As the performance race sector heats up, the footwear brand is bringing back its global Acid Athletics event, with expanded activations and community outreach

Performance footwear company R.A.D. is further entrenching itself in the fitness competition space as it brings back its Acid Athletics event for another year.

The interactive competition invites people to sign up at their local gyms for a benchmark workout starting April 20, and will take place over a six-week period across the U.S., UK and Europe. 

Acid Athletic’s main workout consists of: 

  • 10 shuttle runs
  • 50 wall balls
  • 10 shuttle runs
  • 50/40 cal ski

The core mission behind the event is celebrating the global performance community, offering gym members the opportunity to test their limits and go head-to-head with fellow fitness enthusiasts.

The top male and female winners and a nominated “MVP” member from each participating gym will win a pair of R.A.D training shoes.

credit: R.A.D.

“The reception we received for Acid Athletics last year was insane and we can’t wait to see it roll out even bigger this year,” said R.A.D. director of community and partnerships, Adam Klink. “We exist to serve the training community and the incredible network of gyms and coaches they are a part of so it’s really exciting for us to be able to provide this for them.”

Its inaugural competition last year saw approximately 140,000 people participate across over 1,000 gyms worldwide — with R.A.D also hosting exclusive gym takeovers in New York, Los Angeles and London. For this year’s installment, the brand is leveling up, with planned activations in Los Angeles, San Diego, New York, Austin, London and Manchester.

The announcement comes soon after R.A.D. was announced as the official footwear sponsor of the Rogue Invitational’s 2026 and 2027 hybrid racing events, as the fitness competition sector continues to take off — so much so, that Hyrox recently revealed plans to expand its youth racing series into the U.S. this year.

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