The event serves as more than a mere social media stunt; it provides a case study in the limitations of commercial gym infrastructure when subjected to the extreme requirements of professional strongmen. Most professional strength athletes utilize "hardcore" gyms or private warehouses equipped with specialized implements such as Atlas stones, 1,000-pound capacity yokes, and log press bars. In contrast, Planet Fitness is marketed as a "Judgement Free Zone," a business model specifically designed to cater to the general population and "first-time" gym-goers, often characterized by its lack of traditional squat racks and a focus on fixed-motion machines.
The Physicality of Elite Strongmen in Commercial Spaces
To understand the spectacle of Hall and Shaw in a Planet Fitness, one must first consider the sheer scale of these athletes. Brian Shaw stands 6 feet, 8 inches tall and has historically weighed between 400 and 450 pounds during his competitive peak. Eddie Hall, though shorter at 6 feet, 3 inches, maintained a body mass of approximately 430 pounds during his 2017 championship run. Most commercial fitness equipment is engineered based on the ergonomic averages of the general public. Consequently, the first hurdle the duo faced was not the weight itself, but the physical dimensions of the machines.
The workout commenced with the Smith machine, a piece of equipment that utilizes a barbell fixed within steel rails, allowing only for vertical or near-vertical movement. Because Planet Fitness locations typically do not offer free-weight power racks to discourage "intimidating" lifting behaviors, the Smith machine was the only viable option for squatting. Observations from the session revealed that the width of the athletes’ shoulders and the thickness of their torsos made it difficult to center themselves under the bar. Shaw, in particular, had to modify his grip and stance significantly, eventually holding the outer frame of the machine to maintain stability. Despite these constraints, the pair loaded the machine with five 45-pound plates on each side, a load that approaches the structural limits of many commercial-grade Smith machines.
Technical Analysis of the Training Session
Following the squats, the athletes moved to a series of isolation and compound machines. The technical progression of the workout included:
- Abdominal Crunch Machine: A brief attempt at core isolation which served primarily to demonstrate the difficulty of fitting into seats designed for average-sized adults.
- Leg Press: This movement highlighted the "weight stack" issue common in commercial gyms. While the athletes loaded the machine with six 45-pound plates per side plus an additional plate on the sled, the mechanical advantage provided by the machine’s pulley or lever system meant that the resistance was negligible for athletes capable of raw squats exceeding 700 pounds.
- Isolation Circuit: The session included leg extensions, as well as adductor and abductor machines. In these instances, both Hall and Shaw quickly "maxed out" the weight stacks, performing repetitions with the entire rack of weights.
The primary takeaway from this sequence was the discrepancy between "commercial heavy" and "strongman heavy." For a standard gym member, a 200-pound leg extension is a significant feat of strength. For Hall and Shaw, it represents a resistance level that is often insufficient for even a de-loaded recovery session.
The Competitive Climax: The 20-Station Circuit Race
The session concluded with a structured competitive challenge designed to test work capacity and speed—attributes often overlooked in the public perception of strongmen but vital for the "medley" events in professional competition. The athletes entered the Planet Fitness "30-Minute Express Circuit" room, which features 20 numbered stations.
The rules of the challenge were simple: perform one repetition at the maximum available weight for every station in the room. This required not only strength but the ability to navigate a crowded floor and adjust machine settings rapidly. Eddie Hall, who has been focusing on increasing his mobility and cardiovascular health in recent years, completed the circuit in 1 minute and 15.09 seconds. Brian Shaw followed closely, finishing in 1 minute and 19 seconds. This narrow margin of less than four seconds underscores the high level of athleticism maintained by these men, even when operating in an environment that does not support their primary strength goals.
Contextualizing the Athletes’ Current Career Phases
The timing of this workout is significant for both athletes, as they occupy different stages of their professional lives. Brian Shaw is currently in what is considered a transitional "off-season." Having retired from the official World’s Strongest Man circuit, Shaw has shifted his focus toward his own promotion, the Shaw Classic, which has quickly become one of the most prestigious invites in the sport. His training currently emphasizes longevity and the promotion of strength sports to a wider audience.
Eddie Hall, conversely, is in the midst of a highly publicized return to the competitive arena. After five years away from strongman—a period during which he pursued professional boxing and various television projects—Hall is preparing to captain Team UK in the "World’s Strongest Nation" contest. This event, scheduled for late November 2022 at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, pits a team of British athletes against a team from the United States.
The US team is led by Martins Licis, the 2019 World’s Strongest Man. The rivalry between Hall and the American contingent adds a layer of competitive tension to these training videos. Hall’s performance at Planet Fitness, while lighthearted, serves as a "proof of life" for his fans, demonstrating that despite his weight loss and change in training focus, his baseline strength remains in the top 0.1% of the global population.
Broader Implications for the Fitness Industry
The interaction between the "Strongman" world and the "Commercial Gym" world highlights an ongoing shift in how strength sports are marketed. Historically, strongmen were viewed as niche, almost circus-like performers. However, the rise of YouTube and social media has humanized these giants. By placing themselves in a Planet Fitness—a gym that many viewers likely attend—Hall and Shaw bridge the gap between the unattainable elite and the everyday enthusiast.
From a business perspective, the video acts as an unintentional critique of the "one size fits all" approach to gym equipment. As strength training grows in popularity among the general public, there is an increasing demand for "hybrid" facilities that offer both the accessibility of a commercial gym and the specialized equipment (power racks, platforms, and heavy dumbbells) required for serious strength progression.
Furthermore, the "Lunk Alarm" policy at Planet Fitness—a siren that sounds if a member grunts too loudly or drops weights—stands in direct opposition to the physiological realities of heavy lifting. When moving hundreds of pounds, the Valsalva maneuver (a breathing technique) and vocalizations are often involuntary and necessary for safety. The fact that Hall and Shaw were able to complete their session without triggering the alarm (or perhaps while being granted a "celebrity exemption") highlights the performative nature of such gym policies.
Summary of Competitive Outlook
As the strength sports community looks toward the end of the 2022 calendar, the focus remains on the upcoming World’s Strongest Nation. The competition will feature a mix of traditional strongman events and team-based challenges, designed to test the depth of each nation’s talent pool.
Eddie Hall’s return is the primary storyline of the event. Critics have questioned whether a five-year hiatus and a significant change in body composition will hinder his ability to compete against active titans like Licis. However, his ability to move through a commercial gym circuit with the speed and efficiency displayed in Colorado suggests that his "engine"—the combination of cardiovascular capacity and explosive power—is functioning at a high level.
For Brian Shaw, the focus remains on the growth of the sport. By collaborating with Hall, his former rival, he continues to consolidate his influence as a global ambassador for strength. While they may not have found the "perfect" leg workout at Planet Fitness, the session succeeded in demonstrating that for the world’s strongest men, the environment is secondary to the effort. Whether in a high-tech performance center or a purple-and-yellow commercial club, the fundamentals of intensity and adaptability remain the hallmarks of their success.
