This Les Mills Sprint and GRIT Cardio review covers my experience doing both classes on the same day, why it felt like such an intense training day, and how the instructor energy made the whole session even better.
Some gym days feel good. Others feel memorable. This was one of those memorable ones.
Sprint gave me that sharp, breathless, high-intensity cycling effort that demands everything from your legs and lungs. Then GRIT Cardio came in right after with sprints, burpees, push-ups and full-body suffering in the best possible way.
It was intense, hard, energising and honestly one of those days that reminds me why I love this kind of training.
Quick Verdict
Sprint
- Intensity: 9 out of 10
- Good for: cardio conditioning, leg power, mental toughness, short explosive effort and anyone who enjoys pushing hard on the bike
- My after class mood: breathless, proud, buzzing and fully awake
GRIT Cardio
- Intensity: 9 out of 10
- Good for: HIIT lovers, cardio fitness, agility, speed, bodyweight conditioning and that “survive and smile after” kind of effort
- My after class mood: destroyed, sweaty, thrilled and genuinely satisfied
Class Snapshot
Sprint
- Duration: 30 minutes
- Format: high-intensity indoor cycling with short work bursts and recovery intervals
- Equipment: bike, towel and water bottle
- Instructor style: Pedro was warm, motivating and technically clear; Igor added encouragement and extra energy from right beside me
- My focus today: keep going, stay with the resistance, and not give up when the effort started biting
- Injury notes: no injury mentioned, just serious cardio effort and heavy legs
GRIT Cardio
- Duration: 30 minutes
- Format: high-intensity cardio intervals with bodyweight exercises and fast transitions
- Equipment: training shoes, towel, water and optional mat
- Instructor style: Rita was smiley, sharp and fully in control, with that mix of humour and pressure that makes you work harder
- My focus today: survive the sprints and burpees, keep moving and enjoy the challenge
- Injury notes: no injuries mentioned, just strong fatigue and that classic GRIT exhaustion
Instructor credit: Pedro Pereiros, Igor Angélico and Rita Calaz.
The Intense Training Day
Sprint
WHAT A PHENOMENAL DAY!
I started with Sprint and Pedro Pereiros. He welcomed us with so much warmth.
While I was getting set up, who do I spot but… Igor Angélico! It has been so wonderful seeing these familiar faces again!
To my delight, Igor took the bike right next to mine.
The class started with the usual technical explanations and from the very first track I could feel that this was GENUINELY Sprint! What wonderful intensity!
I still cannot pay attention to the track order during this class, because it is so hard that my entire focus is just on making it to the end of each one.
I love going fast, but add resistance and it is a whole different story. In one of the tracks I gave absolutely everything I had, and just as I was starting to slow down, I hear Igor: “Come on Suzi!” Then at the end of the track he tells me: “You don’t stop before it’s over.” I did not even respond, because I did not have the energy to speak. But I thought: “Good lord, I’m done for. No room for laziness today.” Hahaha!
I kept looking over at Pedro and those legs just WOULD NOT STOP! Igor was a machine right beside me! Well, I had no choice but to give it my soul.
I LOVE this class and Pedro really knows how to push us. At the end, the best part is hearing him say: “I don’t even know how we enjoy this.”
What an INCREDIBLE 30 minutes! Really intense training, great energy, guidance from instructor Pedro, corrections when needed, encouragement from instructor Igor, and an amazing atmosphere throughout!
With Igor Angélico during Sprint, right beside me on the bike and pushing me to keep going when the intensity really started to bite.
GRIT Cardio
I moved on to Grit with Rita Calaz, who welcomed us with her usual smile.
Off I went, fully committed to suffering. But I have to confess I enjoyed the class A LOT.
Now there is an instructor who reads our minds… especially one question that always crosses mine (“what’s the first exercise?”).
We had mountain climbers, skaters, push-ups, sprints, burpees (yes, I am starting to genuinely like them), and so much more.
At some point I find myself grabbing onto the wall and I hear Rita: “She doesn’t fall. I’ve already tested that.” I thought: “Yes, that is exactly what I was checking. Good to know.” Nothing gets past these people! And back I went to the sprints and the burpees.
Even for Grit Cardio, I absolutely loved the class. Rita brought incredible energy and pushed us hard throughout.
What a MAGNIFICENT INTENSE TRAINING DAY! I genuinely loved every second! I trained hard and had the BEST time!
Why I Call It an Intense Training Day
I call this an intense training day because the combination of Sprint and GRIT Cardio asks a lot from you in a short space of time.
Sprint attacks the legs, lungs and mind through effort on the bike. You have resistance, speed, recovery and then more work again before you have fully caught your breath.
GRIT Cardio picks up where Sprint leaves off, but in a totally different way. Now it is bodyweight intensity, explosive movement, burpees, sprints, push-ups and constant demand.
Together, the two classes create a training day that feels full, hard and genuinely satisfying. Not because it is easy, but because it makes you work from start to finish.
Instructor Notes
Pedro’s Sprint coaching was warm, strong and properly structured. He gave the class shape, kept the energy high and made the session feel hard but controlled.
Igor’s presence beside me added a completely different layer to the experience. That kind of encouragement in the middle of a hard effort matters. Sometimes one sentence is enough to stop you from backing off.
Rita’s GRIT Cardio energy was excellent. She had the smile, the humour and the push. She made the class intense, but also enjoyable, which is exactly what a format like GRIT needs.
How I Felt After Class
- Right after: absolutely spent, sweaty and full of that post-workout high that comes after a hard session done properly
- Later that day: tired in the body, but mentally very satisfied. It had that “I trained hard today” feeling that stays with you
- Next day: legs and body definitely felt the effort, especially after the combination of cycling intensity and full-body HIIT work
Is Sprint + GRIT Cardio Good Back to Back?
For me, yes.
If you enjoy hard training days and already have some fitness base, this is a very strong combination. Sprint gives you intense cardio and leg work first. GRIT Cardio then pushes you into bodyweight conditioning and keeps the intensity high in a different format.
It is not a light combination, and I would not describe it as beginner-friendly back to back. But if what you want is an intense training day, this pairing delivers exactly that.
Final Verdict
This Sprint and GRIT Cardio gym day was intense, memorable and genuinely fun.
Sprint gave me power, pressure and that breathless bike effort that demands everything. GRIT Cardio gave me bodyweight intensity, humour, burpees, sprints and that satisfying feeling of surviving something hard.
Together, they created exactly what I would call a real intense training day.
If you enjoy high-energy group fitness and want to leave the gym feeling like you truly trained, this combination absolutely does the job.
My Gym Essentials
Everything I actually use and love during my workouts. Tested, approved, and perfect for busy women who want efficient results.
- Water Bottle: Stay hydrated without wasting time refilling.
- Training Shoes: Stable, comfortable, and perfect for cardio and step workouts.
- Gym Bag: Compact but spacious enough for everything I need for my sessions.
- Shockproof Phone Case: Keeps my phone safe during intense workouts, because I drop it more often than I admit
- Smart Fitness Watch: Tracks heart rate, calories burned, and workout intensity.
