How to Host a March Madness Fitness Challenge at Your Gym

March Madness isn’t just for college basketball enthusiasts. It’s time to bring the excitement to your fitness business! Engage and energize your community with this annual event that combines competition and camaraderie.

Use the free template at the end of this blog to host the ultimate March Madness fitness challenge that will have your members sweating, lifting, and cheering for more.

Step 1: Build Your Behind-the-Scenes Workflows

Behind every successful challenge is a well-thought-out plan. Before you dive into the challenge, do the groundwork to make sure everything will run smoothly.

You’ll want to start with designing a dedicated funnel inside of your software to manage registrations, provide real-time updates, and foster engagement throughout the entire challenge. Think about the logistics of your challenge as well. How will you get the word out? What will scheduling look like?

Remember, keep things simple and focus on creating a fun event. That’s what will get your members excited to participate.

Step 2: Spark Excitement and Engagement

Show your members why they should want to put their name on the bracket. Send personalized invitations and encouraging emails leading up to sign-ups to let them know what to expect.

Keep the excitement going with real-time updates. Share progress, celebrate wins, and build a feeling of connection with plenty of pictures. They’ll come in handy after the challenge, too, when you’ll want to share memorable moments, celebrate the winners, and thank everyone for participating.

Step 3: Recruit Your Challengers

A total of 16 participants can compete in this exclusive March Madness fitness challenge extravaganza. Leverage the power of exclusivity to fill these coveted slots. Highlight the limited availability of slots to create a sense of urgency and encourage early sign-ups. Tap into the competitive spirit by promoting the challenge as a chance for challengers to push their limits and showcase their skills.

Step 4: Let the Challenge Begin!

The March Madness Fitness Challenge will take 16 challengers through four rounds of intense exercise to see who will come out on top. Separate them into two groups and begin!

Round 1: AMRAP Madness

Challengers face off in an “As Many Rounds As Possible” workout within a specified time limit. Matchups will unfold with intense showdowns, creating an initial buzz of excitement.

Round 2: WOD Showdown

Winners from AMRAP Madness move on to classic CrossFit Workouts of the Day (WOD) for head-to-head competition.

Round 3: Heavy Lift Challenge

The strongest competitors will push their limits in classic lifts like deadlifts and clean and jerks.

Round 4: Endurance Battle

The two winners from the Heavy Lift Challenge will face off for glory by testing their cardio resilience. Set the gym on fire with intensity and declare your winner!

Run a Flawless Fitness Challenge With Zen Planner

From sign-ups to post-event communication, Zen Planner has you covered. Create an easy and engaging experience for your challengers with:

1. A Dedicated Funnel: Create an exclusive funnel in Zen Planner to ensure a competitive field and seamless sign-ups.
2. Real-Time Updates: Keep challengers in the loop with real-time updates on matchups, scores, and event highlights.
3. Email Campaigns: Leverage Zen Planner’s email capabilities to send personalized invites, event details, and motivational messages to keep the excitement buzzing.
4. Post-Event Communication: Celebrate the winners, share memorable moments, and collect valuable feedback through Zen Planner’s post-event communication features.

Set up a smooth event with Zen Planner so you can focus on hosting a fun, friendly (and fierce) March Madness fitness challenge.

Ready to Host Your Own March Madness Fitness Challenge?

Download your free March Madness fitness challenge bracket and get ready for a great event.

We encourage you to make this your own! Your gym community is unique, and this March Madness event is a canvas for you to get creative with. Tailor the challenges, tweak the structure, and infuse your gym’s personality into the event.