The world of running has been changing in recent years. More and more athletes are combining running with strength training and hybrid disciplines that combine endurance, power, and effort management. Among these, HYROX is probably the most representative format: a meeting point between endurance and functional training that requires a different approach, not only in training but also in injury prevention.
We spoke with Elisa Adorni, a massage physiotherapist with a master's degree in Sports Science. After a background as a runner, she now competes in HYROX races and supervises the daily training of hybrid athletes. We explored with her what it means to approach this transition sustainably and the foundations needed to maintain consistency in training.
In recent years, you've transitioned from running to hybrid disciplines like HYROX. What drove you to make this change, and what has it taught you as an athlete?
Elisa : For the past three years, I've combined my running training with CrossFit. It all started with the need to strengthen my shoulders and arms for my work as a massage therapist. But in a short time, this sport has become much more: a new motivation, new skills to develop every day, a true personal challenge for an athlete.
I stepped out of my running comfort zone and challenged myself in a completely different area, one in which I still have a lot to learn and improve, and that's exactly what I'd been missing when I just ran.
From a professional point of view, what is the difference between training the body of a runner and that of someone who practices HYROX?
Elisa : Hyrox and the new hybrid competitions emerging in recent years, like the ATHX Games, offer runners new incentives and challenges that integrate endurance and strength. It's precisely this last component that most runners overlook and which, along with technique, requires work to be able to tackle a Hyrox.
You need to train for the fatigue that builds up when alternating between running and exercise. This is a different type of endurance than running and should be simulated in training by incorporating high-intensity sessions and interval training.
More and more runners are incorporating strength and hybrid workouts. What are the foundations needed to do this injury-free?
Elisa : Strength training in itself is already an excellent method for preventing running injuries. Professional athletes always include strength sessions alongside sport-specific work in their training programs.
A more stable, muscularly balanced body is able to better manage training loads and avoid compensation and overload of the musculoskeletal structures.
Even for strength training, it's important to rely on a good professional who can create a personalized program based on the athlete's needs, weaknesses, and competition goals. Exercise technique is also crucial, and here too, it's essential to consult with your coach to correct any errors.
In your work with athletes, how important is preparation and recovery management—including treatments, routines, and support tools—to maintaining continuity in training?
Elisa : Recovery is an integral part of training, whether in running-only programs or hybrid programs like Hyrox. Depending on the training goals, there may be active recovery periods or periods of complete rest. I always recommend combining these with mobility and muscle stretching sessions, as well as myofascial release treatments, both with a foam roller and with the help of a therapist, especially if the athlete is prone to muscle strain and fatigue.
Self-massage with specific products for muscle and tendon recovery, such as COOLDOWN cream or oil by SPORTLAB Milano, is also a recovery routine I always recommend to the athletes I supervise.
Training increasingly "hybrid" athletes has also led you to develop an online consulting program. How did MOVE BETTER come about, and who can it help?
Elisa : I've decided to open my practice to online consultations, to support athletes not only locally but also remotely.
Move Better is a one-to-one online consultancy program for athletes that integrates sports-related massage therapy, programming, and technical analysis. It's designed for those who want to improve their performance and those who want to safely return to training after an injury or recurrence.
Through a detailed functional assessment, correction of running and Hyrox techniques, a personalized corrective exercise protocol, and targeted sports integration management, the method offers a comprehensive and safe approach to running better, moving better, and training consistently.
The core of the method is one-on-one coaching based on listening, analysis, ongoing adjustments, and professional guidance. For sustainable, real results achieved with complete confidence.
The transition from running to hybrid disciplines isn't just a matter of training, but of vision. It requires a stronger, more stable, and more aware body, but also a different approach to load management, recovery, and prevention. As Elisa's words reveal, consistency remains the key: training better means training longer.
And this is where the concept of sports care promoted by SPORTLAB Milano comes into play: taking care of the body consistently, not just when discomfort or injury arises, but as an integral part of training. Recovery, prevention, and load management become tools for maintaining quality and continuity over time, allowing runners and hybrid athletes to sustain increasingly comprehensive training volumes without losing balance.
