Let me tell you about my HYROX adventure in Barcelona—what a ride! 🔥

So I flew to Barcelona the day before (because who doesn't want to explore a little?), and honestly, not my smartest pre-race move. My wife and I were child-free and went all in on the city vibes, but next time? I'm just gonna chill the day before. My body was practically begging for it.

Food-wise, I crushed some chicken fried rice at this spot called Boa Bao—absolute game changer that kept me fueled through race day. Usually I'm a fasted workout guy, but with a 2pm start time, had to throw in a light breakfast to keep the engine running.

Quick reality check: showed up with a cranky knee and tight hamstrings (classic me). The Therabody recovery section? ABSOLUTE LIFESAVER. Note to future self: don't skip the warm-down the next day just because you're riding that post-race high! 🤦‍♂️

Can we talk about the event itself? I had NO IDEA it would be such a scene! DJs pumping music, sponsor booths everywhere, food stalls—literally felt like a festival where people just happen to be destroying themselves physically. It instantly transported me back to my national triple jump days. That electric atmosphere when you're hurting but the crowd's energy just carries you? Unmatched. Having my wife cheering definitely pulled me through those "why am I doing this?" moments.

Here's my hot take: HYROX is basically a running race with stations designed to absolutely wreck you in between. 😂 Success formula? Know your stroke rates on the rowers, dial in your sustainable run pace, and have a game plan for the strength stuff. Otherwise, you're going to burn out.

From a business nerd perspective—Puma and Red Bull absolutely OWNED the branding game. But the real genius? Those HYROX backpacks with the velcro patches showing your races and countries. Started spotting them at the airport and couldn't stop seeing them. Instant community identifier. Did I immediately want one? Absolutely. That's marketing gold right there.

Think about the economic impact too—just for me alone: event fee, hotel, flights, tourism, food, city transport. Now multiply that by thousands of participants! Fitness tourism is a SERIOUS economic driver. The UK should be all over this (especially with that government growth mandate). Developing countries? This could be your golden ticket.

As for the doubles experience—finished with a solid 1:11:57 with my partner, but it's tricky business! If you're the stronger runner, you can't just blast ahead, which is both frustrating and a blessing (saved me from completely burning out). But navigating those crowded transitions when waves overlap? Total energy drain, both mentally and physically.

Already plotting my solo run to break that magical 1-hour mark. Because apparently, I'm addicted now? The HYROX bug is REAL, people.

Who's joining me for the next one? Drop your race plans! 👇

See you on the course! 💪

Check out my Instagram to see my hyrox montage (p.s yes I went topless 🤭)

james_ok

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If you're training for your next Hyrox, check out hyroxworkouts. I found this page useful for adding some killer sessions into the mix.