Friends to complete Hyrox in full firefighter kit

Two friends will travel to the UK to complete a Hyrox, but with a twist - as they leave their gym gear at home and instead complete the tough indoor challenge wearing full firefighting kit.

Manx firefighters Kieran Thomas, 40, and Andy Lean, 39, who volunteer at the Castletown and Malew Fire Station, will be raising money for the island's mental health charity Isle Listen.

They will attempt to complete a Hyrox Pro Doubles - an 8km (5-mile) run with eight workouts in between with 73lbs (33kg) kettlebells, 49lbs ( 22kg) sandbags and a 0.6-mile (1km) row - in Manchester on Friday.

Despite fitness not being new to the pair, Kieran said "we've made this challenge harder".

Kieran, who has worked with the fire service for a year said he wanted to take part in a fitness competition to mark his 40th birthday after completing an Ironman for his 30th.

"I hit 40 last year and decided I wanted to do something and bring someone with me," he said.

"We're both in the fire brigade and I thought 'why don't we do it in our fire kit?'

"We've done loads of training in our kit, I think we're ready for it now".

Their kit weighs about 22lb (10kg), and aside from that weight - the uniform brings with it its own unique challenge.

"Not only does it keep exterior heat out but it also holds body heat in.

"The heat exhaustion is going to be the big challenge", said Andy, who works as a data analyst on the island when not in uniform.

The friends have a key for their gym in Ballasalla which has allowed them to train with their kit on whenever suits them.

"You feel a little bit stupid wearing your full firefighter kit in session with other people but it's for a reason," Kieran said.

That reason being to highlight the importance of mental heath, which both said they had seen first hand.

Andy, who has been in his role for 13 years said: "As a firefighter, unfortunately some of the callouts we response to, we're seeing people at the back end of mental health struggles.

"With the downsides of the job, we've experienced calls that have affected the mental health of the fire station."

For Kieran, the issue was closer to home: "When Andy mentioned raising money for a mental health charity, it was good for me, with things that happened with me in my upbringing.

"It spurs you on a little more," he added.

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