The Inaugural Push, Pull, Run

It started — as many of Lleyton’s schemes did — in the lunch room, somewhere between a protein shake and a double-shot espresso.

Lleyton, one of our arena’s physios, was famous for two things: an obsessive love of lifting weights and a wardrobe that looked straight out of Rocky III. On any given day, you’d see him bouncing around the clinic in a stringer tank top, headband, and gym shorts, smack-talking between treatment sessions.

A few months back, he’d spotted a video on Facebook: another clinic had hosted a fitness event — deadlift, bench press, and a mile run. The idea took hold instantly.

“We could do that — and do it better,” he announced one morning, loud enough for half the office to hear.

At first, it was casual banter. But soon the hype began to build.

“We’ll call it Push, Pull, Run,” Lleyton declared. “Deadlift, bench press, MILE run.”

But when his own “test run” ended with him keeled over in the staff carpark, bright red and gasping, he quietly revised the plan:

“Actually… a kilometre is more explosive. Makes for a better spectacle, right?”

No one argued. Privately, everyone knew the reason: Push and Pull were Lleyton’s domain — Run? Not so much. The event was locked in as a 1km.

“Guys’ and girls’ categories. First-ever Push, Pull, Run. Who’s in?”

Pull — Deadlift

Silence crowded the arena as Ryley approached the bar. Calm and collected, he effortlessly hit a commanding 200 kg, sending a wave of awe through the room.

Keagan then stepped up, pulling off a feat nobody expected — smashing 190 kg, an astonishing lift that had everyone buzzing, and securing a solid second place in the deadlift category.

Jasmine followed, smashing 120 kg with strong, steady form.

Push — Bench Press

Tim led the charge with a solid 130 kg press.
Jasmine powered through a jaw-dropping 52.5 kg on the bench press — narrowly edging out Lelia, whose own impressive effort was just shy by a whisker, making Jasmine the queen of the bench press for the girls.