Calling Hybrid Athletes: All About the LT Games at Life Time

While exercising and training with the goal of staying fit and healthy is a worthy priority, it may not be enough to fuel consistent effort or measurable progress for some. For these people, training with the goal of competing has the unique ability to unlock untapped potential.

“Whether it’s a physical or mental test or at a recreational or elite level, competing challenges us to grow our skills and abilities, go beyond perceived limitations, and discover what’s possible,” writes Bahram Akradi, founder, chairman, and CEO at Life Time. “This universal truth is at the heart of LT Games, a hybrid fitness competition launched at Life Time in 2025. Designed to reframe how we approach training and, more importantly, how we see ourselves, this competition will offer something truly transformative.”

The inaugural LT Games is taking place in late October 2025 at Life Time Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn. “The competition is open to athletes nationwide who want to test and prove their hybrid fitness abilities, and it will be particularly appealing to those who thrive off competitive challenge,” says Wes Robertson, senior classes operations manager for Life Time and one of the designers of this new competition. “Hybrid training is trending right now, and those interested in the modality won’t want to miss the experience we’re creating for LT Games.”

We asked Robertson to share more about what to expect from LT Games.

Life Time | Can you give an overview of LT Games? What is it and who is it for?

Wes Robertson | LT Games is a hybrid fitness competition that combines Life Time’s state-of-the-art facilities, coaching expertise, and personalized athletic experiences to create a whole new competition platform.

An LT Games event features 17 stations where athletes perform various exercises. The goal is to complete every station in the fastest time possible. Each participant is assigned a certified judge who guides them throughout the competition and makes sure they complete each station correctly. The event features prize packages for first, second, and third place athletes in both male and female categories.

The 17 stations are broken up to be about 50 percent strength and 50 percent cardio, and they are designed to be challenging for some of the fittest athletes. They’re also intended, however, to highlight areas of strength and opportunity for any athlete, so anyone can participate, whether you’re looking to achieve the best time or are simply wanting to compete with yourself and level up your own training.

LT Games is an organic extension of Life Time’s signature training classes: Alpha, GTX, Ultra Fit, and MB360. Each of these offerings centers on functional movements — think squatting, lunging, pushing, pulling, and running — and they’re all aimed at equipping participants with tools for living their best lives beyond their regular 60-minute workouts.

LT | How do you define “hybrid fitness” or “hybrid athletes”? Tell us about this approach to training.

WR | A “hybrid athlete” is an athlete who trains across multiple disciplines and is well-rounded in all aspects of fitness, including endurance, strength, power, speed, agility, and mindset. This involves cross-training in a variety of fitness modalities, which is reflected in the 17 different stations featured in the LT Games.

LT | What are the 17 stations and how do athletes go about completing them during the challenge?

WR | During the competition, athletes move through 17 stations, beginning with the longest run and volume of work. Then the load gets a bit lighter as the competition unfolds. That means the first few stations take longer, and the final ones require shorter, sprint-like efforts.

In a “choose-your-own-adventure” style, athletes decide how they make it through each of these stations, meaning they choose the weights they use at each station. The higher load they select, the less reps they must do to complete the weight requirement. For box jumps and stepovers, athletes have the option to choose from three different box heights.

LT | How is LT Games different from other hybrid fitness competitions?

WR | LT Games is for hybrid athletes seeking a luxury experience. With a transparent workout plan consisting of functional movements, there’s also a lower barrier to entry and lower risk of injury than other existing fitness competitions. LT Games also features a balance of strength and cardio exercises to entice well-rounded, balanced athletes.

LT | How can participants prepare for LT Games?

WR | When preparing for the LT Games, it’s important to lean into your “areas of opportunity.” For example, say an athlete is already comfortable with their cardio efforts — I’d recommend they start to build strength. For athletes who typically focus on strength, adding cardiovascular training is what’s going to best help you prepare.

In the Life Time app, you can find The Official LT Games Training Program, an eight-week digital program designed with the purpose of preparing athletes to participate in the LT Games. This program familiarizes athletes with the competition movements, how they’re going to feel, what paces they should be holding, and how they’re going to break up movements on competition day. The goal is to be as prepared as humanly possible for the competition by practicing through the program. (Learn more: “LT Games 8-Week Prep Training Program.”)

Additionally, all the signature group training formats at Life Time — GTX, Alpha, Ultra Fit, and MB360 — are designed to prepare you for LT Games. These brands are highlighted throughout the course, including the straight-line cardio you experience in GTX; the barbell work you perform in Alpha; the shorter, sprint-like loads of work you do in Ultra Fit; and the mindset challenges you work through in MB360. If you’re consistent with any of — or a mix of — these programs, you can take your training to a whole new level and be competitive in the LT Games.

You can also find a specialized LT Games program on the schedule at Life Time Target Center in Minneapolis. This is a program that systematically progresses throughout the week: strength-focused days (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday), technique refinement days (Tuesday, Friday), and a competition preparation day (Saturday).

This scientific approach to training balances cardio (running, rowing, ski erg) with strength elements (hinge, press, pull, and squat movements) across targeted heart-rate zones. Led by certified coaches, this programming helps you master station transitions while enhancing your performance for competition day.

LT | I want to participate! How do I sign up?

WR | Our first regional LT Games event will take place October 25–26, 2025, at Life Time Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn. You can register in the Life Time app. Keep an eye out for more LT Games events to come in 2026.

LT | I’m not ready to participate yet but I don’t want to miss this action. Can I watch the LT Games?

WR | Yes! Anyone is welcome to join the events October 25–26 as a spectator. All you have to do is show up to watch and be inspired!