The HYROX explosion: why India's fitness community is obsessed with fitness racing. Deepak Raj is a premier sports event organizer and endurance athlete who serves as the General Manager for HYROX India and the Country Director for Ironman India. A multi-time Ironman finisher himself, he has played a pivotal role in pioneering fitness properties across the Indian subcontinent. Under his leadership, Ironman India has expanded from its flagship event in Goa to new host cities like Ahmedabad and Chennai, while HYROX India has achieved a 10x growth trajectory - expanding to major metropolitan centers including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi NCR (Noida), and Gujarat, with an eye toward future Olympic and Commonwealth Games inclusion. Deepak spoke with The Playknox founder Taruka to spotlight on both Hyrox and Ironman in India. HYROX has rapidly taken over the country's fitness landscape. How did the idea of bringing HYROX to India first come about? Having organized Ironman events in India for several years, Playknox were always looking for new avenues to encourage movement and keep people active. After reading about HYROX, Playknox reached out to their global team through a cold email expressing its interest in bringing the format to India. It required building a team and pitching a comprehensive business case to convince them. Playknox strongly felt that India was ready to absorb a new mass-participation fitness sport centered on functional movement and long-term health. What has been the response to HYROX in India so far, especially with national initiatives like the Fit India Movement gaining momentum? The response has been phenomenal. Its inaugural race 15 to 16 months ago drew around 1,600 participants, while its recent Mumbai event saw 15,500 athletes - a 10x growth rate. People are increasingly seeking quantifiable fitness goals to stay active and improve their health. This aligns directly with national fitness initiatives, and Playknox is continually working to expand its footprint to support active lifestyles. Many participants compete in consecutive HYROX events across different cities, and it has gained significant traction among millennials and people in their 30s. Why do you think it has become such a lifestyle trend? HYROX is inherently content-friendly and spectator-centric. Unlike traditional marathons, spectators are positioned right next to the action, making it easy for friends and family to record content and cheer on athletes in an energetic, music-filled atmosphere. Additionally, gyms represent the largest sporting infrastructure globally - far outnumbering tennis or padel courts - meaning millions of people already train in gyms but previously lacked a standardized competition. HYROX provides a measurable benchmark, such as improving a total time or a specific station like the sled push. It also serves as a perfect intersection for runners looking to strength train and gym-goers adding endurance work. What has been the response from corporate, national, and global brands looking to partner with HYROX in India? A: Brand response has been exceptionally strong because the high social media visibility offers clear, quantifiable engagement. Playknox work with global partners, national sponsors like IndusInd Bank, educational institutions like Masters' Union, and major global brands like Puma and Red Bull. Beyond sports apparel and nutrition, mainstream non-endemic brands like automotive companies and banks are actively partnering with Playknox due to the deep integration opportunities Playknox offer beyond standard logo placement. What are the primary operational challenges in hosting HYROX events across Indian cities? Unlike outdoor events like Ironman that require extensive road closures and public permits, HYROX is held indoors in controlled venues. The main challenge is securing sufficiently large indoor spaces - specifically 12,500 to 15,000 square meters of air-conditioned, pillar-free floor space. Venue availability in certain tier-1 and tier-2 cities dictates its expansion pace. Despite this, its recent event drew participants from over 400 cities, towns, and villages across India. Playknox is currently active in five cities and plan to expand to a sixth and seventh location soon. Looking at triathlon, how has the endurance culture evolved around Ironman in India? When Playknox launched Ironman 70.3 Goa in October 2019, triathlon was a niche concept in India. Today, participation levels have surged. Its Goa event expects close to 2,000 athletes, up from 1,250 last year, prompting Playknox to add Ahmedabad to the calendar alongside Chennai. While triathlon has higher entry barriers - such as swimming proficiency and equipment costs - the discipline and community interest have grown significantly, allowing Playknox to introduce new regions and relay formats to make the sport more accessible. What is the long-term strategic vision for both Ironman and HYROX in India? For Ironman, the strategy is to expand beyond Goa and Ahmedabad into additional regions while introducing relay formats to lower the barrier to entry. For HYROX, the objective is to scale existing event capacities in key metros like Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi NCR (Noida), and Gujarat while adding select new host cities. Maintaining a product-first and community-centric focus remains the primary operational goal. Is the ultimate ambition for HYROX to be recognized as an official event in major global multi-sporting competitions like the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, or Olympics? Yes. While 2028 was too early due to formal federation recognition pathways, 2032 and 2036 are active targets for Olympic inclusion. As the global governing framework for fitness racing formalizes across national sports federations, inclusion in regional multi-sport events like the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games will naturally follow. With India hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games, there is strong strategic interest in positioning fitness racing within that broader international ecosystem.

