TWO fitness fanatics have completed a gruelling fitness challenge to be named the best in Scotland.

Gordon Stables and Anna Aitken completed eight 1km runs each, followed by a strength or fitness workout, in a total time of 59 minutes and 18 seconds.

Workouts included rowing, skiing, sled pulls and pushes, wall balls, a ‘farmers carry’, sandbag lunges and the dreaded burpee broad jumps.

The duo, who are community fitness coaches from Dunbar’s Sports + Fitness Hub, were competing in the gruelling Hyrox fitness challenge.

They also finished fifth in the UK and 35th overall in the mixed doubles event that totalled 296 starters.

Anna also represented Scotland in the mixed relay team, alongside Kelly Limond (ex-Commonwealth Games rower), Graham Halliday (currently in the world’s top 10 Hyrox males) and John Carlisle (a Hyrox athlete). They finished 11th out of 19 countries.

Some 175,000 Hyrox athletes have taken part in events worldwide this year but only two per cent were invited to the World Championships in Nice.

Gordon said: “It was just amazing to go toe to toe with some of the world’s top athletes and professionals of this sport.

“Hyrox is an amazing fitness challenge that has become incredibly popular.

“The appeal is that, with some practice, anyone can do it.

“The atmosphere at the events is something else.”

More and more of the Hub’s members – called Hubsters – are taking part in these events.

In Dublin last year, there were about 20 competing, while in Glasgow in March, there were nearly 50.

Later this year, some are heading to Madrid to compete.

Gordon, who founded the Hub in 2017 with a class of just four people, said: “The Hub has grown more than I ever could have imagined, thanks to the support of our amazing community and an outstanding coaching team.

“I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built together – a place for serious training in a relaxed environment that welcomes everyone.”

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There are now more than 130 members, as well as those who pay per class and personal training clients.

Each week, the Hub has more than 40 timetabled sessions – from spinning and pilates to circuits and run clubs.

Anna, one of the coaches at the Hub, said: “I told Gordon that if he races out of the blocks too fast I was never going to speak to him again!

“There were certainly moments that things hurt but thinking of everyone cheering us on back in Dunbar really helped.

“It’s not easy juggling training with work and family but we love every minute.”

Hubsters also recently raised £3,100 for Maggie’s Centre at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh.

The annual Hub Games at The Hub, next to East Links Farm Park, attracted 80 competitors.