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Bahram Akradi

Throughout our lives, competition — with others or ourselves — has the unique ability to help us unlock our potential. Whether it’s a physical or mental test or at a recreational or elite level, competing challenges us to grow our skills and abilities, go beyond perceived limitations, and discover what’s possible.

This universal truth is at the heart of LT Games, a hybrid fitness competition we’re excited to launch at Life Time in 2025. Designed to reframe how we approach training and, more importantly, how we see ourselves, this competition will offer something truly transformative.

LT Games combines Life Time’s state-of-the-art facilities, coaching expertise, and personalized athletic ­experiences to create a competition platform unlike any other. It’s an organic extension of Life Time’s signature training classes — Alpha, GTX, Ultra Fit, and MB360. Each of these offerings centers on functional movements (think squatting, lunging, pushing, pulling, and running), and they’re all aimed at equipping participants with tools for living their best lives beyond their regular 60-minute workouts.

LT Games takes that vision one step further by introducing the invigorating element of competition. When you commit to competing, your mindset shifts. Training ­becomes more intentional and focused, transforming you from someone who exercises to someone preparing for a goal. The preparation changes how you train and even how you view yourself as an athlete.

And the transformation isn’t just reserved for seasoned athletes. LT Games is designed for everyone, regardless of experience. Whether you’re an elite competitor pushing your limits or a beginner testing the ­waters, LT Games centers on personal growth. The true competition lies not with others but within yourself.

A hallmark of the event’s structure is the choose-your-own-adventure approach, which balances intensity and accessibility. Using a weight-to-repetition scaling system, participants customize their efforts to align with their strengths. For example, opting for heavier weights means fewer repetitions, whereas choosing lighter weights requires more reps. This ensures the competition is equitable and more accessible to more people.

In the end, each participant completes the same overall workload. The goal is to finish the event in the fastest time possible, so competitors will need to be strategic and realistic in choosing a path.

The impact of LT Games promises to extend beyond the competition floor. Training for the event will build not just physical strength and endurance but also mental fortitude. It will forge a sense of community among participants who share a commitment to growth — which I think is one of the most valuable aspects of this journey.

A tangible goal with a deadline gives workouts a new sense of purpose and significance. It’s about showing up even when motivation dips, as well as committing to the effort that’s needed to achieve your desired results. The process becomes as important as the goal itself.

This mindset applies whether your intent is simply to finish the event or to stand atop the podium. Signing up for a competition takes guts: It’s a commitment to yourself — to prepare, to show up, and to give your best effort.

When it’s all said and done and the adrenaline fades, only you will know whether you gave it your all. That’s the essence of competition — facing the nerves, embracing the process, and savoring that feeling of accomplishment.

As we prepare to launch LT Games, I invite you to consider what joining this community could mean for you. If you’re unsure whether a competition like this is right for you, take a moment to picture yourself on the starting line. Close your eyes and see your fellow competitors beside you, the various events lined up ahead.

Feel the nerves? Good. That’s how it should be. Competition is about growth, and every athlete — regardless of experience — was once a beginner, feeling those jitters. So, remember, it isn’t where you start that matters, but that you choose to begin at all.

Bahram Akradi
Bahram Akradi

Bahram Akradi is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Life Time. Hear more from him at BahramAkradi.com.

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