Atalanta

This week on the Atalanta Podcast, we sit down with Jess Towl – former British Triathlon athlete, CrossFit competitor, HYROX Elite 15 athlete, and one of the most versatile endurance athletes you'll meet.

Jess shares her journey from triathlon, to discovering CrossFit, before eventually finding HYROX and immediately making her mark on the sport. We dive into why variety in training and competition has been key to her longevity, the lessons she's learned from competing across multiple disciplines, and why patience beats chasing instant results.

We also discuss life as a HYROX athlete based in Dubai, the realities of travelling internationally to race, her experiences competing in Elite 15 doubles alongside Roisin Egan, and her recent partnership with Kate Davey as they chase success at World Champs.

Jess also opens up about being diagnosed with ankylosing axial spondyloarthritis, an autoimmune condition that left her living with chronic pain and fatigue for years without realising it. She shares how finally getting answers transformed her training, racing, and overall quality of life.

This episode is packed with lessons on resilience, perspective, consistency, and why enjoying the process matters more than obsessing over the outcome.

Follow Jess over on instagram : @jesstowl
Follow Gym Nation Middle East : @gymnation_me

If you enjoyed this episode please consider following the show and leaving a review, it helps us reach more people and speak to more incredible guests!  Find us @weareatalanta and remember to tag us when you listen! Thank you, see you next week!

As always, a huge thank you to our sponsors for supporting us on this journey.

LSKD : Use code ATALANTA for 15% off LSKD
MyProtein : Use code ATALANTA for discount at checkout.

This week we’re joined by Elite 15 athlete Kate Hutchinson. From representing England at the Commonwealth Games in swimming, to age-group triathlon world championships, to now racing on the HYROX Elite 15 doubles circuit alongside Fern Gardner — Kate’s sporting journey is seriously impressive.

We chat about balancing marathon training with Hyrox racing, running a huge 3:09 PB at the London Marathon, the reality of juggling elite sport with everyday life, and how the gym and it’s community became an important outlet during a difficult chapter after losing her dad to MND.

Kate also shares stories from the Elite 15 majors this season, qualifying for Worlds, racing through the chaos of Hamburg (did someone say penalties), and why she and Fern have never taken any of these opportunities for granted.

A really honest and inspiring conversation with one of the most down-to-earth athletes 🤍

Follow Kate over on instagram : @katehutchinson.hy

If you enjoyed this episode please consider following the show and leaving a review, it helps us reach more people and speak to more incredible guests!  Find us @weareatalanta and remember to tag us when you listen! Thank you, see you next week!

As always, a huge thank you to our sponsors for supporting us on this journey.

LSKD : Use code ATALANTA for 15% off LSKD
MyProtein : Use code ATALANTA for discount at checkout.

This week on the podcast, we sit down with HYROX 45-49 AG World Champion Amy Brown — a runner turned HYROX powerhouse who proves that it’s never too late to chase something big.
Amy opens up about her journey from marathon running and chasing a sub-3-hour marathon, to finding her place in HYROX and becoming World Champion in the 45-49 age group in Chicago . She also took to the floor earlier this season in the Americas Regional with her doubles partner Anne Marie McNiven.
We talk about balancing motherhood, coaching, elite competition, and the mental side of all of this.

We also dive into:
Transitioning from endurance running into HYROX
Training with purpose vs training for exhaustion
Recovery, sleep, and longevity in sport
Managing confidence and pressure as a competitive athlete
Zone 2 training, pacing, and smart programming
Competing in doubles and Elite 15 racing
The realities of training through your 40s and perimenopause

Amy brings such an honest and inspiring perspective to performance, consistency, and self-belief — and this conversation is packed with insights for anyone navigating sport, fitness, or ambitious goals alongside real life.

Follow Amy over on instagram : @runwithurheart

If you enjoyed this episode please consider following the show and leaving a review, it helps us reach more people and speak to more incredible guests!  Find us @weareatalanta and remember to tag us when you listen! Thank you, see you next week!

As always, a huge thank you to our sponsors for supporting us on this journey.

LSKD : Use code ATALANTA for 15% off LSKD
MyProtein : Use code ATALANTA for discount at checkout.

Enjoy the episode 🎧

This week, we’re catching back up with Bryony Keys after her incredible performance at the BPN Backyard Ultra, where she became the last female standing and finished in the top 10 overall after running for 37 hours straight and covering 155miles.

Bryony takes us behind the scenes of one of the toughest endurance race formats in the world, sharing what it really takes to keep going hour after hour when sleep deprivation, fatigue and mental battles start to hit.

We chat about:
- How she prepared for a Backyard Ultra after her previous ankle injury
- Why her training looked very different to what most people expected
- The mindset shifts that helped her keep going for 37 hours
- Pacing, fuelling and recovery between laps
- The mental side of ultra endurance racing and managing the highs and lows
- Why consistency and simplicity mattered most in training

This episode is packed with honest insights into endurance, resilience and learning how to stay in the fight when things get hard.

Follow Bryony over on instagram : @coachbryony @fuelledlab

If you enjoyed this episode please consider following the show and leaving a review, it helps us reach more people and speak to more incredible guests!  Find us @weareatalanta and remember to tag us when you listen! Thank you, see you next week!

As always, a huge thank you to our sponsors for supporting us on this journey.

LSKD : Use code ATALANTA for 15% off LSKD
MyProtein : Use code ATALANTA for discount at checkout.

This week we’re joined by Alyssa McElheney — 2:34 marathon runner turned Elite 15 Hyrox athlete.

With a strong background in distance running, Alyssa made the switch to Hyrox just a few months ago and has already made a serious impact — finishing 3rd in Warsaw in her first Elite 15 race, securing her spot at the World Championships in Stockholm.

Making herself known for being one of the smiliest athletes on the course, Alyssa somehow managed to smile her way around the entire race in Warsaw — a reflection of the mindset she brings to competing.

We dive into her journey from qualifying for the olympic marathons trials to becoming an Elite 15 Hyrox athlete, how her training has evolved, and what it takes to perform at the top. 

Follow the over on instagram : @alyssamcelheny

If you enjoyed this episode please consider following the show and leaving a review, it helps us reach more people and speak to more incredible guests!  Find us @weareatalanta and remember to tag us when you listen! Thank you, see you next week!

As always, a huge thank you to our sponsors for supporting us on this journey.

LSKD : Use code ATALANTA for 15% off LSKD
MyProtein : Use code ATALANTA for discount at checkout.