What is a Hybrid Athlete?

To me, a Hybrid Athlete is someone who equally prioritizes strength training and endurance training. 

In other words, someone who is trying to be as strong as they can and as fit as they can, at the same time.

Now, let’s talk quickly about the term “Hybrid Athlete.”

A lot of people hate it.

Like seriously hate it.

Want to piss off a runner?

Tell him you’re a Hybrid Athlete.

He will literally start smoking and may even spontaneously combust.

But seriously, a lot of people seem to have a problem with the term.

In my opinion, it’s the term “athlete” that bothers then.

And I get it.

Is someone who can bench 135 and run a 28 minute 5k really an “athlete?”

I don’t know.

Not really, I guess.

But who cares!

The term is simply a descriptor.

It describes, in two words, what style of training you do.

Do I love the term?

Not really, but it is what it is, and most people understand its meaning.

If you say: “I’m a runner” I will assume your main focus is improving as a runner.

I will also assume, that as part of a good training plan, you do a bit of strength training for injury prevention purposes.

But this does not mean you are now doing "hybrid style" training.

If you say “I’m a powerlifter/weightlifter/bodybuilder” I will assume your main focus is your chosen discipline.

I will also assume, as a part of a good training plan, you do a bit of cardiovascular training.

But this does not mean you are now doing "hybrid style" training.

If you say “I’m a Hybrid Athlete” I will assume you focus fairly equally on strength/hypertrophy and endurance training.

If your main focus is running, adding 1-2 days per week of light strength trianing to your running program doesn't qualify your training as "hybrid style."

Nor does the bodybuilder who adds 2 days per week of Z2 uphill treadmill walking.

Why?

Because their main goal hasn't changed.

And most importantly, they are very unequally prioritizing their training.

The runner's main focus is one thing: running.

The bodybuilders main focus is one thing: bodybuilding.

The hybrid athlete's main focus is two things: strength and endurance.

For me specifically, hybrid training means equally prioritizing strength and running.

I plan to eventually get into triathlons, but for now, I am mostly focused on running and lifting.

Hybrid style training has been increasing in popularity in recent years, and for good reason.

I think most people are starting to realize that as you age, it’s better (and more fun!) to be proficient at both.

More and more runners are beginning to see the value of strength training, and more and more strength athletes (powerlifters, bodybuilders, Olympic lifters, etc.) are starting to see the value of endurance training.

Hyrbrid athletes will never be the best at any discipline they choose to train, not even close.

But they can be well above average at multiple disciplines.

And especially as you age, overall health becomes more important than being really, really good at one thing.

Don’t get me wrong, if I was younger and genetically gifted at a certain discipline, I would be all in on that and wouldn’t train much of anything else.

But I’m not either.

I’m 36 with two young kids and I work a full time job.

My goal is to enjoy a long and healthy life.

Fitness is a huge part of that, and I plan to workout until the day I die.

I’m sure over the years my training focuses will change, but right now it is fully focused on one thing: maintaining the strength to total 1200# while seeing how fast I can run a variety of distances.

That’s it.

Pretty simple.

And so far, pretty damn fun.