I Kind of Want to Do a HYROX

A few days ago I texted the family group chat: if I sign up for a HYROX, would you come cheer me on?

My mom replied, “What is that?” — which, I'll admit, made me laugh. But what really got me was my sister asking if I was okay, or if I needed help. HAHAHA.

And honestly, even though my family still doesn't quite get what I'm trying to do, I'm not entirely sure why the idea excites me this much either.

For anyone who, like my mom, has no idea what a HYROX is: it's a competition that mixes running with different strength exercises. Basically, you work through a series of stations until you cross the finish line.

And the more I think about it, the more I want to do it.

Beyond the competition itself, a few things pull me toward it. Lately I've really wanted to get my routines back, move more, and above all be consistent. But I've also noticed that having a concrete goal completely changes the way you do things.

Saying “I want to work out” isn't the same as having something you're training for. Suddenly getting up early, going to the gym, heading out for a run — they serve a different purpose. It stops being about checking off a routine and starts being about getting a little closer to something you want.

I also think I miss the feeling of preparing for something. In school there's always a competition, a project, some date on the calendar keeping you excited. But as you get older, a lot of that disappears, and suddenly everything is work, to-do lists, and thinking about what comes next.

I don't know — I'd like to feel that again. Having a challenge in front of me and finding out how far I can take it.

I like the idea of sharing it, too. Training with friends, getting excited about progress, complaining that our legs hurt, having someone going through the same thing you are. And of course, having my family there on the day.

Because if I'm being honest, one of the things I'm most excited about is picturing myself crossing that line and seeing the people I love waiting for me.

I don't know if this happens to you too, but there's something lovely about someone getting excited on your behalf, even before you know whether you'll pull it off.

And then there's the discipline part. I'd like to find out what happens if I actually commit to something for a few months. Not doing it perfectly, not training every single day, not always feeling motivated. Just learning to be consistent, even on the days I don't feel like it.

That's the part I'm most interested in, really.

I don't want to do a HYROX just to say I did one. What excites me more is everything I might learn on the way there. Finding my limits, discovering I can do things that used to seem impossible, and mostly proving to myself that I can commit to something and see it through.

I don't want to romanticize it either. There will be days I don't want to train, days I'm exhausted, days I wonder why I signed myself up for this. But I suppose that's part of it too, isn't it? Learning to keep going without needing to feel motivated all the time.

I still don't know if I'll actually do it. Maybe the excitement wears off in a few weeks, or I find out it's not for me. But there's also a chance I end up loving it and this turns into something much bigger than I pictured.

For now, I like having a goal that excites me. Something that pulls me a little out of my routine and makes me curious.

And I think sometimes that's enough to start. We don't have to be completely sure something will work before giving ourselves the chance to try.

Maybe the HYROX is just an excuse to start doing something for myself. To move, to build some discipline, to find out what I'm capable of. And if somewhere along the way I end up crossing a finish line that still feels far off today — well, how lovely would that be.

So, mom, if you're reading this: I'll explain what a HYROX is soon.

And yes, I'm probably going to need you there.

Would you do something like this? Is there a goal you've been wanting to try, even if you don't know yet whether you'll actually go for it?

See you around.