ABOUT ME
I’m Aaron Woodman, a HYROX coach and athlete with nearly two decades in the fitness industry. I’ve been coaching since 2009 and have spent that time working with everyone from everyday gym members to competitive endurance athletes. Over the last few years my focus has moved heavily into HYROX, both as a competitor and as a coach, helping athletes build the engine, strength endurance and race execution needed to perform properly on race day.
My background in sport started long before coaching. I grew up playing rugby at county level, where most of my early understanding of training came from team sport and competition. In 2014 I moved away from rugby and into endurance sport, which eventually led to representing Northern Ireland Masters in cross country and running a 2:24 marathon. That period taught me a lot about aerobic development, durability and the long-term process required to perform well in endurance sport.
Alongside competing, I was building my coaching career. I qualified in the fitness industry in early 2009 and spent years on the gym floor coaching individuals, running classes and learning how people actually train in the real world. In 2015 I became an exercise therapist, working with a wide range of clients including people dealing with chronic injuries, amputees and individuals recovering from neurological trauma. Helping people rebuild movement and strength from the ground up gives you a very different perspective on the human body and how it adapts.
In 2016 I completed my degree in Strength and Conditioning and continued building my education through courses, practical experience and thousands of hours coaching athletes. Over time that experience shaped the way I look at training: less about trends and quick fixes, more about systems that consistently improve performance.
I discovered HYROX in 2022 and immediately recognised how well it blended endurance, strength and race execution. Since then I’ve competed in more than 40 HYROX races, podiumed three times at the HYROX World Championships, held multiple age group world records and set the British Open record. Racing regularly has been a huge part of understanding the sport properly. The pacing, the fatigue, the way small mistakes compound through the race. Those experiences directly shape how I coach athletes for the sport.
While I still compete, coaching has become the part I’m most passionate about. Over the last few years I’ve helped athletes qualify for HYROX World Championships, reach podiums and dramatically improve their race performances. For many people the biggest gains come from learning how to train and race properly rather than simply doing more work.
Experience & Results
Coaching & Education
- Nearly 20 years coaching experience in the fitness industry
- B.Sc. in Strength and Conditioning (2016)
- Exercise Therapist specializing in rehabilitation and complex neurological trauma
Endurance Background
- 2:24 Marathon Personal Best
- Represented Northern Ireland Masters in Cross Country
- Former County Level Rugby Player
HYROX Achievements
- 40+ HYROX races competed globally - giving me insight into how to help people prepare and race well in Hyrox
- 3× HYROX World Championship Podium finishes
- Multiple HYROX Age Group World Records
- British Open HYROX Record Holder
- Guided 100+ athletes to Worlds qualification
- Countless podiums acquired by WDM members
THE COACHING APPROACH
FIRST PRINCIPLE
Build the aerobic system properly. A strong fundamental engine is critical for longevity in a race; if the aerobic capacity isn’t big enough, the high-intensity demands of HYROX will expose vulnerabilities very quickly.
SECOND PRINCIPLE
Develop sustainable intensity. Much of a HYROX race sits around threshold, so athletes need to be able to operate effectively at that level while already carrying significant fatigue from previous functional stations.
THIRD PRINCIPLE
Practice execution. Pacing, transitions, and station management can cost minutes if done poorly. Learning to manage effort across the whole race is the difference between peak performance and a difficult day.