Aligned Athletics duo set sights on podium at national Strongman

Pursuit is a sports feature series highlighting athletes, coaches, and staff and significant sporting events from North Bay and the surrounding area.                          

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This October, two of North Bay's own—Alysha Loeffen and Brad Janzen—will represent their hometown on the national stage at the National Strongman Competition in Moncton, New Brunswick. The event, taking place from October 11-13, will see some of the strongest athletes from across the country vie for the title of Canada’s strongest.

Loeffen and Janzen, co-competitors and trainers at Aligned Athletics, have their eyes set on making a mark not just for themselves but for the gym and the northern Ontario community they represent. 

Loeffen, who will compete in the Women’s Open Class (heavyweight division), is thrilled at the opportunity.

"It's a surreal feeling. It hasn't completely sunk in yet, but to know that we’re going to represent North Bay and our gym, Aligned Athletics, is something I'm incredibly proud of."

Janzen, who will compete in the under 80 kilos category for men, shares his excitement: “It’s pretty unbelievable sometimes. I came in second at last year’s regional competition, missing out by just a hair, so to actually win it this year and head to nationals feels pretty great. I’m definitely aiming for a podium spot as well.” 

For both competitors, this competition is the culmination of years of training and dedication, much of which started right here in North Bay. But their journey to the national stage didn’t happen overnight. 

Loeffen’s journey into fitness began long before the pandemic, but it was during COVID-19 that her passion solidified into a professional dream. Born and raised in Chisholm, just south of North Bay, Loeffen graduated from École secondaire catholique Algonquin and quickly found her calling in fitness. During the pandemic, she took advantage of online certification courses and became a personal trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. 

“When we were stuck inside during the pandemic, people found time to focus on their health and fitness,” Loeffen explains. “Working out at home and sharing fitness goals became trendy on social media, and it’s still trendy now. It’s a great trend because it’s showing people that being strong and healthy isn’t just about looking good. It’s about the work you put in and how it benefits you. That’s something that spans generations—people of all ages are seeing the importance of fitness.” 

With that mindset, Loeffen launched Aligned Athletics, a gym she envisioned as a space for people to thrive in their fitness journeys. “I built Aligned Athletics with the goal in mind of creating a space for people to flourish,” she says. "It’s not just about working out—it's about creating a supportive environment where people can push themselves and reach their goals.” 

Aligned Athletics has become more than just a gym, it’s a community, with Loeffen at the helm and other trainers, including Brad Janzen, helping foster that community spirit. “Brad and I have known each other for a while,” Loeffen says. “We worked together at a local restaurant, then went out to British Columbia and spent a summer planting trees. After that, we went our separate ways for a bit, but reconnected at a gym. Brad was heavily involved in Strongman competitions, and I was curious to learn more. Now, here we are—competing together, growing this gym, and bringing the Strongman community to North Bay.” 

Both Loeffen and Janzen have achieved great success in their respective divisions, but it was this past season that truly solidified their standing as some of Ontario’s strongest. "The season started in February in Elliot Lake, where we did our regional qualifier,” says Loeffen. “Both Brad and I took first place in our divisions, which qualified us for the provincial competition in Sudbury. In July, we both came first again in our divisions, which earned us the title of Strongest People in Ontario. It’s a pretty surreal feeling.” 

“It’s really cool to be part of such an up-and-coming sport,” Janzen adds. “Strongman is growing in Canada, and to be able to represent our small northern town of North Bay, as well as our club, is pretty special.” 

Their success hasn’t gone unnoticed by the local community, particularly by the members of their gym.

“The community at Aligned has been incredibly supportive,” says Loeffen. “Everyone's really excited to support us and cheer us on. We share a lot of our training and experiences at competitions on social media, and our clients and gym members have been following along. It's really encouraging and motivational for them to see someone from their hometown competing on such a large stage. It shows them that anything is possible with hard work.” 

The national competition will be a gruelling three-day event, with Loeffen and Janzen competing on Saturday. There will also be a record-breaker event on Sunday, where athletes will attempt to set new national records in various events. 

The road to nationals has been paved with intense preparation. “The cool thing about Strongman is that every competition is made up of different events,” Loeffen explains. “Generally, there are about five different events in each competition, so it requires you to be really versatile as an athlete. It’s not just one thing you can train for—the challenges are always changing.” 

For Loeffen, one of her strengths is the deadlifting event, but she’s had to work hard on other areas. “There's an event called the ‘ascending max log,’ which is a weak point for me. The starting weight is just above my current capabilities, so I’ve been working really hard to bring my strength up for that.” 

Janzen faces his own set of challenges, particularly when it comes to maintaining his weight for the under 80 kilos category. “Last year, I had a 10-pound variance where I could go heavier or lighter, but now I have to be very intentional about my diet,” he says. “It’s definitely not fun, but it’s budget-friendly,” he jokes. “Being in shape to recover between events is also crucial because these competitions are taxing. You might work as hard as you can for 60 seconds, and then you have 30 minutes to recover. I’m focusing on my conditioning to ensure I can perform well across all the events.” 

Cardio is an underappreciated element of Strongman competitions, but both athletes emphasize its importance. “What really separates the top-level athletes from the rest is their ability to maintain their strength and endurance across multiple events,” says Janzen. “It’s one thing to do each event individually, but doing them back-to-back over the course of a day is a whole different story.” 

As they head to Moncton, Loeffen and Janzen are proud to represent North Bay and Aligned Athletics on the national stage. “It’s really cool to show people that you don’t have to be from a big city to achieve something like this,” says Loeffen. “We're proud to show that with dedication, anyone can do it.” 

Loeffen is also passionate about encouraging others to get involved in Strongman. “The fact that Strongman has weight classes makes it more accessible,” she says. “It allows smaller individuals to compete at their own level without having to keep up with heavier competitors. It's a great way for anyone, regardless of size, to showcase their strength.” 

For both Loeffen and Janzen, their success on the national stage is a testament to the supportive community they’ve built at Aligned Athletics. “It’s been amazing to see how our community has rallied behind us,” says Loeffen. “Our clients have been incredibly supportive, and we hope that our journey can inspire others to pursue their own fitness goals, whether that's in Strongman or something else.” 

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