DEADLY DOZEN PODCAST

Jay Stapley isn't a professional athlete. He's a full-time worker, a dad of two, and someone who only recently decided to take ultra running seriously. Yet he just won the Read On Backyard Ultra after running an incredible 61 hours and 254 miles, becoming the last person standing. In this episode, Jay shares: • How he went from hiking in Wales to competing at the highest level of backyard ultras
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In Episode 31 of the Deadly Dozen Podcast we sit down with Lorraine Fitzpatrick, Sales Director and founder of the Power Circle Club, to discuss why traditional networking is broken—and how fitness is changing the way professionals build relationships.   From selling a successful mortgage business in her 20s to creating one of the UK's most unique networking concepts, Lorraine shares lessons on en...

In Episode 30, we sit down with Luke Greer — the UK HYROX Men's Pro Solo record holder and one of the fastest fitness racers in the world right now. Coming from a background in football and elite distance running in the US collegiate system, Luke has rapidly become one of the most exciting athletes in hybrid racing — with a running engine capable of challenging anyone in the sport. From NCAA track...

In Episode 29, we sit down with Bill Boylan — a 67-year-old CrossFit veteran turned fitness racer who is redefining what performance looks like later in life. From starting CrossFit in the early days in the US to now competing across HYROX and Deadly Dozen, Bill shares how a more balanced, hybrid approach to training has led to his highest fitness levels yet — in his late 60s. This is a powerful c...

In this episode, we sit down with Lucy Hodgkinson — a dedicated fitness racer whose life changed in an instant following a catastrophic race injury. After years immersed in the sport, Lucy suffered a severe ankle injury that nearly resulted in the loss of her foot. What followed was a long and complex recovery, multiple surgeries, and a complete shift in how she viewed herself, her identity, and h...

In this episode, world-record holder Dave Parkin breaks down how he's built elite performance through one key strategy: racing every weekend . With no UK track races in the early season, Dave turned to the gym race calendar — competing week after week across Air Bike, Row, Ski and Erg formats at the Institute. What started as a stop-gap quickly became the edge: refining execution, learning pacing,...

Recorded in the brand-new studio at the Institute of Fitness Racing, this episode welcomes our first guest in the space: Danny Rae ( DannyRaeHybrid ) — ex-Army, HYROX pro, and all-round hybrid racer. We get into Danny's journey from military fitness to high-performance racing, including his PBs (57:16 HYROX Pro / 50:35 Pro Doubles) , his first hard fitness event post-injury, and what it took to hi...

In this episode of the Deadly Dozen Podcast , we sit down with Neil Marsh , owner of Neil Marsh Health and Fitness in Cambridge. Known for his Purple Army, Neil shares his journey from a background in sport and triathlon to becoming a prominent figure in fitness racing. From starting his gym to navigating post-pandemic recovery, Neil dives deep into how fitness racing revolutionized his gym. We ta...

In this episode of The Deadly Dozen Podcast , Jason sits down with Dave Parkin , the current Deadly Dozen world record holder and the first athlete in history to break the 40-minute mark , stopping the clock at 37:59 . Dave's story is one of the most powerful journeys in fitness racing. A decade ago, he had no fitness background, weighed over 18 stone, and joined the gym to lose weight. Fast forwa...

In this episode of The Deadly Dozen Podcast, Jason sits down with DEKA's head honcho, Yancy Culp , to dig into the origins, philosophy and future of one of the biggest names in fitness racing. Yancy shares how DEKA was born in Joe De Sena's kitchen, how it evolved from a simple idea into a global race system, and why the brand is built around one standard for every athlete – from first-timers to w...

In this episode of The Deadly Dozen Podcast, Ciaran Parkinson , an Elite 15 Hyrox athlete, shares his journey from a lockdown runner to one of the top competitors in fitness racing. Alongside his success in Hyrox, Ciaran also discusses his evolution as a coach, helping others reach their fitness goals. Whether you're aiming for personal fitness growth or training to compete, Ciaran's insights are...

In this episode of The Deadly Dozen Podcast, Jason sits down with James Kelly — one of the world's elite hybrid athletes — and his sister Bernice Kelly, Director of Deadly Dozen Australia. James and Bernice share the story behind their rapid rise in the world of fitness racing, from race wins and records in Brisbane to launching and expanding Deadly Dozen events across Australia. They discuss what...