SALOMON and IRONMAN announce long-term PARTNERSHIP, taking ENDURANCE WHERE it GOES NEXT. September 11, 2026 16:21 ET | Source: Salomon Nice, FRANCE, Sept. 11, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - From 2027, Salomon becomes IRONMAN Global Premier Partner through 2031 across Performance footwear, apparel and technical bags. In a landmark move, Salomon will also become Title Partner of the 2027 IRONMAN World Championship in Kona, Hawai'i, for the duration of the partnership Salomon, the modern mountain sports lifestyle brand, and IRONMAN, the global leader in triathlon, today announce a new five-year partnership bringing together two iconic brands with a shared vision for the future of endurance. Beginning in 2027, the partnership will span events globally, combining Salomon's expertise in performance running innovation with IRONMAN's global community. As part of the agreement, Salomon will become Title Partner of the 2027 IRONMAN World Championship in Kona, Hawai'i marking a major milestone in the brand's growing presence across endurance sports. This partnership also reflects a broader shift in the way athletes experience endurance today. Increasingly, they move between sports, disciplines and terrains, carrying the same mindset from one challenge to the next. What connects these experiences is no longer a single sport, but a shared pursuit of progression, performance and personal challenge making endurance as much a way of life as a sporting discipline. ENDURANCE HAS NEVER BEEN DEFINED BY TERRAIN For Salomon, endurance has never been defined by terrain. Born in the French Alps 80 years ago, Salomon began where it is hardest and has never stopped pushing its limits. Faster. Longer. Elsewhere. From Nordic skiing and adventure racing to trail, road and GRAVEL running, Salomon has built its expertise across sports and seasons, helping athletes perform over long distances and in the most demanding conditions. Triathlon is a natural extension of that expertise. "Athletes no longer define themselves by one sport. They run on the road, compete in the mountains, take on triathlons and continually seek new ways to challenge themselves. Endurance has become a lifestyle. For Salomon, joining forces with IRONMAN is a natural step and an opportunity to bring our performance expertise to one of the world's most committed endurance communities." Guillaume Meyzenq, President, Salomon SHAPING THE FUTURE OF ENDURANCE SPORT, TOGETHER From 2027, Salomon becomes IRONMAN Global Premier Partner through 2031, with exclusive rights across performance footwear, apparel and technical bags within the IRONMAN ecosystem. The collaboration will be elevated with the title and presenting partnership of a number of iconic IRONMAN events across the United States and Europe. At each IRONMAN-owned event included in the partnership, Salomon will own the IRONMAN Running Course connecting the brand's growing expertise in road running with the defining final discipline of long-distance triathlon. At its core, the partnership reflects a shared belief in sport's ability to nurture human potential. Salomon and IRONMAN share an athlete-first philosophy, a commitment to innovation in the service of performance and a close relationship with the communities they serve. Together, the two brands aim to create a premium experience that helps athletes redefine what they thought was possible. "IRONMAN and Salomon are united in the belief that endurance sports unlock human potential. This partnership is rooted in a commitment to serve athletes and help them pursue ambitious goals. Salomon's heritage, performance expertise, product innovation, and community-driven philosophy make the brand a natural partner for IRONMAN. We look forward to working together to enhance the athlete experience across our community." Scott DeRue, Chief Executive Officer, The IRONMAN Group WHERE ENDURANCE GOES NEXT At the heart of the partnership is a shared ambition: to enhance the athlete experience from preparation and training to product innovation and race day. The partnership will come to life through three areas that define Salomon's approach: athletes, product and human performance expertise. Athletes will be at the heart of this next chapter alongside Marjolaine Pierré, Julie Iemmolo and Casper Stornes, three athletes who already compete at the highest level of long-distance triathlon. Their experience will bring first-hand insight into the specific demands of training, racing and running after hours of effort, helping inform Salomon's approach to the sport. Product innovation will turn those insights into performance. Across selected IRONMAN events and communities, athletes will also have opportunities to discover, test and experience Salomon products. Beyond product, Salomon will bring its broader human performance expertise to the partnership. Through its athlete-first approach, its Service to Athlete platform and its Performance Program led by sport scientist Aitor Viribay, the brand works across biomechanics, training, nutrition, recovery and athlete feedback to better understand what enables athletes to perform for longer. IRONMAN will provide a unique environment to deepen that knowledge and translate it into meaningful innovation for elite athletes and the wider community. Together, these three pillars, athletes, product and human performance expertise, will extend the