Saturday, January 31, 2026, was one for the record books as gyms came together for the Live Like Lou Foundation’s signature event, The Lou Workout. More than just a workout, The Lou is a partner workout with a bigger purpose: to leave ALS better than we found it.
The Lou was created in honor of Rainer Hartman, a CrossFit Games Masters athlete, gym owner, and tireless ALS advocate. In 2022, Hartman was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. He passed away just two short years later, but his impact on the ALS and fitness communities continues to grow.
Following Rainer’s diagnosis, Kelli Szluka, a coach at Sunshine CrossFit and Athletics, and Fred Reimer, a Live Like Lou trustee, collectively created The Lou Workout. It was brought to life by Deb Austin, owner of Sunshine CrossFit and Athletics. In the first two years of the event, Rainer himself collaborated on the workout and helped develop an adaptive version to ensure it was accessible to athletes of all abilities, an effort that reflected his deep belief that everyone deserves to be included.
Rooted in the legacy of baseball Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig and his iconic Yankees jersey number 4, The Lou challenges participants to complete 44 rounds of 4 reps of wall balls (20/14), pull-ups, burpees, and dumbbell snatches (50/35). The structure is intentional and symbolic, mirroring the grit and perseverance required to face ALS head-on.
The Lou is guided by four core goals:
Since its inception, The Lou has raised more than $272,000, directly impacting ALS families. These funds have helped double the number of grants and scholarships awarded, expanding meaningful support to families when they need it most.
In 2026 alone, 138 gyms participated, spanning coast to coast—from Oregon to New York, Alaska to Florida—and internationally, with participation from Canada. Whether driven by a personal connection to ALS or a shared commitment to raising awareness, the community showed up in a powerful way.
“We do The Lou for people like Angie in Oregon, for Brian Mack, whom we lost to ALS, and for every individual and family impacted by this disease,” Fred Reimer shared.
Gyms such as CrossFit Iliad, All Level CrossFit, CrossFit CGX, and CrossFit Phillipsburg, which know ALS all too well, were among those leading the charge, raising critical funds and honoring loved ones through action.
A special thank-you to our partners, including FitAid for providing weekly prize packs to top fundraisers, Wodify for sharing the workout and participating, while on earth™, and HWPO for contributing an exclusive swag box. Another thank you to CrossFit and The CrossFit Foundation for welcoming The Lou at the CrossFit Games this fall.
As The Lou Workout continues to grow year after year, one thing remains clear: when communities come together, real change is possible.
Learn more about The Lou Workout at thelouworkout.com.
