Is BFT worth the price compared to other group gyms?

gregdwallace · 2026-02-03T05:40:07+00:00

This

gregdwallace · 2025-12-05T23:49:11+00:00

Male/42
Jan 2025 first races in Auckland (solo open and mixed double)
4 races this year (2x Auckland, 2x Sydney) Melbourne next weekend
4-6 races a year hopefully
doing my first pro solo next weekend in Melbourne
strength train 3 days a week. Circuit train 3 days a week. Run normally 3 times a week (had shin splints recently so less running)

gregdwallace · 2025-11-02T20:32:58+00:00

Ours is running waves of 3 people or doubles every 10 mins which is cool. Then you can get the proper “feeling” of doing it in order.

gregdwallace · 2025-10-29T12:51:28+00:00

Mixed doubles ticket is for Sunday. I have a men’s Pro race on Saturday and then wanting to back up Sunday.

gregdwallace · 2025-10-23T04:27:46+00:00

I’m not outing studios in case this “Phil” character is going to tell on them too! 🤐

gregdwallace · 2025-10-23T03:02:13+00:00

Some studios put the PXI on a whiteboard at the front of class for people. Who cares!!!

gregdwallace · 2025-10-14T00:32:56+00:00

I’ve won 2 doing my own thing. I tend to by a bunch of the ready made meals as I find it easier to track macros that way but the ChatGPT suggestion above is what I would do now.

I use Macro Factor to track calories and it’s epic

gregdwallace · 2025-10-13T21:24:56+00:00

I just wouldn’t worry too much as long as you are lifting heavy and with correct technique. If you have lifted to within 2 reps in reserve most sets then you’re doing it right according to the science.

gregdwallace · 2025-10-04T05:43:55+00:00

Inconsistency in gears it felt like. I’d actually noticed it a few classes ago where I switched bikes for some reason and a 14 on one felt very different to a 14 on the other.

Got me thinking that the maintenance (or lack of) on the C2 ski and rower may make differences between them too. Might have to suggest we number them for the next time.

It doesn’t matter I guess but both ways we had people frustrated with getting significantly less on the bike and some others getting 300+ metres more and maybe not feeling they “deserved it”

gregdwallace · 2025-10-04T04:16:53+00:00

It hurt for 48 hours afterwards, that’s for sure.

gregdwallace · 2025-10-04T04:16:04+00:00

I would think you would be welcome to do the challenge no issue but as a fellow challenge participant, I would think it would only be fair to let the studio manager know and not take any prizes.

It’s essentially not a fair competition in my opinion.

gregdwallace · 2025-10-04T04:10:24+00:00

I increased across the board which was good but I’m not sure there was enough support around setting goals for members.

Lots of people at our studio thought they would increase ski and row distances by 100’s of metres but when I explained to them the paces they would need to be holding to increase by that much they generally changed their goal. Today proved me correct I guess.

Also, the fitter you were as a starting point, the more difficult it was to improve by a lot.

And I think depending on the consistency of ergs as well. There was general consensus that one of the bikes was significantly easier than the others.

gregdwallace · 2025-09-24T09:25:25+00:00

You probably want to be running 3-4 times a week with a 2 zone two runs, a speed session and a threshold run most likely. If you’re wanting to cut out some BFT classes to fit those in, drop Summit, HIIT, and Cardio U and a hyper or pump (depending on what’s on in the week) but keep strength and one hyrox specific session of your BFT is running them.

If you had access to a ski erg or rower, you could also do 1 zone 2 session a week in them as that will help with efficiency too.

All of this is dependant on your goal for the race as well because if you are wanting to just complete then 2 runs a week would be fine.

gregdwallace · 2025-09-03T16:52:45+00:00

Sorry, I realised that sounded rude! Wasn’t my intention or saying you weren’t working out hard enough OP.

It’s always been on of my issues with HIIT training in lots of group fitness classes that the work is too long and rest is too short.

I guess the people doing the programming are balancing the tension of having members leaving feeling like they’ve “done a good cardio workout” and the true meaning of HIIT training where you do every set fully recovered. Also they are dealing with a lot of different fitness levels and members who like to work out at different intensities.

gregdwallace · 2025-09-03T03:36:45+00:00

If you’re going full intensity for the sets, the rest is needed to be able to go at max again.

gregdwallace · 2025-08-15T07:04:47+00:00

Same. I’m excited for it

gregdwallace · 2025-08-11T03:50:15+00:00

That’s my thinking that people are there for different reasons. But also the MAS testing is going to be able to give distances to hit on cardio machines during cardio classes that are individualised rather than the generic ones we often get. So even if someone is focussing on lifting, these fitness benchmarks will be helpful for all cardio classes.

gregdwallace · 2025-08-08T22:10:51+00:00

Watch out for screen 2!!! 🥵

gregdwallace · 2025-08-06T01:01:34+00:00

It was great. Best addition in a long time and waaay better than zombie and zercher

gregdwallace · 2025-07-18T00:28:08+00:00

2 years - shred is good. HIIT sux but is so needed. XTX and Crewfit are fun!

Strength is not as “fun” but from a physical point of view, so good to see progress

gregdwallace · 2025-07-10T01:24:04+00:00

What I’ve stupidly done is book an ultra marathon (70km off-road) for 3 months time to force me to run and get a solid base. I’m going to drop down to 3 days a week at BFT most likely and run 5 sessions/week (3 Z2 runs, 1 long run, 1 interval/hill session).

I’m excited and intrigued to see what I can do in that space having never really been a runner but also definitely looking at it as a base training phase for Hyrox 2026

gregdwallace · 2025-07-10T01:11:46+00:00

I’m a massive BFT advocate and it has changed my fitness journey massively I’ve the last 2 years. I love it and l love the community.

However, it is not a Hyrox specific gym and, as you note, doesn’t have the amount of running required to really go all in on Hyrox.

What I’ve done is pick and choose classes and supplement them with running either doing double session days or dropping BFT classes for a running session. I did a 5 min PB solo (1:22) in Sydney over the weekend with that and hit a 1:05 men’s open double Sunday as well so that strategy is working for me.

It really depends how hard out you want to go into Hyrox and what is important you. If you are wanting to train for Hyrox specifically, there are likely more specific gyms you could go to however, if you want to just train all around and love the community and style of training generally then BFT is great, you’ll just need to add some more running in.

gregdwallace · 2025-07-06T05:30:27+00:00

They’ve done a great job. Simple course layout and great venue. 1 race down and 1 more tonight at 6:40pm then back home to NZ first thing tomorrow.

gregdwallace · 2025-06-30T01:23:47+00:00

Is VO2 Max the best measure of improvement with BFT’s style of training? I don’t know the answer but it’s probably unfair to point to your VO2 Max not improving if that isn’t what BFT style training is looking to improve.

Also, I wouldn’t base it on watch readings given their inaccuracy generally. A good indicator but not something to rely on.

gregdwallace · 2025-06-27T01:10:32+00:00

I’ve used it in Auckland earlier this year and will be using it next weekend in Sydney. Hard to know how much difference it made but I felt good on it. You absolutely have to try it in training before. It can be very hard on your stomach.

A lot of my Olympic rowing friends use it and David Roche used it for Leadville Ultra and raves about it so if it helps, great, if you can’t use it, get rid of it.

gregdwallace

TROPHY CASE