In this episode, Jason sits down with Vanessa to tackle the most frequently asked questions from Deadly Dozen athletes around the world. From transfers and selling your ticket, to race-day logistics, spectator rules, photos, results, and deferrals — nothing is off the table. With Deadly Dozen now active in 22+ countries and scaling into 2026 with bigger tech, timing, and support teams, the race ex...

How do you race Deadly Dozen—not just survive it? In this episode, Jay breaks down the opening phase of the race: the first 400 m run, the Farmer's Carry, and the Kettlebell Deadlift. We get into solo vs pairs pacing, oxygen debt (and why the first 400 m can ruin your day), how to approach a 240 m carry without red-zoning, and the deadlift strategies that keep you moving fast and legal. We also to...

Jason Curtis sits down with Natalie Crompton — HYROX world qualifier, coach, corporate leader, and parent — to unpack a stacked journey from "accidental" marathoner to elite fitness racer. Natalie explains how ADHD shapes her love of high-intensity training (and dislike of long rest periods), why running is her superpower, and how a 5 a.m. routine and sleep discipline fuel performance while juggli...

In this episode of the Deadly Dozen Podcast , Jason Curtis sits down in Dubai with Sean Clancy — former professional footballer turned gym owner and fitness innovator behind Coyote Gym and Rejuvenate . From his roots at Liverpool Academy to pioneering training concepts in the UAE, Sean shares his journey from the pitch to performance, and how fitness racing has reignited his competitive fire. They...

In this Dubai sit-down, Jason chats with May — one half of the partnership behind Deadly Dozen South Africa and the new UAE/GCC expansion. They unpack how they sold out races across SA by leaning into culture and community, what will shift in Dubai (more athlete-focused, race-first experience), and the realities of running events at scale. May shares her non-fitness background, her past as a natio...

In this episode, I sit down with Cameron Cleaver —  Deadly Dozen Regional Director for South Africa and the UAE — to explore how a grassroots idea developed into a regional movement. Cameron guides us through the rapid expansion in South Africa (monthly races, strong community support), the practical difficulties of organising track events across various climates and governing bodies, and why acce...

In this special episode, the tables are turned — our guest, Graeme Hinde, steps in as interviewer to sit down with Jason Curtis, Founder of the Deadly Dozen. Jason opens up about his journey from Thai boxing and military PT to becoming a coach, author, and now the creator of one of the world's fastest-growing fitness races. Together, they delve into the mindset, struggles, and lessons that have sh...

In this episode of the Deadly Dozen Podcast, we sit down with Matt Rigby, a hybrid athlete, coach, and Deadly Dozen racer who's as passionate about the community as he is about competition. From learning the mental side of fitness racing to balancing intensity with recovery, Matt shares the lessons that shaped his journey — including how setbacks built resilience, why community is the secret weapo...

In this episode of the Deadly Dozen Podcast, we sit down with Steven Price — a lifelong competitor and hybrid athlete redefining what it means to perform at the highest level in your 50s. From his early days in cycling to setting a world record ride across the UK, to stepping onto the global stage of fitness racing, Steven shares his journey of passion, resilience, and community. We dive into: • T...

In this episode of the Dirty Dozen Podcast, elite hybrid athlete and former GB triathlete Calum Upton takes on the Deadly Fitness Test — a brutal uphill-and-downhill challenge that's exactly half of the legendary Deadly Dozen.  We dive into his athletic journey, from podium finishes in rowing and triathlon to winning elite hybrid races, and his training plan for a potential world record attempt at...

In this episode, we sit down with Mark Lammas from Body Burn Fitness in Halesowen — one of the very first Deadly Dozen affiliate gyms — to unpack what it really takes to build a thriving hybrid fitness community. From early Hyrox experiments to going all-in on functional fitness racing, Mark shares how hybrid training reshaped his gym, coaching philosophy, and results. We explore: Why hybrid train...

At 60 years old, Myles Mcnulty is redefining what it means to be fit over 50. In this episode of the Deadly Dozen Podcast, we dive into the journey of one of the UK's most experienced Hyrox athletes — from rowing and marathons to dominating functional fitness racing with over 38 races and multiple world championship appearances.  Myles shares: • His training and nutrition strategies • Lessons from...

In this episode, we chat with Tommy Munday, an experienced strength and conditioning coach with years of experience shaping athletes in boxing and professional sports. Tommy shares his philosophy on training, the importance of the "minimum effective dose," and how to program training to optimize performance. He also dives into the role of data and mental strategies in coaching elite athletes and f...