In early April, I lined up for my 6th HYROX race in Miami. I had done HYROX several years ago solo, but my last several races have been with a partner. I had a benchmark in my mind this time, but I finished about 13 minutes slower than my first race.
A few years ago, that number might have bothered me. It would have been easy to focus only on the clock and think I had somehow gone backward. But the truth is much bigger than one finish time. I am several years older now. Life changes. Bodies change. Recovery changes. Priorities shift. Yet I still showed up, trained, competed, and crossed the finish line. That matters more than shaving minutes off a result sheet. (I finished 7th in the 55-59 year old age group).
What stood out most in Miami wasn’t the time—it was the experience. The energy of the crowd, the
challenge of each station, the push to keep moving when it got uncomfortable, and the satisfaction of finishing something hard. It really was a ton of fun!
There is a lesson in getting older as a competitive athlete: progress doesn’t always look like speed.
Sometimes progress looks like consistency. Sometimes it looks like courage. Sometimes it looks like refusing to let age become an excuse to stop doing things that challenge you.
Someone asked me the other day why I workout so much. My immediate answer was that I do it for my mental health. I realize that is the reason I am so consistent. Exercise and racing make me feel good! So even if I am not in the top 3 anymore, my mind and body thank me.
Yes, I may be slowing down a little. That’s real. But I’m still in the race. And honestly, that feels like a
win.
If you haven’t looked into a Hyrox race, their popularity is absolutely exploding! They are adding new, fun cities, and new countries all the time! Check out the details of the race and locations at The Fitness Competition for Every Body |
HYROX. It truly is a race for everyone and every body!
CONGRATULATIONS ERIN!! YOU ARE A TRUE ROCK STAR!!
Awesome message, Erin!
I know she is something!!