Ryan Hart is the owner and head coach of HartFit ELEVATE OCR and has dedicated much of his life to helping others discover what they are capable of through fitness, adversity, and personal growth.
Growing up in Illinois, Ryan was not a naturally gifted athlete. Like many of the people he coaches today, he experienced periods of self-doubt, poor decisions, setbacks, and personal struggles. Fitness became more than a hobby—it became a vehicle for rebuilding discipline, confidence, and direction. Those experiences shaped the coaching philosophy he carries today: success is not reserved for the naturally talented, but for those willing to show up consistently and do difficult things.
Ryan began his professional coaching career in 2003 after graduating from the National Personal Training Institute with certifications in personal training and nutrition. He founded Hart Fitness LLC and spent years working with clients from all backgrounds, helping them improve their health, lose weight, build strength, and achieve goals they once thought were out of reach.
In 2011, Ryan discovered obstacle course racing and immediately connected with the sport’s blend of endurance, grit, and problem-solving. He completed his first Spartan Race in 2012 and became a Spartan SGX Coach in 2014. Over the years, he competed in races across the country, including Spartan, Savage Race, Frontline OCR, Highlander Assault, Abominable Snow Race, and OCR World Championships qualifying events.
Ryan has completed nine Spartan Ultras, earned multiple age group podium finishes, including a 2nd Place Age Group finish at the 2026 Spartan Colorado Springs Ultra, and captured 1st Place overall at the 2018 Dirt Runner Midwest Mayhem 24-Hour Race. While proud of his personal accomplishments, he considers coaching achievements far more meaningful.
As founder and coach of the FLATliners OCR Team, Ryan helped develop a community of nearly 70 athletes who collectively earned close to 100 podium finishes across obstacle racing, endurance events, and world championship competitions. Among the team’s highlights was a 3rd Place Elite Team Relay finish at the 2022 OCR World Championships.
In 2025, Ryan relocated from Illinois to Colorado and launched HartFit ELEVATE OCR in Peyton, Colorado. Built on five acres of private property, the facility reflects everything he believes obstacle course racing should be: outdoor training, real obstacles, endurance, strength, and the willingness to embrace discomfort rather than avoid it.
Today, Ryan specializes in helping everyday people, competitive OCR athletes, first responders, military personnel, and youth athletes build practical fitness that extends beyond the gym. His coaching philosophy centers on developing strength, endurance, resilience, and confidence through controlled adversity.
Whether an athlete is training for a Spartan Race, preparing for a demanding profession, or simply trying to become a stronger version of themselves, Ryan’s goal remains the same: help people overcome obstacles on the course so they can better overcome obstacles in life.
