Deathrow’s Hill Run Review: Dallas Cardio Workout
Look, let’s be real for a second.
If you’ve ever thought about changing up your cardio routine, dropping some lbs, burning some serious calories, or finally getting rid of that gut you’ve been hauling around since somewhere between your second kid and your last Netflix binge — you’ve probably considered running at least once or twice in this lifetime.
And if you’re like the majority of the human species, you also know that running is not always the most entertaining thing on this earth.
Between the burning lungs, the heavy legs, and the sheer mental negotiation it takes just to lace up your shoes and get out the door, running can feel more like punishment than progress.
Add in the fact that you might not have run a full mile in the last twelve months, and suddenly the whole idea gets real uninviting, real fast.
But here’s the thing — I’m not here to sell you on running. I’m here to introduce you to something better.
Something that’s gonna make you sweat, push your limits, burn calories like it’s its job, and somehow — somehow — have you wanting to come back next week. If you’re searching for an alternative that answers every single one of those concerns, I think we’ve got exactly what you need.
“The goal isn’t just to get you moving. The goal is to get you hooked on moving. There’s a difference — and Jey Epps knows exactly how to close that gap.”
Meet the Man Behind the Madness
Deathrow’s Hill Run. Yeah. I said it. Doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue like a spa day, does it?
But don’t let the name throw you — because outside of that slightly intimidating title, there are a thousand reasons why this workout is a certified win that you’ll actually love.
This one is veteran-owned and operated by Jey Epps — and let me tell you something about this man.
He is the kind of motivator that makes you forget you barely ran a mile in the past calendar year, because you just got done putting in five miles on a hill with him and you feel like you could go for more.
That’s not an exaggeration. That’s just what Jey does.
What makes Jey different starts right at his title. He’s not a trainer. He’s a Body Shaper. Let that marinate. He’s not just here to put you on a program and count your reps — he’s here to reshape your entire physical foundation.
And if your goal is to get your body in shape, redefine its shape, or step into a new version of yourself entirely, then the man with the Body Shaper title is exactly who you need in your corner. We’re on the same page.
Jey Epps
Body Shaper & Bootcamp Instructor · Veteran-Owned
The man who will get you moving — even when you thought you couldn't. 200+ weekly participants can't be wrong.
And because a coach this good simply cannot work with just one person at a time, Jey runs Bootcamps — getting the whole group in on the work simultaneously.
Which brings us to the most impressive part: at any given week, you might pull up and find 200+ fitness enthusiasts out there putting in work alongside you.
Two. Hundred. People. Outdoors. Together. In Dallas. That alone tells you something powerful about the energy this man brings every single week.
The Location Is Half the Experience
Here’s where Jey’s creativity starts to reveal itself before the workout even begins. He doesn’t want you staring at a wall while trudging along on a treadmill going nowhere. He doesn’t want you in a bland parking lot doing wind sprints between two orange cones.
Jey seeks out curated locations — inspiring hills, gyms, and venues that add a whole extra layer of motivation to your session.And the crown jewel of his locations?
The underpass of Dallas’ most iconic rope bridge — the very structure that connects the city to the surrounding suburbs. Let that sink in. You’re not just pulling up to a park. You’re showing up to the most iconic space Dallas has to offer, and Jey makes every single inch of that hill count. That bridge doesn’t just sit there as a backdrop — it becomes part of the workout. Part of the story. Part of the energy.
It’s the kind of setting that wakes something up in you before the first whistle even blows. Because when your environment is next level, your effort tends to match it.
The Workout: What Actually Goes Down on That Hill
Alright, let’s get into it — because this is the part y’all actually came for. The Workout on the Hill of Dethrow.
It’s probably the most engaging workout you’ll find anywhere in the city, and honestly, it might be one of the most uniquely crafted cardio experiences in the entire state of Texas.
The stated mission is to burn 1,000 calories in one session.
And this is not a joke, a marketing headline, or a motivational stretch. This is the actual target — and Jey builds the entire session around making sure you get there.
