{"id":889150,"date":"2026-10-20T19:02:10","date_gmt":"2026-10-20T19:02:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/889150\/"},"modified":"2026-10-20T19:02:10","modified_gmt":"2026-10-20T19:02:10","slug":"nyc-fitness-competition-has-race-for-young-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/889150\/","title":{"rendered":"NYC fitness competition has race for young kids"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hybrid fitness competitions are spreading like wildfire right now, hooking everyone from hardcore marathoners to singles looking for love<\/a>.<\/p>\n

John Collins, co-founder of Long Island City fitness center The Trinity<\/a>, noticed kids at his gym paying close attention to adult members training for the Trinity Games<\/a>, a Hyrox<\/a>-style competition the gym hosts.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we see the kids working out in the gym [in the kids class], they\u2019re very keen to do what they see the adults doing,\u201d Collins told The Post.<\/p>\n

Natalie and Sofia, both 8, competed in the first kids version of the Trinity Games at the Trinity fitness center. Kamila Pikora Deacy<\/p>\n

Inspired by a race in Dublin in which kids and parents completed the same exercises, he and co-founder Seamus Keane created a free junior edition of the event for kids ages 8 to 13.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all about inspiring the next generation,\u201d Collins said. \u201cWe want kids to see exercise as something fun, something exciting, something social.\u201d<\/p>\n

The race is intended to give all kids the confidence boost that comes with crossing a finish line and hearing crowds cheer for them, with Collins noting that, for some, \u201cit could be their first ever fitness event.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was also the goal of getting kids moving, especially important as only 20% to 28% of American children<\/a> and teens get the recommended daily amount of physical activity.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to give them opportunities to get outside, move their bodies, be more active and create positive memories associated with exercise,\u201d Collins added.<\/p>\n

The ultimate fitness playground<\/p>\n

The inaugural event saw kids show up to the waterfront at Culture Lab LIC<\/a> on a chilly Saturday afternoon following the second annual adults\u2019 competition.<\/p>\n

The hybrid fitness race was modified for kids after Trinity Fitness co-founder John Collins noticed youngsters\u2019 interest. Kamila Pikora Deacy<\/p>\n

Modeled after the grueling Hyrox workout that\u2019s gone global<\/a>, teams of two took on burpees, lunges, wall balls, SkiErg, row machines and a farmer\u2019s carry interspersed by short runs.<\/p>\n

While the adults completed 800-meter runs in between exercises, the kids\u2019 event wasn\u2019t timed, excluded weights and halved the running distance at 400 meters.<\/p>\n

They also ditched the assault bike, as many of the younger competitors couldn\u2019t even reach the pedals.<\/p>\n

Lucas and Silas both participated in the untimed event, which halved the running distance from the adults\u2019 race. Emilie Boissy<\/p>\n

After watching his mom complete a Hyrox race, 8-year-old Lucas knew he wanted to follow in her footsteps and compete in one.<\/p>\n

Signing up for a Hyrox Youngstars<\/a> race, he decided to compete in the Trinity Games youth version for additional training.<\/p>\n

The 400-meter run completed multiple times was no problem for Lucas, who has been running since he was 3. One exercise, however, gave him trouble.<\/p>\n

Despite the chilly weather, Natalie, Sofia and Lucas all said they would do another kids competition. Emilie Boissy<\/p>\n

\u201cMy least favorite [part] was the lunges because the ground hurts when we touch it,\u201d he told The Post, a sentiment his mom, who also competed in the Trinity Games, could attest to.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would also name the lunges as the hardest for me, not because the movement is difficult, just because the ground was hard and you need to touch it every time with your knee,\u201d Emilie Boissy told The Post.<\/p>\n

The chilly temperatures proved challenging for competitor Sofia during the running portions of the race.<\/p>\n

\u201cI still like running \u2014 it was just hard to breathe,\u201d Sofia told The Post. \u201cMy throat was hurting because I was breathing in cold air, but it was also fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

But that hardly deterred the 8-year-old competitor or her friend and teammate Natalie from wanting to participate in future competitions, as well as Lucas, who said he would definitely compete again.<\/p>\n

Making muscles and besties<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t just the physical aspect that drew both girls to the competition. It was also the chance to race with friends.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would say yes [to joining next year], if I was practicing a little bit more,\u201d Natalie told The Post, with Sofia adding that she would absolutely do it again.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne thousand percent,\u201d she said enthusiastically. \u201cIt\u2019s really fun. You don\u2019t even really feel it. It\u2019s just fun and with friends.\u201d<\/p>\n

Collins argues that letting kids participate in the same events as their parents can build community, the overall purpose of the Trinity Games and the Long Island City neighborhood they take place in.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf they get to participate, it becomes something that the whole family can go to together rather than the kids having to sit and watch \u2026 when they\u2019re interested,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Above all else, he hopes the energy of the event creates lasting memories.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would highly doubt if any of them remember what their finishing time will be, but they will remember the cheers and the excitement,\u201d Collins said.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t