partnership beyond race day, helping shape what performance can become next. WHERE ENDURANCE BECOMES LEGEND And nowhere is that ambition more symbolic than at the IRONMAN World Championships in Kona, Hawai'i. Salomon's road to Kona starts this year. During the 2026 IRONMAN World Championship, Salomon will bring its first activation to Kona with an immersive pop-up at Kona Heaven from October 7-8. Athletes, fans and the wider community will be invited to discover Salomon's approach to performance and innovation, meet product experts and connect with endurance athletes Courtney Dauwalter and Jessie Diggins. In 2027, that presence will take on a new dimension as Salomon will become Title Partner of the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona, Hawai'i one of the most iconic stages in endurance sport and the ultimate expression of the commitment, preparation and resilience that define the IRONMAN community. "To become Title Partner of the IRONMAN World Championship in Hawaii is both an honor and a responsibility. We are entering this partnership with humility, ambition and a long-term commitment. We want to contribute to its future while respecting everything that has made Kona iconic and create lasting value for the athletes and communities who make endurance sport what it is. " Guillaume Meyzenq, President, Salomon PARTNERSHIP KEY FACTS * Five-year global partnership: From 2027, Salomon becomes IRONMAN Global Premier Partner through 2031. * Categories: Salomon will have exclusive rights across performance footwear, apparel and technical bags within the IRONMAN ecosystem. * IRONMAN World Championship: Salomon becomes Title Partner of the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona, Hawai'i, for the duration of the partnership. * Title & presenting partnerships: Salomon will become title or presenting partner of selected IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 events globally, including Oceanside, Texas, Chattanooga, Lanzarote, Lake Placid, Oregon and Jones Beach. * Salomon Run Course: At each IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3-owned event, Salomon will have naming rights to the run course, which will become the Salomon Run Course. * Product & athlete experience: Salomon will develop footwear and apparel designed for the specific demands of middle- and long-distance triathlon, with opportunities for athletes to discover, test and experience Salomon products across selected IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 events and communities. PRESS CONTACTS SALOMON GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS * Anne-Laure Nicod - Global PR & Communications Director: [email protected] - +33 6 61 40 25 15 * Jules Graebling - Global Press Relations & Communications Specialist [email protected] - +33 6 27 34 17 34 KONA 2026 MEDIA CONTACT For additional information regarding Salomon's activation during the 2026 IRONMAN World Championship in Kona, please contact: [email protected] ABOUT SALOMON Salomon is the modern mountain sport lifestyle brand creating innovative, premium and authentic footwear, apparel and winter sports equipment in the French Alps. We're more than innovators, we're futurists. We don't predict trends, we shape the future. At the Annecy Design Center, designers, engineers and athletes intersect to explore the white space of tomorrow and create the future of sports and culture. ABOUT THE IRONMAN GROUP The IRONMAN Group is the world's largest operator of participation sports with a portfolio of brands, events, media, partners, merchandise, and digital platforms operating in over 50 countries worldwide. A global portfolio consisting of hundreds of events includes the IRONMAN(R) Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN(R) 70.3(R) Triathlon Series, 5150(R) Triathlon Series, IRONKIDS(R), premier running events including the Rock 'n' Roll(R) Running Series and City2Surf(R), the UTMB(R) World Series of trail running, the Epic Series(TM) of mountain biking including the Absa Cape Epic(R), and a collection of road cycling and other multisport races. Since the inception of the iconic IRONMAN(R) brand and its first event in 1978, millions of athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE(R) by crossing finish lines around the world. From its beginnings as a single race among friends in Hawai'i, The IRONMAN Group has become a global sensation and collection of high-growth lifestyle brands that inspire people to unlock their potential in life. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/about/ironman-group.

Free children's swimming lessons provided in Lake Placid. * 16 hrs ago SARANAC LAKE - The Adirondack Health Foundation has received a $15,000 grant from The IRONMAN Foundation to participate in the 2026 Swim Ready Powered by The IRONMAN Foundation program. Following the American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim curriculum, the initiative is designed to promote swim safety, confidence and water readiness among children in IRONMAN race communities. Swim lessons are free for children 6 months old to 7 years old. The Swim Ready program focuses on creating safer, more confident swimmers, providing resources, support and education to promote safer aquatic activities for children. As part of the 2026 program, Lake Placid is one of several selected IRONMAN communities across the country. Featured local savings.