Santa’s Sleigh Race 2025: Crushing 21K Rows & Spreading Holiday Cheer in Delray Beach!
Sweat, reindeer games, and a massive toy drive define this year's Iron Valor holiday challenge.
On Saturday, December 13th, the energy inside Iron Valor was electric. The holiday season is usually about relaxing, but our community decided to kick things off with sweat, hard work, laughter, and a whole lot of rowing at the Iron Valor Santa’s Sleigh Race 2025.
It was an incredible day of fitness and community spirit right here in Delray Beach. If you missed the action, don't worry—we’ve got the recap (and the photos) right here.
Rowing for a Reason in Delray Beach
Before we talk about the grueling workout, we have to mention the most important part of the day: the giving.
Iron Valor wants to give a massive shoutout to every single member and guest who showed up not just to workout, but to give back. Thanks to your generosity, we collected a mountain of toys for the Delray Beach Police Department Toy Drive.
It’s one thing to crush a workout; it’s another to help bring holiday joy to kids in our local community while doing it. You guys are amazing.
The Challenge: What is the 21K Row?
The "sleigh" our athletes had to pull wasn't light. The challenge was a 21,097-meter row—otherwise known as a half-marathon row.
Understanding the Challenge
The 21,097-meter row is a benchmark endurance challenge that demands respect. It’s a "rowing-only" WOD that strips away the barbells, leaving you with nothing but the monitor and your mindset. While world-class rowers aim to finish this distance solo in under 90 minutes, it is a massive undertaking for any athlete.
Strategy for the Long Haul:
- Consistent Pacing: The fastest way to finish is to stay steady. Fluctuating your speed wastes energy; find a rhythm and lock it in.
- Smart Setup: Set the damper to a drag factor that mimics water (usually a 3-5 setting). This saves your muscles from blowing out early.
- Chunking: The mental fatigue is often harder than the physical work. Break the row down into 5,000-meter milestones to keep your head in the game.
Race Day Recap: Reindeer Games & Chick-fil-A
For our Santa's Sleigh Race, we turned this individual test into a massive team effort. We had 8 teams of 4 participants, with each team adopting the name of one of Santa’s reindeer.
The competition was fierce! Dasher was chasing Dancer, and Comet was trying to out-row Cupid. It was an amazing display of teamwork and grit.
The results were incredible. Our teams finished the collective distance in times ranging between 1 hour 11 minutes and 1 hour 30 minutes.
Most importantly, it was a fantastic time and a killer workout. And because we believe in rewarding hard work, we celebrated the finish line with a post-workout lunch catered by Chick-fil-A. Does it get any better than earning those nuggets? We don't think so.
Check Out the Action!
Words don't do justice to the sweat and smiles from Saturday. You have to see the energy for yourself.
Are you looking for a gym in Delray Beach that challenges you physically and connects you with a great community? Come check out Iron Valor. We’re ready for you—whether it’s a 21K row for a special event like this or a normal workout or class on any other day.
Danger, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen all ready for some rowing fun!
The Santa's Sleigh Race Teams!
