In the Deargoodmorning hub, Lienke(the founder of DGM) told us about HYROX and asked if we wanted to join the event. I wanted to, but i was afraid.
Afraid that i would fail. Or that I would stand out as different. Because i knew i wasn't an athlete as seen on the pictures of HYROX. Most of the workouts were new to me and running... i had never done that.
When we were with 4 ladies, we decited to do the HYROX relay. But we were told that that wasnt possible for 4 girls. So we had to change our minds and I got more affraid. Doing doubles would be so hard for me. And I only had 2 weeks left... I did not train for it yet, so I was sure i couldn't do it.
Lenneke told me that we would do it together. She said: "I don't want you te feel sorry for not doing it. Even if we walk it all, we will do it together." So just 2 weeks before the eventI started training. I started everything from scratch.
In the morning I went running in the park and built up to 1km running the friday befor the event. In my garden I made my own sandbag by using my heavy blanket and I practised the farmerscarry with the dumbbells from my boyfriend. I borrowed the rower from my mom and started rowing while watching my fav tv show.
The eventday
I divided the day into steps. I had already taken the first steps by coming to the event. The next was actually participating. With a great buddy by my side, taking every step just got a little bit easier. And that's how I started, with huge doubts but a fire inside me for this new challenge. During the race, the focus shifted to the next step. Get the 1st round done, do the workout, and finally make it to the finish.
Befor the race, we went into the warmup zone so I could learn how to do the workouts. At first I didnt want to do the burpees and the wallballs. They were too scarry. But Lenneke (my buddy) told me I could try them. She would help me. In the warmup zone I had my introduction with: sledpush, sledpull, skiErg and wallballs.
Our race went with ups and downs. One minute I was enjoying the atmosphere and blasting out 12.5m sled push. The next moment I was wrestling with myself to keep going or I wanted to stay on the mat during the burpees. "Do not stop." I told myself. “Keep moving. It doesn't have to be fast, the goal is to reach the end."
Inside I had already died several times. Had I called myself a lot of words, I will not write here, and had I been regularly put on my spot by that stern hawk in my mind, or rather 10 steps back. What was I doing?
However, the tears and doubts were pushed back with increasing force and exchanged for laughter and pride. What did I care that I walked, I was still moving forward. Not only that… I actually did things that, according to that stern hawk, I couldn't even do. Round after round and workout after workout, the powerful lion's voice grew. Starting out as a tiny cub who could barely meow, he finally forced out the hawk with a loud roar. "You can do it! You're still busy. you do it!"
There were tears again at the finishline. But this time from pride (and exhaustion). Time didn't matter. We had made it all the way till the end. I hadn't given up, hadn't stopped, and hadn't let the hawk win. The lion was roaring proudly on his rock and the hawk had crawled away for a moment. The decision was therefore quickly taken to participate again in Maastricht. With more training, a good experience and my best friend as a buddy. (And who knows, maybe a faster time...)
Although HYROX is for many the opportunity to participate in a competition with the aim of setting a good time. I can especially recommend to keep the focus on yourself. It's not about your time. It's about getting to the finish line. In other words, it is not about speed, but mainly about mental strength. To persevere, continue to believe in yourself and push your limits.
The encouragement from the spectators and other athletes gives a boost, but you have to do it yourself. Always one step further. And if you are tired or in doubt. You are the one who decides: I'll slow down a bit, but I won't stop.
A dutch shorter version of this blog was posted on: https://www.hyrox.nl/een-race-met-anderen-tegen-jezelf
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