S2 E10: Josh Van Zeeland

This week on the 8x8 Podcast we sit down with Julien Coquillaud Salomon.By day he is a working dad. By night he trains and competes at the highest level in HYROX Pro.His best time so far is 54:13, but what stood out to us is not just the performance. It is the way he fits serious training into a normal, busy life.In this episode we talk about what it really looks like behind the scenes. Managing time, staying consistent, dealing with tired days, and still choosing to show up.This is about discipline, priorities, and the reality of chasing big goals while handling everyday responsibilities.Listen now on all 8x8 Podcast channels.#8x8Podcast #HYROX #WorkingDad #JulienCoquillardSalomon #HYROXFranceSupport the show

This season of the 8x8 is powered and supported by our partners In8te.In8te brings you performance-driven, race-enhancing kits engineered for that crucial 1% edge. 90% of athletes race faster in In8te.Check them out:📸 IG: @RaceIn8te🌐 Web: RaceIn8te.comNow… let’s get into it 👇BEYOND THE TEARS: FIND OUT WHO IS SASKIA MILLARDIn this episode, we sit down with rising HYROX athlete Saskia Millard, a full-time doctor working in major trauma, while rapidly climbing the ranks in elite competition.In just a few months, Saskia has gone from her first race to posting one of the fastest times in the sport… and she’s only getting started.We cover her journey growing up in London, her sporting background, and what it’s like navigating a sudden rise in the spotlight. From training and mindset to balancing hospital shifts with high-level performance, this one goes deep.🔥 Expect honest insights, plenty of laughs, and a rapid-fire round that tells you everything you need to know about Saskia in under a minute.⏱️ Timestamps:00:00 – Intro04:24 – “Who is Saskia Millard?”05:18 – Life as a doctor in major trauma06:00 – Training, golf & life outside sport07:20 – Golf swing tips 😂08:00 – Growing up in London10:08 – Family, sport & early influences11:00 – Entering HYROX & first experiences12:00 – The HYROX community16:00 – First race struggles (yes… tears on the sled 😅)17:20 – Rapid fire questions22:20 – Training mistakes people make23:00 – Sudden rise in the sport26:40 – Inspiration & coaching from her dad32:00 – Favorite training sessions34:00 – Balancing medicine & elite sport36:00 – The future of HYROX (how fast can it go?)39:30 – Race strategy for Warsaw41:40 – Podium predictions 👀43:00 – Advice for improving your race time45:50 – Final thoughts & mindset💡 Key Takeaways:• You don’t need perfect conditions to perform at a high level• Small improvements = massive gains in HYROX• Proper fueling can transform your race• Enjoying the process matters just as much as winning💬 Join the conversation:What’s your biggest challenge in HYROX right now? Drop it in the comments 👇🔔 Don’t forget:Like 👍 | Subscribe 🔔 | Share 📲Support the show

Liam McCroary is a former professional footballer who now works full time as a prison officer and competes among the Elite 15 in HYROX.In this episode, Liam shares his journey from professional football into HYROX while balancing a demanding career in the prison service.We talk about confidence, growth, and learning to perform at a high level while competing alongside some of the best athletes in the sport.This is a positive conversation about belief, progress, and enjoying the challenge one race at a time.Support the show

Josh van Zeeland joins the 8x8 Podcast to talk about what happens when you suddenly find yourself racing at the front of HYROX.We get into the pressure of the Elite field, blocking out outside noise, mental battles at the top, and the moment you stop chasing and start believing you belong. We also talk future race times, the idea of a perfect HYROX relay, and what this sport could look like in the next few years.Straight talk. No fluff.Support the show

This week’s episode breaks the usual format, no structure, no script, just a real conversation with Luke Greer, the newcomer who’s already rewritten what’s possible in the UK HYROX scene.Luke has only been in the sport for a year and somehow he already holds the UK record. He walks into the studio looking like the most normal, down-to-earth guy… and then you remember he’s running times that don’t make sense for someone this early in their career.We ask him the question that everyone else has been whispering: “How does it feel to have the community calling you the future of HYROX?” And for the first time, he talks honestly about what that label does to him: the pressure, the excitement, and the expectations he’s still learning to carry.We go deeper into the three-year break he took from sport, the moment he quit his job after Chicago to go all-in, the speed he had long before HYROX, and what last week’s race in London meant to him on a personal level. It’s raw, funny, and real, exactly why he’s our first guest in the new “Rising Star” series.Support the show

In this episode, we sit down with Ida Mathilde Steensgaard, the athlete, yes, but more importantly, the person behind for a very real conversation about pressure, expectations, and the strange way imposter syndrome can creep in, even when you’re performing at a high level.We also get into the deeper question of why some people chase bigger and bigger goals. Is it because we genuinely love the challenge… or because it helps us avoid the tougher parts of life? Is it passion? Is it pain? Is it escape?Ida shares her experience qualifying for the World Championships, getting lost in a training bubble, and using that focus as a way to escape everything else happening around her. She also opens up about the contrast between her corporate career and her life as a multisport athlete — and how she tries to keep both worlds balanced.A very honest look into ambition, pressure, and the mindset behind high performance: the happy and positive minded Ida Mathilde Steensgaard.Support the show

Tomas Tvrdik doesn’t exactly live life in the slow lane. His friends call him T1000. He’s a husband, a dad, a soldier, and a guy who loves anything with an engine, but he’s also someone who decided that “average” wasn’t an option.He talks about what it’s like to live at a constant high heart rate, both in HYROX and in life. He went from 109 kilos to one of the athletes in the Elite 15, while juggling family life and joining the military at 37. We hear why he chases adrenaline, how hard it is to shave off fractions of a second at this level, and what it felt like during the qualification race with Sean. We also touch on his podcast, his personality, and yes… his secret dance move. It’s the story of someone who really meant it when he said “f*ck average”: a man who lives loud, trains hard, and refuses to let age or expectations set his limits.Support the show

Inside the Mind of Kate Davey: Crazy Energy, Real Friends & a Bloody Nose In this episode of the 8x8 Podcast, Kate Davey brings her crazy energy, honesty, and humor to the table. She talks about the side of herself most people never get to see: from the random things she's obsessed with, to coming out of the water with a bloody nose.Kate opens up about what truly makes her happiest, how training keeps her grounded, and the mental strength she’s built along the way of recovery. She also shares how helping others ended up helping her, and how tough moments have taught her who her real friends are.This conversation is full of laughter, real talk, and pure “Kate energy.” You’ll definitely walk away inspired.Support the show

Tom Rodgers is a HYROX Elite athlete with the engine, focus, and discipline to compete at the top level.As a full-time police officer, he balances demanding shifts with intense training, building strength, speed, and strategy that make him stand out in the HYROX community.Currently sidelined by injury, Tom shares what it takes to stay disciplined, maintain his mindset, and prepare for the day he’s back on the course.This is a look at an athlete who combines elite potential with real-world grit — and why Tom Rodgers is one to watch.#TomRodgers #HYROX #HYROXElite #HybridAthlete #PoliceOfficer #Injury #RecoveryMindset #ElitePerformanceSupport the show

In this special 8x8 Pod episode, the HYROX Elite 15 share their best advice on how to cut 10 minutes off your HYROX time.Featuring Alexander Roncevic, Lauren Weeks, James Kelly, Dylan Scott, Tim Wenisch, Sean Noble, Jon Wynn, Hidde Weersma, Vivian Tafuto, Pelayo Menendez, Beau Willis, Jess Pettrow, Amy Bavilacqua, and Harry Thompson, this episode is packed with elite-level insights to help you race smarter, train harder, and perform better.Support the show