more than speed
Mental focus and self-talk directly impact performance
Training should evolve when moving from finishing → performing