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Darnell Hardy | VO₂ & Endurance Coach

@dhardy.ig

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🧬 Endurance & VO₂ Coach | @powermonkeyfitness
🔥 Founder @optimizevo2
🧬 Unlocking performance & longevity through VO₂ & RMR test.
🎥 Storyteller

POSTS STORIES REELS

I don’t talk about this part of my life often. And because I don’t talk about it, it doesn’t mean I don’t think about it often. This experience has shaped me in so many ways. At 34 I had a stroke and 🧠 brain surgery. Here’s an excerpt from the write up at 8 Billion Ones…….

“Final thoughts, imagine taking your iPhone to the Apple store because of a minor problem. You get informed that you have to factory reset your phone and they’re not sure if you will get all of your data back. Imagine the panic, the uncertainty and frustration. Well, this analogy is what I faced but with my brain. Literally the plan was to do a “factory reset.” So here’s some truth’s that I have and helped me through this. In my time of struggle, I realize everyone is struggling with something. And right now, this moment, this is my test. I also realized that we don’t get to choose our battles, they choose us. And it’s how we attack those battles that speaks to the character of the person. I also realized that what I do matters and my reach was a lot deeper than I cared to acknowledge. It wasn’t until I came to accept all possibilities that might happen... I mean truly accept them. And then I decided that whatever version of me came out of surgery, I promised to be the best version of that Darnell, whatever the outcome.”

Full write up at https://8billionones.org/story-library-five/darnell-be-the-hero-of-your-own-story?rq=darnell by @dhardy.ig

🚨 VO₂max: The #1 Metric You’re Not Training Enough 🚨

Your VO₂max is your body’s maximal oxygen uptake — it measures how efficiently you use oxygen during intense exercise. But it’s more than just a fitness number — it’s a predictor of performance, endurance, and even longevity.

💥 Why VO₂max training matters:
✔️ Increases energy output at all intensities
✔️ Boosts your endurance engine AND recovery speed
✔️ Lowers your resting heart rate & improves heart health
✔️ Delays fatigue and raises your sustainable threshold
✔️ Helps you dominate in CrossFit, endurance, or life in general

👉 Think of it like your horsepower. More VO₂max = more capacity to do work.

📈 The best part? It’s highly trainable — when you train it right.

🧠 Want to know your number and how to train for YOUR physiology?
🎯 Book your VO₂max test and get a customized game plan to unlock your next level.

👇 Comment “VO2” or DM me “TEST” and I’ll send you details.
#OptimizeYourVO2 #MetabolicFitness #VO2max #CrossFitEngine #EnduranceTraining #Longevity by @dhardy.ig

Most athletes are guessing their training zones.

A lesson for me from my conversation with Darnell:

The more seriously you take performance, the less you should rely on guesses when the data is available.

Comment “TNNS” and I’ll send you the show! by @dhardy.ig

A high VO2 max does not automatically make you a great athlete.

Comment “TNNS” and I’ll send you the episode! by @dhardy.ig

AI can write your emails but it can't spot your handstand, walk with you up the ropes course, or share campfire stories over s'mores in the middle of the woods.

We built Power Monkey Camp to educate and provide world-class gymnastics and Olympic weightlifting to everyday athletes, coaches, and gym owners.

@powermonkeycamp has become globally recognized as a must-attend fitness experience, not only for the curriculum, but more importantly for the relationships, connection, and community built during the week.

No robot can replace it.

Who's coming in 2027? 👇

April 25-May 1
September 30-October 3

Tag the friend you're bringing!

#fitnesscamp #adultsummercamp #fitnessretreat #crossfitcoach #crossfitathlete by @dhardy.ig

Sometimes you do not appreciate the hard season until you are on the other side of it.

Perspective has a funny way of changing pain into gratitude.

Or as I like to say turn your pain into purpose.

Comment “TNNS” and I’ll send you the show! by @dhardy.ig

“I care less about who I was and I care more about who I am becoming” !!!
—
Comment “TNNS” and I’ll send you the show. by @dhardy.ig

The NUMBER ONE MISTAKE people make when they start running is…

Doing too much too fast.

That means running farther than you should or trying to maintain too quick a pace when your body isn’t ready for it.

If you were starting weightlifting you wouldn’t load up your bar with every weight in the gym. You progress over time.

Don’t overdo it. Listen to your body! by @dhardy.ig

Twinning with my twin @dhardy.ig 👯‍♀️
(We indeed share the same birthday!)

He’s training me to be able to carry my groceries home from Whole Foods 😂 by @dhardy.ig

Always a blessing when my bro @dhardy.ig comes through 🔥🤞🏽 20 Minute Clock: Alternate 400m Assault Run for max distance. Give it a try. by @dhardy.ig

Week 8. Race week.

Eight weeks of work for one opportunity to find out.

There’s nothing left to prove in training. Nothing to cram in. Nothing to chase.

The fitness is what it is.

Now it’s about staying healthy, staying sharp, and trusting the work.

Am I nervous? Absolutely.

Do I believe I can do it? Yeah.

So no more wondering.

Saturday, we find out.

🏃🏾 8/8 Weeks Complete
🎯 Sub-20 Minute 5K
📅 August 15

#RoadToSub20 #Sub20 #5KTraining #RaceWeek #RunningJourney OptimizeVO2 DataDrivenAthlete by @dhardy.ig

Week 7.

Somewhere along the way, I stopped looking for one workout to convince me I was ready.

There wasn’t one.

Confidence wasn’t built in a single session. It was built by showing up on the days I felt great, and on the days I questioned everything.

Looking back, that’s probably the biggest lesson from this challenge.

Belief isn’t something you find.

It’s something you earn.

One workout.
One decision.
One day at a time.

One week left.

🏃🏾 7/8 Weeks Complete
🎯 Sub-20 Minute 5K
📅 Race Day: August 15

#RoadToSub20 #Sub20 #5KTraining #RunningJourney #TrustTheProcess EnduranceTraining DataDrivenAthlete OptimizeVO2 KeepStackingDays by @dhardy.ig