Why ‘extreme fitness FOMO’ can do more harm than good for people 40 and up

Driven by status and events like Hyrox, many midlife Hongkongers are pushing themselves to the limit. But experts warn of the dangers

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Leslie Evangelista, a physiotherapist at Hong Kong Sports Clinic who specialises in strength training for midlife, says that while someone in their 20s can “borrow from tomorrow and get away with it ... a midlife body keeps the receipts”. Photo: May Tse

People take part in Hyrox Hong Kong 2026 at AsiaWorld-Expo on May 8, 2026. Hyrox attracts people of all ages, but jumping into the activity too quickly - especially for those in mid-life - can cause problems. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Published: 7:15am, 26 Jul 2026

Hyrox, CrossFit, ultra-endurance trail runs – highly challenging activities such as these are popular in Hong Kong. The appeal is obvious: taking part in them makes ordinary people feel heroic. And in a city hooked on achievement, they have become a kind of status symbol.

But the popularity of such events is causing many Hong Kong people in midlife to be stung by what might be called “extreme fitness FOMO”, or the desire to do more than their bodies, schedules and recovery capacity can sensibly handle.

That pull is fuelled by the city’s mature endurance scene, where races like the 100km Hong Kong 100 and CrossFit have been entrenched for years. Add social media feeds extolling “beast mode” and “go hard or go home” as the only way to train, and it is easy to see how well-intentioned challenges turn into pressure.

“I love that people are actually throwing themselves into these things,” says Ant Haynes, a 36-year-old former Hong Kong rugby player, CrossFit Games athlete and co-founder of Coastal Fitness, who coaches professionals and amateurs alike. “But is there a better way that people could go about it? Absolutely.”

He acknowledges the alluring inclusivity of Hyrox – “they celebrate everyone, which is awesome” – but points out that it can be a trap for some.

“People start to lose sight of what they do on a daily basis. They’re a mom, they’re a dad, they have a family to look after. They have a job they have to actually … go and do.”

Coastal Fitness co-founder Ant Haynes says it is simply in a coach’s interest to “look for longevity” in a client. Photo: coastalfitnesshk.com

Why ‘extreme fitness FOMO’ can do more harm than good for people 40 and up

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Driven by status and events like Hyrox, many midlife Hongkongers are pushing themselves to the limit. But experts warn of the dangers

Driven by status and events like Hyrox, many midlife Hongkongers are pushing themselves to the limit. But experts warn of the dangers