Guest: Liezel Van Der Westhuizen | Presenter at Talk Radio 702 / 567 Cape Talk and KFM

What if you had just 23 minutes to prove your strength, endurance and mental resilience, with a chance to compete for R20 000 in prize money? The Planet Fitness Hybrid Games 2026 are back for Season 2, bringing one of South Africa's emerging hybrid fitness competitions to Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria and Johannesburg. Combining running, strength training and functional fitness exercises into an intense 23-minute challenge, the competition tests much more than physical strength. Athletes must navigate eight two-minute work blocks, with one-minute recovery periods, while tackling movements such as SkiErg, rowing, sandbag lunges and wall balls. With R240 000 in total prize money, including R20 000 for each male and female age-category winner at the Grand Final, the stakes are higher than ever. But does being the strongest or fastest athlete guarantee success, or could smart pacing, efficient movement and recovery make all the difference?Fitness presenter, endurance athlete, burnout and mental fitness coach Liezel van der Westhuizen joins Africa Melane on CapeTalk and Talk Radio 702 to explore the growing popularity of hybrid racing and what makes the Planet Fitness Hybrid Games different from traditional endurance events and competitions such as HYROX. Liezel unpacks the science of combining cardiovascular fitness with muscular endurance, the mental resilience required to perform under pressure, and why strategic recovery is just as important as physical preparation. Discover how the competition works, who can enter, how athletes qualify for the Grand Final at Planet Fitness Olympus in Pretoria on 14 November 2026, and what to expect at the Cape Town qualifier at Planet Fitness Plattekloof on 24 October 2026. Whether you're a seasoned competitor, a gym enthusiast looking for your next challenge or someone curious about functional fitness, this conversation reveals how hybrid training can build strength, stamina and confidence both inside and outside the gym.

Early Breakfast with Africa Melane is 702’s and CapeTalk’s early morning talk show. Experienced broadcaster Africa Melane brings you the early morning news, sports, business, and interviews politicians and analysts to help make sense of the world. He also enjoys chatting to guests in the lifestyle sphere and the Arts. All the interviews are podcasted for you to catch-up and listen.

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