Nadia Writes About H is for Hyrox in the A to Z of MS

I had a sobering realisation in recent months - I’m actually getting quite old. Although I don’t feel like a proper grownup, I have suddenly become one almost overnight. 

2007 feels like a brief moment ago but it was (dare I say it) almost two decades ago. Somewhere along the line, my youth got lost in a sea of mortgage applications, interest rates and comfortable shoes. I still feel the need to look for a more ripened adult at certain times, but I should be looking in the mirror. I turned 35 the same day that the 25th anniversary version of Maniac 2000 graced our auditory canals via Spotify and that was the last straw. 

I am officially old. I no longer have my finger on the pulse of what’s current and trendy. I suddenly have workmates whose birth years start with a 2 and they have no idea who The Fugees are. I am certifiably a middle-aged millennial and here are a few observations that I have made. 

Since reaching this grey area between youth and wisdom, I noticed that me and my counterparts have all of the following.

- A favourite ring on the hob.

- A number of lifelong friends whose jobs we don’t fully understand.

- Unexplained backache.

• A burning desire to complete a marathon or Hyrox.

For my sins, I chose the latter form of torture.

Hyrox

Hyrox has become the latest wave in a sea of fitness trends. First there was Jane Fonda workout tapes, followed by Billy Blanks Tae Bo DVDs. Then came spin classes and hot yoga, closely followed by boot camp classes, aerial yoga and Cross Fit. 

Hyrox is the latest trend to box jump on to the fitness bandwagon. Hyrox first lunged on to the fitness scene in 2017 with an inaugural event in Hamburg, Germany. 

Curated by a previous 3x Olympic champion, the event is now popular worldwide, with races in 11 countries. In the 2022 to 2023 season 90,000 athletes took part. Hyrox combines functional workout stations interspersed with a 1km run repeated eight gruelling times. It’s a challenge of both mental and physical stamina. 

When my sister approached me about signing up for a Hyrox doubles in Glasgow, meaning that we would both run 8x1kms and split the workout stations, I said yes. 

I’d be lying if I said that my sister and I have always been the best of friends. We are polar opposites and we often wonder how we came from the same womb/family/upbringing. We’re more chalk and cheese than Salt-N-Pepa. We’re more akin to ebony and ivory than Mary-Kate and Ashley but we’re family nonetheless. 

In a strange way, Hyrox was almost like the rope bridge across the canyon that MS created between us all those years ago. You really see who cares about you when it’s to divvy up 100 x 4kg wall balls directly after running 1km on feet held together with pins and needles. My sister is an absolute machine who makes Joe Wicks look like a couch potato. She made the Hyrox event look like a leisurely stroll in the park and I was honoured that she let me join her doubles team.

Although having MS is as individual as a finger print and know two people are the same, I think we can all agree that we still want to live a rewarding and fulfilling life in spite of the challenges. 

Signing up to the Hyrox event gave me motivation, focus and discipline. It was a big and quite scary goal, but if a goal doesn’t scare you then it isn’t big enough. Personal development can only exist outside of our comfort zone. Hyrox certainly pushed me (and the sled) right out of my comfort zone.

Squatting to the finish line of a Hyrox isn’t just about physical endurance. It’s a reminder that strength exists in many forms. I saw people of all ages, backgrounds and body types compete that day. It showed me that even in the face of MS, age, and uncertainty, we can still show up for ourselves and for the people we love. It reconnected me with my sister, challenged me physically and mentally and reinvigorated a part of me I thought I’d left behind somewhere in the chaos of adult life. 

So here I am: 35, middle-aged, mildly confused by TikTok trends, but somehow a Hyrox finisher with a dodgy back and a favourite hob ring. Sure, I’m not entirely sure what half my friends actually do for a living and I like to be in bed by 9pm, but I’ve got grit, goals, and a sister who can squat a small car. Middle age, bring it on!