We sat down with Elena, one of our amazing KBPT trainers, to chat about her recent experience participating in Hyrox, an intense fitness race. Here’s what she had to share:
Where and when was the event you completed?
My race was in Rimini, Italy on June 2nd this year.
Why did you decide to enter Hyrox?
The short answer is to challenge myself. I was never athletic as a young girl, never participated in any sports, and used to have a lot of limiting beliefs about what my body can and can’t do. Through my fitness journey, I managed to eliminate many of those beliefs, and signing up for Hyrox was a way to formalise that progress and push myself further. It’s important to remember that Hyrox is 60% running, which was a challenge for me as I usually focus on strength training. I had to overcome my ‘I’m not a runner’ mentality and incorporate a lot of running into my training. In the end, I enjoyed every bit of it!
How did you adapt your normal training for the event?
I had to create a new training plan that was fundamentally different from my usual routine. Hyrox requires a lot of hybrid training – combining strength work, erg machines, and lots of running. The goal is to become faster and stronger without getting injured. My workouts were high-intensity endurance sessions, where I would push and pull heavy weights, then run, then use erg machines, and repeat the cycle for 50-60+ minutes. I had to train my heart to handle this level of intensity, working in high heart rate zones for extended periods.
Now that you’ve completed it, is there anything you would have done differently or focused more on in your training?
Definitely! First, I would give myself more time to train. I only had about a month and a half, which was quite rushed and didn’t allow enough time to understand how my body was responding to the training. Second, I would focus on better fuelling my body. Such high-intensity work requires a change in diet, and I didn’t adjust mine, so I was constantly hungry and under-fuelled. Lastly, I would run more! The race is 60% running, and the better you are at it, the more likely you are to excel.
Did you enjoy it? What was your favorite part?
I absolutely loved every bit of it! It was really fun and engaging to have a goal to work towards, and the training takes over your life in a good way. My favorite part was the atmosphere at the event – there was so much adrenaline, and everyone was there to do their best. The community was supportive and welcoming, with people of all ages and abilities. In terms of the race, my favorite part was the ski erg – I did a lot of training on it, and it showed!
What was the hardest part? Was there anything you didn’t expect?
The temperature! I did all my training in an air-conditioned gym and my running in the cool temperatures of London. The race in Italy was hot, and the heat had a huge impact on performance. At one point, I saw other athletes pouring water over their heads to cool down, and I did the same – not sure if it made a difference, though!
Would you do it again?
Yes, I’ve already booked my second race! This time I’m doing it alone instead of in pairs, continuing to challenge myself. I also have a client thinking about signing up, which is exciting – I’d love to support her as a Hyrox personal trainer. She’s done a few marathons, so I’m sure she’d smash it!
Ready to take on your own fitness challenge? Contact KBPT at kate@kbpersonaltraining.co.uk for expert guidance and personalized training in East London or online. Let’s achieve your fitness goals together!
