A STRATFORD man has broken a British solo record at an indoor fitness competition in Birmingham – just three years into his athletics journey.
Sam Craig, 34, achieved the record-breaking performance time of 53:59 at the HYROX event at Birmingham’s NEC – which attracted more than 27,000 athletes across the weekend.
Sam’s achievement marks one of the fastest HYROX Open times ever recorded globally, despite the category being open to athletes of all levels. His time ranks as the eighth-fastest Open result worldwide.
The competition combined 8km of running with eight functional workout stations, creating a comprehensive test of endurance and strength.
Sam, a father-of-one, said: “I’m not naturally gifted at sport. I grew up and enjoyed playing sports, games and swimming, but was terrible at athletics. HYROX was something I tried in 2022 and it’s honestly been such a transformative part of my life. It’s incredibly accessible, the community is brilliant and anyone can give it a go.”
Sam Craig celebrating his HYROX win at Birmingham NEC
Before discovering HYROX, Sam worked as a full-time musician and found his way into triathlon where he built a strong fitness level. After time out during COVID, he sought a new challenge and found HYROX just as the sport was emerging in the UK.
“I’m 6 ft 2 so I am a bigger guy for endurance sports and often carry a bit of weight or certainly have done for a lot of my life. With HYROX, I thought it looked a bit of fun for someone that can do some running and likes going to the gym.
“I dived in without really knowing anything about it or having done any proper training for it and had a go,” Sam added.
Sam credits the support of Everyone Active and the Stratford community with helping him reach this milestone.
Sam Craig competing at Birmingham NEC
“I couldn’t do this sport without access to the gym at Stratford Leisure Centre and I don’t know what my training would look like if I wasn’t part of the Sporting Champions scheme this year.
“Being able to come into a leisure centre with good equipment, and specifically, HYROX specific kit such as the ski ERGs and all the strength facilities makes it possible to do this sport properly in a good environment.
“But the main thing for me is the community there and within Stratford. It’s one of those things that just completely changed the game, from training on your own in your garage or out on the roads on a soggy November morning.”
Richard Bell, Everyone Active contract manager, said: “Sam’s success is a fantastic example of what can be achieved through dedication, community support and the accessibility of HYROX training. We’re incredibly proud to support him through our Sporting Champions scheme and he’s become a real role model for both our members and the wider Stratford community.”
HYROX sessions run at Stratford Leisure Centre from Monday to Sunday, with both morning and evening times available. Sam hopes more local residents will give the sport a try.