The Trinity, a fitness center in Long Island City, has introduced a free fitness competition for children ages 8 to 13, modeled after the Hyrox-style events that have gained popularity. The initiative aims to make exercise enjoyable and foster social connections among young participants.
John Collins, co-founder of The Trinity, observed that children at the gym were eager to emulate the adult members participating in the gym's own Trinity Games. "When we see the kids working out in the gym [in the kids class], they’re very keen to do what they see the adults doing," Collins stated.
Inspired by a similar event in Dublin where children and parents completed exercises together, Collins and co-founder Seamus Keane developed a junior version of the competition. "It’s all about inspiring the next generation," Collins said. "We want kids to see exercise as something fun, something exciting, something social."
The event is designed to boost children's confidence by allowing them to experience the accomplishment of crossing a finish line with supportive crowds. Collins noted that for some, "it could be their first ever fitness event."
Another key objective is to encourage physical activity among children, especially given that only an estimated 20% to 28% of American youth meet the recommended daily physical activity guidelines. "We want to give them opportunities to get outside, move their bodies, be more active and create positive memories associated with exercise," Collins added.
The inaugural youth competition took place at Culture Lab LIC, following the second annual adult competition. The event featured modified exercises from the Hyrox format, including burpees, lunges, wall balls, and activities on SkiErg and rowing machines, interspersed with short runs. Teams of two participated in the challenge.
While adult participants completed 800-meter runs between exercises, the children's race featured halved running distances of 400 meters and was untimed. To accommodate younger participants, the assault bike was omitted, as many struggled to reach the pedals.
Eight-year-old Lucas, inspired by his mother's participation in a Hyrox race, decided to compete in the Trinity Games youth version for additional training. He has been running since age 3, but found the lunges challenging due to the discomfort of kneeling on the ground. "My least favorite [part] was the lunges because the ground hurts when we touch it," he told The Post.
His mother, Emilie Boissy, shared a similar sentiment, noting that the lunges were difficult not due to the movement itself, but because of the hard ground. Competitor Sophia, also 8, found the chilly weather challenging during the running portions, stating, "My throat was hurting because I was breathing in cold air, but it was also fun."
Despite the challenges, both Sophia and her teammate Natalie expressed enthusiasm for future competitions. "1,000%," Sophia said. "It’s really fun. You don’t even really feel it. It’s just fun and with friends."
Collins believes that involving children in the same events as their parents can strengthen community bonds. "If they get to participate, it becomes something that the whole family can go to together rather than the kids having to sit and watch… when they’re interested," he said. He hopes the event's energy creates lasting positive memories for the young participants.