My Experience at Hyrox Milan: A Journey of Two Races

My Experience at Hyrox Milan: A Journey of Two Races

This past Sunday, I took on a huge challenge: two Hyrox races in one day in Milan. Initially, I thought the events would be split over Saturday and Sunday, but to my surprise, both were packed into Sunday, leaving me less than two hours to recover in between!

Women’s Open: Overcoming Mental Blocks
The first race, Women’s Open, didn’t go as well as I’d hoped. I got stuck in my head, especially when it came to wall balls, which took me over 10 minutes to complete. I’ve realized I have a mental block with wall balls, probably due to the six surgeries I’ve had, including radiation where my muscles collapsed and a split sternum years ago. I’m still very protective of that area, which affects how I approach certain exercises.

After the first race, I had an EMS massage, and that’s when the emotions hit me. It wasn’t just the race—I was overwhelmed by the entire journey my husband Jani and I have been on to get here: battling cancer, staying sober, losing loved ones, finding my birth family, and so much more. I let the tears flow, but they were more of a release than sadness.

Women’s Double: A Better Finish
With my emotions reset, I geared up for the second race, Women’s Double. This one felt much better, and I was fortunate to have my amazing partner, Danielle, pushing me throughout. We did get a penalty, but overall, our run times were faster, and I genuinely enjoyed this race a lot more. It felt good to race with someone by my side and to share the experience together.

The Journey
This Hyrox experience was a reminder of how far I’ve come—both physically and mentally. Everyone has their own reasons for pushing themselves, and Hyrox is a way we can all test our limits. I see so many people in the Hyrox communities nervous about their first race, but I believe just showing up is something to be proud of. No matter what your time is, we all have our unique journeys.

While I didn’t get any personal bests this time, I’m proud of completing both races and pushing through. Jani and I had a great weekend in Milan, staying at the Milan Suite Hotel to ensure we were comfortable between races. We had a lot of work to do, so having a nice, spacious room really made a difference in how we recovered.

Next up is Paris, where I’ll be doing a Women’s Double with my friend Judita and a Mixed Double with Jani. I’m excited for what’s to come!

Final Thoughts
Though I underestimated the wall balls, I learned a lot from this experience. Whether you’re a Hyrox newbie or seasoned competitor, the journey is as important as the result. Keep pushing, and be proud of where you are. 💪

#HyroxMilan #FitnessJourney #PushYourLimits #HyroxTraining #ProudOfMyself