I attended Manchester's race last Saturday. Here are my post-race thoughts:
Manchester was held in the Central Convention Complex, and as soon as I walked in, I was welcomed by an amazing atmosphere and vibe. Registration went smoothly. My start time was at 1:30pm, but I arrived early to create some content. As there was no queue, I was allowed to register straight away, much earlier than the 90 minutes before stated in the official communication.
It's impressive how well-organised these events are. This event was not as busy as the London Olympia one in May this year.
The warm-up area was well-prepared, and it was relatively easy to access the equipment. One of the treadmills was out of order, though.
I was at the start line 10 minutes before the race.
Mixed emotions of stress and excitement but the volunteers and athletes were so friendly and supportive.
Okay, 3, 2, 1, GO...
I followed my coach's advice.
I managed to run the whole course. Burpees set my legs on fire, but I knew I was halfway through. Something I wouldn't do again is drinking Red Bull - it made my mouth really dry so next time I'll stick to water.
Although I can easily count to 10, I found counting laps quite tricky; there was so much going on in my head. The board helped guide me on what to do next; however, I had to slow down to find my name and double-check - not ideal.
While I'm not the fittest person, I worked hard for this. I found the race challenging - really challenging. My physical and mental abilities were tested. I saw people with twisted ankles, throwing up, and walking, but everyone was pushing hard and giving their all.
I managed to complete the race in 1 hour and 46 minutes. I aimed for less than 1:40, so this will be my goal next time, as there will definitely be a next time.
The reward afterward is something I haven't experienced before. Exhausted but full of pride, I was buzzing. My daughter was there to support and I am so grateful for this. Her presence made a huge difference.
Straight after finishing I made a phone call to my coach to share the experience, as it's all about people, isn't it? You do it for yourself, but sharing this achievement with others also matters.
To those who are before their first race - you can do it! It will test you, it definitely will, but you can do it!
A big hug to my coaches Michele and Graziella for supporting me all the way through the training and the race itself.
I am a fitness content creator and I will be attending the HYROX London event from November 29th to December 1st!
I'll be there to capture all the action of your race with videos and photos. If you're interested in having your HYROX experience professionally recorded, feel free to DM me to check my availability.
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