Hyderabad’s sport and fitness scene has taken a huge leap in the past few years, with events like marathons, duathlons and even triathlons attracting thousands of people, even from across the country, to participate in them.
But this weekend Hyderabad will be seeing its — and probably the world’s — first Gymathlon: An endurance sporting event that combines running and cycling with exercising at the gym.
The concept is the product of a brain-storming session between Gokul Krishna, co-founder of cycling store The Bike Affair and Albert Potestas, the head trainer of the gym F45, after the cycling store opened up its branch in Jubilee Hills.
“F45 was just above us and Albert, who runs the gym, is a cyclist himself and a good friend. So we were looking at doing something interesting that will motivate people to come out of their homes early on a Sunday,” says Gokul.
The event will kick off at 5.45 am with 40 minutes of three peats at the gym followed by cycling three laps (six kilometres each) around the KBR Park, ending with a one lap run around the park.
“We have 10 different exercises, each done for about a minute and you’re supposed to do a certain amount of repetition for each set,” says Gokul, adding, “The cycles and gear will be kept at a stand on the pavement, so after the gym session people then run down from the gym across the road and then begin cycling.”
And if you’re wondering about the level of preparation you’d have to be making to get in shape for the gymathlon, Gokul says that the event will be at the same level of effort as an Olympic triathlon (1.5-km swim, 40-km cycling, 10-km running).
“We tried it ourselves late last year, with a close group of friends and we decided to make the the gym sessions tough. The next two sessions will just be about how much you can push yourself or how fast you can run and ride,” explains Gokul, adding that judging participants will be based on a points system rather than their timings, since they wanted the athletes to have fun more than anything else!
The Gymathlon will take place on February 14 at 5.45 am, at The Bike Affair and F45’s building in Jubilee Hills.
