Norm is the heart of the HIRT Lab. A Christchurch local and lifelong mover, he opened the gym to prove that hard work and a tight‑knit crew beat gimmicks every time. He still leads the 5 a.m. strength sessions and walks the talk outside the gym floor. In 2025 Norm raced HYROX Auckland in 1 h 15 m, finishing 17th in his age group and inside the top 12 % of 850+ athletes  . A few months earlier he ran the 22 km Crater Rim Ultra in 2 h 34 m  . Members say his super‑power is connection: “Norm and the team create a great environment and tailor the experience to your goals”