Hybrid House Training

What’s a challenge you’ve overcome that you’re proud of?

“One of the hardest challenges I had to overcome was self doubt. I learned that confidence doesn’t come right away. It grows when you keep trying, even if you’re unsure of yourself or the outcome.”

Put in the reps. Earn the confidence.

Izzy May

🎥 - Shai B.

What is true strength?

1. I was diagnosed last year with stage 4 adenosarcoma & 1 month later diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

2. Hardest part of recovery has been adjusting to a body that doesn’t feel or look like mine. The anxiety that never goes away whenever the smallest symptom is felt. Not being able to perform movements or having to modify movements that I used to be able to do freely.

3. Strength is more mental now. Some days it’s just showing up for the body that got me thru the scariest days. Strength is giving myself grace when I feel defeated or become frustrated or ask “why me”? Continuing to show my 2 boys that life can change in a single second but to fight thru, keep a positive mindset & adjust to the challenges.

4. A turning point was finding a gym that made me feel comfortable enough, value me & give me the support in the comeback. Having a program that gave me a blueprint. Living the lifestyle & doing the habits I did before. Not using my diagnosis as an excuse but a reason to go against the odds. And then physically doing the lifts, adding the weights. Seeing I could still lift heavy weights and run again.

5. Cancer couldn’t take who I am to the core. My resilience, my grit, passion, heart, work ethic. My love for lifting weights. My disciple, mental toughness. Me being the example for my sons.

6. It’s ok to mourn/grieve the old you/body but to embrace the gift of still being able to move your body. Your body doesn’t define you. Focus not on the physical appearance but what your body can do. The setback is temporary. Giving yourself grace & loving your body for getting you thru the hard days.

7. Perfection doesn’t exist. Your value shouldn’t be defined by a number or size or imperfections. Put your health 1st, especially mental health. Be proud of the small victories made. Own your imperfections so people can’t use them against you. Allow yourself time to heal, grieve, be sad, mad, etc. But don’t stay stuck. 1 small step each day. Find a healing environment. People who don’t see you for your physical appearance or setbacks but support your recovery & comeback.

Deanne Nicole

🎥 - Shai B.

What does it mean to push yourself beyond what you thought was possible?

It means standing at the start line knowing the goal is bigger than anything you’ve ever done before and going anyway.

It means running when you’re tired, moving when you want to quit, and finding another gear when logic says there isn’t one.

It’s discovering that your limits weren’t real. They were just the edge of your comfort zone. Something you created in your head.

For us, TSP wasn’t just about running from LA to Vegas. It was about proving that ordinary people can do extraordinary things when they’re committed to a purpose, surrounded by the right people, and unwilling to quit.

Hybrid House History Lesson

In 2018, I ran my first ultra marathon with zero training and got absolutely humbled.
Instead of quitting, I got serious about training.

A year later, I went back to the same race, cut over 3 hours off my time, and finished 7th overall. That’s when I became obsessed with performance based training. Training that actually translates and prepares you for the goal.

At first, I trained mostly alone. Then a few people started showing interest. Mark Allen (the OG of saying yes to races without knowing what he was getting into) started showing up. The group slowly grew.
For years we chased trail races, OCR, marathons, and ultras.

Then in 2022, I sprained my ankle and had to step away from the trails. Out of boredom, I asked a few people if they wanted to train for a DekaFit. Out of everyone, Marissa Jones was the only one who said yes.

Eight weeks later, we competed at DekaFit West Palm Beach, posted the 12th fastest time of the year, and qualified for the World Championships. Twelve weeks after that, we finished 6th in the world.
We trained in my garage. We trained at the X Gym. We kept showing up.

The funny thing is, Hybrid House wasn’t a new dream. I tried opening a gym in 2015. Failed. Tried again in 2019. Failed. Tried again in 2022. Still didn’t happen.
Eventually, we outgrew the space we had.

In 2025, I decided I was done waiting.
I started buying equipment off Facebook Marketplace, driving all over South Carolina with a trailer, picking up whatever I could afford. Eventually I found the place we’re in now and went all in.

That’s how Hybrid House was built.
Not from investors.
Not from a perfect business plan.
It was built by people willing to say yes to opportunities, take chances on each other, and start before everything was figured out.

The lesson?

Say yes more often.

The worst-case scenario is you gain a new experience and a good story.

The best-case scenario is it changes your life.

If I never signed up for that first ultra, if Marissa never said yes to DekaFit, and if we never took a chance on something different, Hybrid House wouldn’t exist today.
You never know which opportunity will change everyt

Hyrox weekend #2 in New York! Look out for these athletes as they take the course!

& - Women’s Doubles
- Men’s Doubles
- Women’s Open
tom - Men’s Doubles