Kayla Fenske, 1st Place Winner at HYROX MIAMI, 2025

How ECA Helped Me Podium at My First HYROX Race

Written by First Place HYROX Champion & ECA “Champions Training” Member, Kayla Fenske

Thinking about competing in HYROX? I’m here to share how training at Emerald City Athletics (ECA) helped me go from signing up “just for fun” to standing on the podium at my first HYROX event — and punching my ticket to the World Championships.

It all started with a casual idea:
"Let’s sign up for HYROX Miami — it’ll be fun!"

But after completing my first HYROX simulation at ECA with Coach Dakota Sheffield, everything changed.
"You could podium," he said — and for me, it only takes a spark to ignite a fire.

*The photos above alternate between Kayla training for competition day at her local HYROX training gym, Emerald City Athletics, and her competing at the HYROX Miami race!

Why I Chose ECA in Shoreline to Train for HYROX

Training for HYROX demands a combination of strength, endurance, and mental grit. Finding the right gym environment was crucial — and that's where Emerald City Athletics made all the difference. It was truly the perfect training ground.

Their "Champions Room" offered a setup and space that simulated every station in a HYROX race, from sled pushes to farmers carries, with easy access to treadmills and a quick loop around the building for compromised running.

Coming from a background in track and cross country, I knew I had the running base — but building strength and mastering the stations would be the key to success for me. Thanks to ECA’s Champions Training Room, I was able to gradually build confidence and strength — progressively increasing weight on the sled push, sled pull, farmers carry, and wall balls.

If you’re searching for the best HYROX training gym near Seattle, ECA’s setup is unbeatable.

Chased the Goal — Fell In Love With The Journey

Beyond the equipment and the training environment, it was the ECA community that pushed me to new levels.

Every time I walked in, I heard encouragement from Dakota, Brody, Jeremy, Amelia, and so many others. Of course you can do the work alone — but having a team of coaches and fellow athletes cheering for you makes it easier (and a lot more fun).

Race Day Reflections: From Seattle to the Miami Podium

Walking into the Red Bull Start Tunnel at HYROX Miami, it felt surreal reflecting on my journey. All the early mornings, the sled pushes, the wall balls — it was all about to unfold.

1 hour, 3 minutes, and 50 seconds later, (plus a few visits to the pain cave!) I crossed the finish line, winning first place in my age group and securing my spot at the HYROX World Championships.

Fitness truly is delayed gratification, reminding you to fall in love with the journey first!

Thank You Emerald City Athletics 💚

Shout out to the incredible team at Emerald City Athletics for helping me turn a casual idea into one of the proudest achievements of my life.

If you’re in the Seattle area and looking for a place to train for your next HYROX event, whether you want to finish strong or chase a podium — ECA is where you want to be.

Thanks ECA & Crew for making the journey so memorable! <3