iF1000 Halloween Special

Infinity Fitness Reading CIC is hosting the iF1000 Halloween Special on Saturday 31 October, a fitness challenge run by Tony Charles. If you've never come across it, the iF1000 is a test of strength, power, stamina, conditioning and mental toughness across ten stations. Each station features two identical exercises that pit competitors against each other in a head-to-head battle, and you can take it on solo, as a pair or as a trio. The goal is to reach 1,000 points, and the higher-scoring ratios go to the advanced stuff: rope climbs, pull-ups, dips and elite muscle-ups. It's a tough one to crack — only a handful of people have ever completed the full challenge.

There's a leaderboard that records every score, and the whole point is to come back each season and beat your own best. Men use the same prescribed weights regardless of age or ability, women use lighter weights, and mixed pairs and trios use the men's weights. If you're not sure where you stand, the ten named courses can be trialled in dedicated classes on Mondays and Wednesdays at 8:00 pm, so you can get a feel for the stations before you commit to the full run.

This particular session is the Halloween special, so it falls on Saturday 31 October. The challenge starts at 08:00, with doors open from 7:30 am, and entry is free. You'll find it at Infinity Fitness Reading CIC, 1 Marcus Close, Reading RG30 4EA. Tony Charles describes the whole thing as 'Think HYROX but more FUN', which gives you a rough idea of the energy — high-intensity, competitive, and more about the atmosphere than a sterile gym session. If you've been training in those Monday and Wednesday classes, this is the chance to put it all together.