I was looking for my next marathon race in 2022, when I first discovered Hyrox in one of these event lists. It was still a couple of months away and in Frankfurt, which was only one hour drive from my home town. Hybrid!-Running and Lifting was kind of always my thing , so I thought, I’ll give it a try.
Hyrox is addictive
I prepared my first race without any special Hyrox equipment. It was really tough and I was at the edge of giving up three times: burpees, lunges and wallballs. Totally exhausted, but satisfied, happy and proud, I completed my first race and since then I got addicted to Hyrox.
One day I want to be on that podium. You won’t make it; you are too old!
Ibuild my own Hyrox Gym in my basement with the original equipment: medicine Ball, Skierg, Rowing Machine, Sledge, Sandbags, Kettlebells, even a curved Treadmill. I stopped playing soccer and even stopped running marathons. Just to focus on the one thing: Hyrox. I trained six days a week, twice a day at the weekends. I consumed tons of protein powder and creatin.
I travelled Asia
Hyrox was more than competing for me. It was a way to travel and discover Asia. I spent a fortune traveling to all these places, but definitely every cent spent was worth it. Being in a foreign country, discovering new places, experiencing different cultures and tasting local cuisine, does something to you in an unconscious way. It expands your horizon and hence triggers creativity and new ideas.
Singapore, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, India, Australia, New Zealand.
I even almost won my race in Beijing. Unfortunately, as I am not able to count to two, I ran one lap too much 😫! Yet, I still made it 3rd and podium. However, the 2nd was only 10 seconds and the 1st two minutes faster than me. I think it is fair to say that without my stupid mistake, I might have won that race. So what, we all do mistakes and at least, I have this one picture with me on the podium holding this flag. This was one of the happiest moment in my life and even of my fans.
4 Seasons, 10 Countries, 20 x Races, 9 x Top 10, 1 Podium, Mission completed.
Competing in Hyrox was just not only exciting for me, but also for my family, friends and fans. It makes me happy and proud to see, how Hyrox also became part of their lifes. They came to most of my races, holding up signs with my name and cheering for me. In my last race in Bengalore, seven friends came to support me and say goodbye. Some of them even took an overnight bus, to travel all the way to the race. Thank you so much!
Watching me running and performing at the stations even in my mid fourties, competing against generation Z and trying to reach podium, was a hughe inspiration for them.
I still remember the race in Singapore, when I won my wave of 50 competitors in front of their eyes. Leading the wave from the start to the end. Fighting for every single second, as there would be no tomorrow. This is how I want them to remember me. Not only as a husband, father or entrepreneur, but also as a strong, disciplined and dedicated athlete. Most of them got so inspired, they started to exercise themselves. They signed up in gyms, charity runs and one of them even participated in Hyrox himself.
It is time to get out of the Hyrox Bubble.
For me it has always been all or nothing. It has been an exciting and wonderful journey. But deep inside me, I feel that it is time now for a change and a new focus in my life. Time for my next passion: YummyCups.