I arrived at 9:30 in the morning. I did not leave until nearly 11:30. Two full hours. And here’s the wild part: at several points throughout that workout, it genuinely didn’t feel like two hours had passed — because the variety, the energy, and the creativity of the session kept things so dialed in and so different that time itself seemed to bend a little.
That’s what good programming does. That’s what a real Body Shaper brings to the table.
“Suicides. On a hill. Backwards. Sideways. On your back. I have never, in all my years of working out, experienced anything like what Jey Epps put together on that hill — and I mean that in the absolute best way possible.”
The exercise that really locked in my respect? The Suicides on the Hill. When he called that one out, my brain immediately went — say what now? Down and backs.
At the sound of each whistle. Except Jey flips the script on you: you go backwards, you go sideways, and yes — you go in crab position too, on your back, moving up and down that incline like you’re auditioning for something incredible.
I have never done suicides on a hill in all my years of working out. And let me tell you — they hurt so good. When that final whistle blows and you’ve earned your way up to the top of that hill, your whole body is hollering for that break at the crest.
But what goes up must come down — and the method of descent is bear crawling. All the way back down. And then you go again. I was shocked, stoked, and low-key appalled all at the same time. In the best way imaginable.
What also stood out to me was how intentionally Jey uses every square foot of the space. The warmups happen at the top of the hill — great call. Grand view of the area, natural breeze rolling through, level ground to operate on, and just the right amount of energy to ease the group into what’s coming. Smart. Calculated. Clean.
And for the finisher? Perfect execution. The mission was a 0.8-mile jog along the connecting path that leads up to the bridge and runs alongside it. Man. Running alongside a bridge in Dallas — there’s nothing quite like it. Cars on one side, a wide-open gaping view on the other, and a team of fitness partners spread out in front of you and behind you. It felt cinematic. Like you’re in your own version of a Rocky training montage, except this one is set in Big D. That moment, for me personally, was the highlight of the entire experience. Pure electricity.
More Dallas Cardio Worth Your Time
If Dethrow’s Hill Run has you fired up and you’re looking to stack more outdoor or cardio-centered workouts into your week, Dallas has options. Here are a few worth checking out:
Similar Cardio Workouts in Dallas
November Project Dallas — Friday Hills in Kessler Park
Free, community-driven hill workouts with serious group energy · sweatpals.com
EVOLVE Dallas — Outdoor HIIT & Cardio Classes
High-intensity circuits under the Texas sun, all fitness levels welcome · dallasnav.com
Camp Gladiator & A Tribe Called Sprinters — Dallas
Outdoor bootcamp & run communities with consistent weekly schedules · yelp.com
Official Ilf Rating
Category
Rating
Workout Vibe
Intensity Level
Accessibility (All Levels)
Location & Environment
The Trainer (Jey Epps)
Across every single one of those five categories, Dethrow’s Hill Run earns a clean, untouchable 5 out of 5. The vibe? On point. People showed up with great energy, and Jey was the undeniable driving force behind all of it.
The intensity — while genuinely challenging — was something that every person there could work through at their own pace. And I mean every person.
Advanced athletes, beginners, people I honestly wasn’t sure should be out there (no disrespect — they did their thing), and even kids were in the mix. That’s what a great workout looks like: it doesn’t exclude anyone. It just meets you where you are and pushes you from there.
As for Jey himself — his knowledge, creativity, and passion are all five-star, no question. You can feel that he lives what he breathes. Go visit him. Check him out. And when you do — tell him iLivFIT sent you.
Don't Just Read About It — Jump In.
Everyone needs fitness. Not wants — needs. The only way to build it consistently, and for the long haul, is to LIVE FIT. So I’m personally inviting you to jump in or pop up at our next workout.
Hit the link below to get notified on when and where we’ll be showing up next.
Or better yet — get on our workout blast list so you never miss a Saturday session again.
Written by: Antjuan Hicks | Edited by: Waris Salawudeen
