After completing her first HYROX event in Vancouver, we caught up with Uli, our founder and Head Trainer, to reflect on her preparation, the moments that stood out on race day, and what the experience reinforced about training well and pushing yourself thoughtfully.
We started by asking Uli about the work that went in before race day.
How did you prepare for HYROX — physically and mentally — and what surprised you most?
Uli: Physically, I wrote myself a structured training program specifically for HYROX. I didn’t have a huge amount of time — about four to six weeks — so the training was quite intense, but I followed it religiously. I really believe training properly is non-negotiable for an event like this. I wouldn’t recommend just showing up and “seeing how it goes” — the risk of injury is real if you’re not prepared.
Mentally, my goal was very clear: I wanted to finish under two hours. That honestly scared me. I was nervous. So my mindset became about staying calm, trusting my preparation, and staying in my own lane. I didn’t want to get sucked into starting too fast or comparing myself to others. It was about pacing myself and sticking to my plan.
What surprised me most was how exhausting the preparation was — and how much I had to eat. I trained really hard and ate like a horse. Proper nourishment became essential just to keep up with the training load.
How did you balance performance training with recovery, injury prevention, and real life?
Uli: That was one of the most challenging parts. I’m in the gym all day — coaching clients, demonstrating lifts, moving constantly — and then I still had to train for HYROX and recover properly. That balance was hard.
What made it possible was my team and my clients’ understanding. Having my team step in and cover some sessions I would normally coach allowed me to reduce my weekly load enough to focus on training and recovery. Without that support, this wouldn’t have been possible.
And outside the gym, I’m incredibly grateful for my husband and my family. In real life, my husband basically fed the horse — making sure I was eating properly and staying fuelled throughout the process. That support mattered just as much as the training itself.
What felt hardest on race day, and did you have to adjust your plan?
Uli: The hardest part for me was the sled pull. The sled weighs 78 pounds and I’m around 111–112 pounds, so dragging it across four lanes was brutal. I had to dig deep, stay very low, and walk backwards just to keep it moving. That was the toughest physical challenge.
The second hardest was the final station — the wall balls. I had planned to start with bigger sets, but by the time I got there, everything was fatigued. I had to change strategy and switch to smaller sets with breaks in between. It wasn’t the plan, but it was the smartest way to keep moving.
Another unexpected challenge was race logistics — getting stuck behind people at burpee broad jumps or sandbag lunges. At first, I didn’t realize you were allowed to switch lanes. That uncertainty affected my mindset in the moment. Once I understood the rules and adapted, I could go at my own pace again.
What surprised you about the event compared to your expectations?
Uli: I did a HYROX trial beforehand to understand the flow and sequence, so nothing about the structure surprised me.
What did surprise me — in a really positive way — was the atmosphere. The crowd, the adrenaline, and the community energy were incredible. Women sharing their stories at the start line, saying if it was their first race or second, high-fiving and cheering each other on — that sense of connection really carries you through the race. You can’t fully anticipate that until you’re in it.
What lessons did you take away — and what would you do differently next time?
Uli: The biggest lesson is pacing. If you want to finish strong, you have to respect the event and manage your effort.
Preparation was another huge takeaway. I felt my whole body today the next day, but I was prepared for that. Because I trained properly, I came through the event without any major issues. I’m 100% sure that without that prep, recovery would look very different right now.
Next time, I think I could push a little harder — especially on the wall balls. But for my first HYROX, my priority was protecting my body and finishing strong. I wanted to learn, not break myself. Now that I understand the event, I know I can do better and faster next time.
Now that you’ve done HYROX yourself, how does that change the way you support clients who might be curious about trying something like this?
Uli: By putting myself out there, I hope it shows clients that these challenges are possible — and maybe ignites that spark in someone else to try it.
Now that I’ve done it, I can train clients properly and prepare them safely for HYROX, whether that’s a team or solo event. I know what the demands are, and I can be in their back corner every step of the way.
I would love to see a Forever Active HYROX team in the future — training together, competing together, supporting one another. Our clients already support each other, but shared challenges like this create even deeper camaraderie and connection. It becomes more than individual training — it becomes a true team experience.
If you’re curious about training with Forever Active or exploring a new challenge in a safe, supported way, you can book a free NoRisk consultation. It’s an opportunity to ask questions, talk through your goals, and see if our approach feels right for you.
Learn more about Uli here
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