How Mind Overpowers Muscle

“Physical strength will get you to the start line, but mental strength will get you to the finish line.”

As I continue my fitness journey, I’m always looking for new ways to challenge myself and push my limits. Recently, I’ve been gearing up for HyROX in April, where I’ll compete in the women’s doubles pro category alongside an amazing partner. Last year, we clinched 1st place in our age category, and this time, we’re ready to raise the bar even higher.

To prepare, I’ve been integrating more running and higher-intensity training into my weekly routine, alongside some soccer, which I’ve been playing once a week. It’s been a juggling act, but I’m thrilled to have found a balanced training schedule that works for me. My routine includes a bit of weightlifting, CrossFit, soccer, HyROX-specific training, and running, plus two rest days to make sure my body is properly recovered to bring my best performance to each workout.

When it comes to long races and tough challenges like HyROX, one thing becomes crystal clear: physical strength can only get you so far. At some point, your muscles will fatigue, your body will feel like it’s ready to quit, but it’s your mind that will push you through.

This last weekend, I took on the Primal Race in Dubai for the third time as part of my training, and it truly put this concept to the test. The race is a brutal, one-hour challenge, and while physical strength got me to the start line, it was my mental resilience that carried me through to the finish. During those moments of exhaustion when every muscle screamed for relief, it was the mental fortitude to keep going that made all the difference.

Despite the grueling nature of the race (and maybe a few moments of questioning my life choices!), I truly enjoyed every minute of it. Doing the race with two friends made the experience even more rewarding, and it provided a valuable opportunity to gauge where I stand in terms of my upcoming competition.

While the final result wasn’t exactly what I hoped for, I’m grateful for the lesson in perseverance. It reminded me that in long, challenging workouts and races, the battle isn’t just physical—it’s mental. Pushing through those tough moments, when it feels like giving up would be so easy, is what separates a good performance from a great one.

With only a few weeks left to go before HyROX, I’m feeling confident and motivated to finish this last stretch of training strong. The Primal Race served as an important checkpoint, and now it’s all about fine-tuning my performance and staying focused. The mind overpowers the muscle, and I’m ready to show up with both strength and resilience. Can’t wait for what’s next—let the countdown to competition begin!

Comments

Living Outside The Box

"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I believe I’m on the path I’m meant to be." As we get older, it’s easy to get trapped in society’s idea of what life "should" look like. By the time we hit 40, there’s a well-defined picture of success: owning a home, starting a family, climbing the career ladder. But as I approach this milestone, I’m choosing to remind myself that true happiness isn’t found in checking off someone else’s list. It’s found in stepping outside the box, embracing the unexpected, and allowing life to unfold in its own unique way. Sure, my path hasn’t always been conventional, and I’ve often found myself comparing my journey to others, wondering why I’m not where they are. But when I take a step back and reflect, I see how much I’ve gained by stepping off the well-worn road. Life may not have gone according to plan, but I’m proud of the unexpected milestones I’ve reached along the way. I’ve traveled to over 40 countries, lived in three (ye...

Locked in.

“ The successful warrior is the average (wo)man , with laser-like focus. ” Life’s been feeling a little dull lately, but there’s one thing keeping me fired up; the experience of a lifetime is just around the corner. In just four weeks, I’ll be heading to Chicago to compete in the Hyrox World Championships, and I’m locked in. For many competitive and athletic kids, the dream is to make it to the Olympics or stand on a world championship stage in their sport. While Hyrox may not be the Olympics, for me, this is kind of that moment. This is my ‘world stage’; I can’t wait to soak it all in and add it to the list of things I’m proud of. This idea sort of started on my 40th birthday this year. While most people celebrate with a party and cake or a getaway, I made a wild choice: I booked my place in the Hyrox World Championships with my doubles partner. Bold? Definitely. Crazy? Probably. Worth it? Without a doubt. The last time I pushed myself this hard was back in 2019 when I trained for a C...

Momentum Reset

"Momentum doesn’t just return; you rebuild it, one choice at a time." Before summer began, I was feeling a little low. The tipping point came when I found out my HYROX competition partner’s visa had been denied, meaning we wouldn’t be able to compete at the HYROX World Championships in Chicago. Deep down, I knew it wasn’t the end of the world, but I was still pretty bummed. I thrive when I have a goal, something to work toward, and for nearly two months, I’d been all-in. That training gave me momentum, purpose and energy. When that goal disappeared, so did my drive. Suddenly, my energy shifted in the wrong direction. I slipped into autopilot, stuck in the routine of daily life, work, and thought patterns that were becoming more and more negative. Social media didn’t help. It felt like everyone else was out there doing so much, and I had nothing exciting happening. I would catch myself comparing and as my thoughts spiraled, my body started responding, and not in a good way. Th...

One Rising Star

Search This Blog