Ryan Hart

Developing an appreciation for health and fitness in my mid 20's after a teen and early adult life consumed by drugs, alcohol, court dates and depression, I became a Certified Personal Trainer through the National Personal Training Institute (NPTI)  in which I also received a diploma in Nutritional Consultation.

Beginning my Personal Training career based off of the plan to stay accountable to myself entrusting the accountability of others to me, I started off part-time at the Heritage YMCA in Naperville, Illinois after graduation from NPTI in 2003.

Receiving an opportunity to expand and develop my own business off the heels of a dedicated following upon leaving the YMCA, I began Hart Fitness LLC in 2007 and partnered with Tony Tomich of Real Life Personal Training in 2009 where I received guidance and support in the growth of both my business and profession. 

In the summer of 2011, I was introduced to the sport of Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) though it's humble beginnings at a Warrior Dash, and following my first Spartan Race in 2012, I knew that I had truly found my passion and charged ahead to create something special, becoming Spartan SGX Certified in 2014 and opening my first "OCR based" gym in 2015. 

Along with the start of the new HartFit, the FLATliners team was created to represent the embodiment of all life's challenges including physical, mental and emotional obstacles, and our team's ability to overcome them all under the slogan of "Failure is Dead on Arrival". 

Ambitiously in 2019, my belief that our OCR classes and race series were worthy of becoming an Obstacle Course Racing World Championship (OCRWC) qualifying facility was pursued and ultimately granted, even as our community struggled together to keep our gym alive and well through the COVID-19 shutdowns.

Ultimately, we sacrificed our first location to bring on an even better experience for our members while saving money and increasing our efficiency with the help of the amazing Race Ready Obstacles.

In 2020, recognizing the functionality of the new sport of Hybrid Fitness and coming off of the first ever HYROX held in Chicago, HartFit became one of the first Spartan DEKA Founding Affiliates in Illinois and proudly remain as one to this day.