We are thrilled to welcome HYROX Elite 15 power couple Pelayo Menendez Fernandez and Elena Rouco Chas, to our team of Plasmaide Pro Athletes.
After over a year of real-world testing this partnership isn't just an endorsement; it’s a testament to the numerous benefits of Plasmaide. Both Pelayo and Elena add Plasmaide to their training and competition regimes and never travel without it.
“I travel a lot for racing and training, often taking more than 50 flights per year. Plasmaide helps maintain my oxygen levels at altitude so I recover faster during and after travel, so I arrive at my destination feeling ready to train and compete. And on top of that, it tastes great.” - Elena Rouco Chas
“I use Plasmaide as part of my race preparation protocol during the two weeks leading into a major competition. It helps optimize hydration, plasma volume, and overall readiness so I can perform at my best on race day.” - Pelayo Menendez Fernandez
GET TO KNOW PELAYO AND ELENA
How did you first get into HYROX?
We had just returned from the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona in October 2022 when Elena received an email from a swimming group in Chicago inviting athletes to try HYROX training during the winter as a complement to triathlon. She signed up—and, as usually happens with us, if one goes, the other follows—so Pelayo joined as well.
That was our first contact with HYROX in December 2022. Just two months later, Pelayo made his debut and became North American Champion, setting the first sub-60 time in the Open category on U.S. soil—without even having trained with proper HYROX equipment.
That’s when we realised we could become something in this sport. We decided to fully commit… and the rest is history :)
What do you like to do on a day off when you're not training or competing?
Honestly? Planning the next training day… just kidding (kind of).
We like to properly disconnect at least one day per week and do something different, even if it’s simple. Discovering a new coffee shop already makes us happy. We also use that day to spend time with friends, which is not always easy with all the travel and training.
Is there a routine, superstition, or habit you never skip before a competition?
Pelayo: I have quite a few, but the main one is not using my race gear until the last possible moment. I like to warm up in different clothes and only switch into my competition outfit and shoes right before the start.
Elena: As long as I have access to a good coffee on race day, I’m happy.
HYROX is a demanding sport, how do you stay motivated?
It helps a lot that we are a couple doing the same sport with aligned life goals—we constantly motivate each other. For us, aligning both our objectives and preparation is key.
Also, HYROX is a very young sport where the level is rising almost every month. Just trying to keep up with that progression is a huge source of motivation in itself.
What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you both outside of sport?
We are both engineers by profession.
Pelayo is a civil engineer with a Master’s degree in Coastal and Port Engineering, and a PhD in Environmental Engineering. He specializes in coastal flood modeling and has published high-impact scientific research in journals such as Nature. He has been involved in competitive sports since the age of 8 (karate, skiing, athletics, duathlon, triathlon), but only turned professional at 35, when he committed fully to HYROX and left his engineering career behind.
Elena is still working as an engineer at FedEx, where she is one of the most awarded engineers within the company. She successfully balances her professional career with competing at a high level and co-running PELE Performance, our HYROX coaching business, where we currently train over 250 athletes.
What advice would you give to anyone looking to get into HYROX?
Approach the sport first as a lifestyle—something enjoyable, not an obsession. HYROX combines multiple disciplines, which makes it very engaging, especially when training in a group.
Our main advice is to find a gym with a strong community and start training with others. That makes a huge difference in both enjoyment and consistency.
What do you do to mentally reset after a tough loss or setback?
Having been athletes our whole lives, we understand that setbacks are part of the process. A bad race, an injury, or a rough period does not define what you’re capable of in the future.
We focus on learning rather than dwelling. Confidence is not only built through good results, but also by proving to yourself that you can face difficult moments, accept them, plan your way forward, and come back stronger.
HYROX has taken you all over the world, what country would you like to visit that you haven't been to as yet?
Elena: I would love to explore more of Asia—places like Thailand, Indonesia, or Vietnam. I love warm climates.
Pelayo: I’m more the opposite—I prefer mild, not too hot climates. So I’d say somewhere in Central Europe would be ideal for me.
What are your goals for 2026?
Pelayo: To become Hyrox Elite 15 Doubles World Champion with my partner Rich, and to re-qualify for the Elite 15 individual category after being out for 8 months due to an Achilles tendon rupture.
Elena: To represent Spain at the World Championship in the national relay team and position myself among the top athletes in the world ranking heading into the next season.
We are excited to support Pelayo and Elena. Use their code PELE for 10% off online purchases (excludes subscriptions).
