The mic
Keynotes, MC and presentation nights. Or book the double: your best beats me in the afternoon, I take the mic that night.
- Corporate events and offsites
- Sports clubs and awards nights
- Weddings, farewells and funerals
Hi, I’m JL: a 43-year-old corporate junkie, sub-par athlete and first-time content creator, chasing 10,000 followers by turning up to races I’m not built for.
What’s HYROX? A fitness race: eight 1 km runs, each followed by a workout station like rowing, sled pushes or burpees. Paladin is a similar Aussie race. Anyone can enter. That’s the problem.
JLvPro
My first ever solo Pro HYROX. Heavier weights, no partner to hide behind, and a 43-year-old corporate junkie still learning what a wall ball is for.
Last time: Paladin NSW, 1:31:20. Kev’s 1:18:50 survived, so the Guinness is on me.
00Days
00Hours
00Mins
00Secs
46 days to go 路 12 of them in Mexico 馃尞
Paladin 路 24 OctMelbourne 路 11 Dec
Sub-par prep, fully committed.
Who is JL?
From the boardroom to the back of the pack
I started mowing lawns at 13, became a tradie, and spent twenty years building a business from the tools to the boardroom.
Then I lost 30 kg one small step at a time, ran my first 100 km for my mate Jimmy Merrick's family, and found out I like being the beginner.
So this season I'm chasing 10,000 followers across Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, as a sub-par athlete and first-time content creator. I've filmed plenty of selfies on my phone, but I've never made proper content or put myself out there like this. Every race, every run and every beer gets filmed. Everything starts with sweat. One more step, one more round, one more breath.
- Weight lost
- 30 kg
- Sydney Ultra, 100 km
- 18.5 hrs
- HYROX Sydney
- 59:01
The chase
74 of 10,000 followers
Wins 0Losses 0Beers owed 0Updated 14 Oct 2026
Have a go
Guess my time
Paladin NSW is done. Here's how it went.
Garmin1:28:24
Official1:31:20
Penalty+2:56
for being good looking
馃弳 Nathan 路 1:33:12 路 $250
馃 Kristy 路 Sub-Par Prize 路 $100
Nathan was closest to my official time. Kristy was closest to my Garmin, so she takes the Sub-Par Prize. Thanks to everyone who had a go. The next Guess my time opens before HYROX Melbourne.
Watch
See how it's going
Short videos most days. One longer episode for every race. Made by a first-time content creator, learning as I go.
Before I ran 路 30 kg, one step at a time
It started with 10,000 steps and less sauce
Not long ago I was over 120 kg, on painkillers, and couldn't hold a conversation after a flight of stairs.
There was no big transformation plan. I walked 10,000 steps a day and cut out the huge amount of sauce I was eating. Then I kept adding one more small change at a time, to what I ate and how I moved.
That's what got me to the start line at Miles for Merrick. Now I train twice a day, and I know what to eat without weighing food or reading every label.
Huge thanks to my good mate Scott Dillon at 365 Performance for being in my corner the whole way.
Why I run 路 Miles for Merrick
The day I became a runner
In June 2024 we lost Jimmy Merrick. Husband to Rach, dad to Ellie, and dad-to-be: Rach was pregnant at the time with Cooper.
Four months later, eight of us each ran 100 km around the Narellan athletics track, and our community ran another 1,000 miles with us. Together we raised $210,617 to finish the home Jimmy started building for his family.
I wasn't a runner. That day I found out what one more lap feels like. I haven't stopped since. Now I'm always chasing one more: the next dream, the next start line, the next person who needs a hand.
#NeverAlone 路 Film edited by James Anderson, Turbo Production
Episode 1 路 The new guy
43. Sub-par athlete. First-time creator.
21 years leading a business from the front. Now I'm at the back of the pack. Plenty of selfie videos on my phone, but never proper content. So I bought the gear, went to the gym and pressed record.
This is where Season 1 starts: one race, one run, one round at a time, all the way to 10,000 followers.
Out now 路 Subscribe so you don't miss the next one
One More Race 路 Paladin NSW 路 24 October
JL v 1:18:50
Kev won the 40 to 49s at Paladin Brisbane in 1:18:50. He isn't racing Newcastle, so I'm taking on his time instead.
If I lose, I fly to the Sunshine Coast and buy Kev a Guinness. Spoiler: start packing.
Out now 路 Watch race day below
One More Race 路 Paladin NSW 路 Result
1:31:20 (and a penalty)
Garmin said 1:28:24. The official clock said 1:31:20 after a penalty, which I’m calling a penalty for being good looking. 4th of 5 in my age group. Not last.
Kev’s time is safe, so I’m flying to the Sunshine Coast to buy him a Guinness. Then I deleted the whole day’s footage, got it back, and ran 21 km that same afternoon for Ned’s uncomfortable challenge.
Out now 路 Next: my first solo Pro HYROX, Melbourne, 11 December
Sub-par budget 路 Not sponsored (yet)
$400 PUMAs, thanks to my credit card
The pros throw their gear in the air and land fully dressed. Take one did not go to plan. Take two: Budgy Smugglers, a cap and the new PUMAs.
PUMA, you’re welcome. Budgy Smuggler, call me.
Out now 路 Subscribe so you don’t miss the next one
Get involved
Turn up. Have a go. Stay for a drink.
Bring me to your race, your sport or your town. One form, about a minute, and I read every one.
- One More RacePut me in your race, comp or fitness event.
- One More RoundA 5 km run wherever I land. Finish it and the coffee's on me.
- One More LossYour sport, your club, your rules. I'll probably lose.
- One More DrinkNominate a local legend. I shout the round, whether it鈥檚 coffee, lemonade or a beer, and ask your questions.
- One More FirstSomething I've never done. Then one of you gets to do it too.
Work with JL
Book me, back me, or bring me in
The season is funded by real work. If you've got a room to fill, a brand to put in front of people, or a business to build, let's talk.
Brands and events
Put your name on a race, a pillar or a prize, or dare me into your event. If I say yes, I turn up, I film it and your name is on it.
- Sponsor a pillar or a race
- Put up a prize
- Dare me (charity dares welcome)
Business mentoring
I'm looking for energetic founders who want to go big. I only work with two or three founders at any one time, and I want it to be fun, purposeful and creative.
Twenty years building a business from the tools to the boardroom, now in your corner.
If this is you, apply here
Season 1
Start lines booked
Paladin NSW, Newcastle Done
1:31:20. Kev’s 1:18:50 survived. One Guinness owed.
HYROX Melbourne, Pro Men Next
My first solo Pro race. The heavier weights. It will hurt.
HYROX Auckland, Pro Men
First race across the ditch.
HYROX Brisbane, Pro Men
Another start line. Then we'll see what's next.
Where does Season 1 end?
Keep watching.