What Is the LT Games? (And Why You Should Care)

If HYROX and CrossFit had a highly functional, slightly sadistic child and raised it inside a luxury club, you’d get LT Games. Co-created by Wes Robertson and the Lifetime training brain trust after 16 months of testing, it mashes up Alpha/GTX/Ultra Fit class DNA into a spectator-friendly, judgeable, and scalable race.

The 17-Station Format (a.k.a. “Cardio with Consequences”)

  1. 1,000 m run
  2. Barbell deadlift – hit a total (e.g., 10,000 lb men / 7,500 lb women)
  3. Row – 1,000 m / 750 m
  4. Wall balls – total load
  5. SkiErg – 1,000 m / 750 m
  6. Box jump overs – volume target
  7. 600 m run
  8. Shoulder-to-overhead – total load
  9. Row – 600 m / 450 m
  10. DB box step overs – volume target
  11. SkiErg – 600 m / 450 m
  12. Burpee box jump overs – volume target
  13. 400 m run
  14. DB ground-to-overhead – total load
  15. Row – 400 m / 300 m
  16. Sandbag over-shoulder – volume target
  17. 200 m sprint to finish

The secret sauce: strength stations use total poundage targets. Lift heavier = fewer reps; lighter = more reps. That turns every barbell into a strategy puzzle under fatigue. Pick wrong and your PR turns into a long, slow think-piece.

Opening Weekend: Big Names, Bigger Statement

The debut at Lifetime’s Minneapolis Target Center (ex-NBA practice facility—casual flex) drew cross-discipline talent:

  • Men: CrossFit Games star Noah Ohlsen claimed the inaugural win in 39:03, with engine monster Dylan Scott and other hybrids close enough to prove this isn’t just a strength bro convention.
  • Women: Lauren Weeks delivered a clinical, runaway W—dominant enough that the peanut gallery wondered if she’d still win with the men’s loads. (Answer: don’t poke that bear.)

Production & Judging (Yes, This Matters for SEO—and for athletes)

  • Judges were Lifetime coaches, not random volunteers. They passed a movement standards assessment before the weekend.
  • The event ran on 15-minute waves with head judges orchestrating “overtake” scenarios smoothly (no, you don’t get a free nap if you catch someone at a station).
  • Streaming, DJs, cameras—premium feel. And the amenities? Warmup space, showers, sauna, then swag. It’s like suffering… but curated.

Who Is LT Games For?

The Athlete Profile That Eats Here

  • Hybrid lifters with an engine: If you can keep barbell cycle speed high while holding steady on machines and runs, you’re in the money.
  • CrossFitters with pacing discipline: Your strength helps—if you avoid redlining on Station 2.
  • HYROXers with barbell economy: Your engine plays—if your overhead and hinge volumes don’t turn into a six-minute time-cap horror film.

Translation: This race rewards athletes who can do math at threshold and pick the right loads, then move them fast with clean ROM.

Strategy 101: How to Not Cook Yourself by Station 8

  • Choose Your Loads Wisely: Heavier isn’t always faster. If your barbell cycle speed drops into jerky singles, the “fewer reps” tradeoff backfires.
  • Front-Load Composure, Back-End Aggression: The first 1,000 m + deadlift is a trap. Keep your top gear for Stations 12–17 (burpee overs → sprint).
  • Transition Discipline: You’re not in a warehouse WOD. Every second between stations is a leaderboard shuffle.
  • ROM = ROI: Judging is tight. Sloppy lockout just buys you no-reps and lactic taxes you can’t afford.
  • Practice “Load Math” Under Fatigue: Sim your chosen loads and one step lighter. Know the rep math cold so you can pivot mid-race.

Is LT Games “Harder” Than HYROX or CrossFit?

Different animal. HYROX is linear engine with fixed station demands. CrossFit is domain roulette with high skill variance. LT Games sits in the middle lane: predictable stations, standardized judging, but with strategic load selection that can swing minutes.

That design makes LT Games feel fair, repeatable, and tactical—good for athletes, fans, and yes, sponsors who like clean narratives and cleaner scoreboards.

What’s Next for LT Games?

Lifetime’s advantage is absurd: space, equipment, coaches, and venues. The roadmap teased by Wes Robertson?

  • Replicate the modular Torque setup in more clubs
  • Build regional qualifiers that feed a national championship (Minneapolis likely home base)
  • Iterate logistics (wave timing, station spacing) without touching the core format… yet

Bookmark it: LT Games isn’t a one-off. It’s a platform.

FAQs

Is LT Games good for beginners?
Not really. It’s intentionally not for everyone. Train first, then sign up. Your kidneys will thank you.

How long does it take?
Elite men are flirting with sub-40. Most competitive heats will land 40–60 minutes, depending on load strategy and transitions.

What gear do I need?
Standard hybrid kit. If you’re smart, you’ll practice in the shoes you’ll race, and rehearse fast barbell loading.

How do I train for it?
8–12 weeks of race-specific work layered over hybrid base: tempo running, machines, barbell cycle speed, and load-selection sims.

Will there be age groups or doubles?
Age-group adaptations are on the table. Doubles has been discussed (logistics pending).

Key Takeaways (Pin These to Your Pain Cave)

  • Smart format: total-load strength + decreasing machine volumes = tactical racing.
  • Premium ops: judged by trained coaches, smooth wave control, media-ready.
  • Real parity: Engines can hang with strength monsters—if they game the loads.
  • Scalable future: Lifetime has the footprint to take this nationwide.

Ready to Dive Deeper?

  • 🎧 Podcast Recap: Race Brain’s full LT Games rundown—interview with Wes Robertson and athlete insights from Marcus “Debo” Wallace.
  • 📺 Highlights & Breakdowns: Watch race strategy in action and learn where seconds become minutes.
  • 📝 Training Guide (coming soon): 8-week LT Games build with load-math sessions and transition practice.

CTA: Want the LT Games Prep Template (free 2-week sampler)? Drop “LT PREP” in the comments or join the newsletter and we’ll send it.