Skip to main content

Winging it to Win it


“You don’t have to be perfect, just prepared enough to wing it!”


I competed in Hyrox this weekend, and while I’m proud of the outcome (1st place in our age category (40–49) for the women’s pro doubles division), I’ve been having mixed feelings about my personal performance.
Truthfully, things didn’t quite unfold the way I’d visualized them in the lead-up, and I wasn’t as sharp as I’d hoped to be on race day. I also worked out two days before (Should’ve known better!), so my legs were still feeling it.
That said, my partner and I still pulled off the win, which speaks volumes about the work we’ve each been putting in individually. It was exciting (and a little intimidating) to compete alongside some big-name CrossFitters in the region, but we held our own and that felt pretty good!
Over the past few months, I’ve been consistent and disciplined with my training. Thankfully, I stayed healthy this time around, unlike last year, which already felt like a small victory. But, I didn’t commit solely to Hyrox training; I kept a mix of Hyrox, CrossFit, weightlifting, soccer, and some long, slow distance runs in the rotation. It kept things fun and varied, but as we stepped into the pro division for the first time, I can’t help but wonder if a more Hyrox-specific approach might’ve made a big difference, both in performance and in how the race felt.
I went out fast on the first run (running has always been our edge), but throughout the rest of the race, my partner who is a stronger runner, pushed the pace when I needed it, which made a big difference in keeping us competitive. We split the work pretty evenly on most stations, but my partner ended up carrying a bit more of the load on some stations, like the skierg and row for example. The sleds were, as expected, brutal and definitely a step up from the open division, but I muscled through. To my surprise, I did pretty well on the burpee broad jumps (and if you know me, you know I hate burpees). Farmer’s carry, lunges, and wall balls? Those were my jam. Compromised running, though, is something I clearly need more practice with; it hits different running after each exercise. My partner and I hadn’t trained together at all leading up to the race this year, so some miscommunications on the stations were inevitable. I do think a bit more planning could’ve helped us dial it in better.
Our pro time clocked in just under two minutes slower than our open division time last year - 1:06:42 (2024 - Open) vs. 1:08:05 (2025 - Pro). That alone tells me there’s untapped potential here. If we trained together and went all-in on a proper Hyrox program… who knows?
World Championships are coming up in Chicago this June and we recently got the invite again (second year in a row!). But with timing, work, and financial logistics, it might not be in the cards again this year.
Still, a few questions linger:
• Could we somehow find sponsors and make it happen?
• Should we train properly and aim to compete and qualify again together when the timing’s better?
• Or, should we each explore doing Hyrox individually?

Time will tell. For now, I’m proud of what we accomplished; chaotic prep, heavy legs, and all. Let’s see what the future holds.





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

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...
Post a Comment
Read more

The runner in me

“Mind over miles.” A few years back, I was all in. I was that person signing up for every race that came across my radar—10K’s, half-marathons, marathons—you name it. The thrill of crossing the finish line, the camaraderie at the starting line, the way the crowds cheered you on, it was all so energizing. I didn’t even need music to get through a run, even a whole 42km marathon, which, I know, sounds crazy to most people. But there I was, in my zone, taking it all in and doing something I enjoyed. I collected lots of medals and racked up plenty of podium finishes, but most importantly I had some memorable international races, and met tons of amazing people along the way. I discovered that running was a really accessible sport; all you needed was a pair of shoes and the will to go. I could literally show up to a race, put one foot in front of the other, and—boom—be part of a community of people all working toward the same goal. So, what happened? Why did I stop running? For me, it came d...
Post a Comment
Read more

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...
Post a Comment
Read more