My HYROX Journey
My HYROX Journey: From one home to another
Reflections on my perfectly imperfect race & finding an unexpected sense of belonging
Three years ago, if you had told me I’d enjoy fitness races or run 1km unbroken, I’d have laughed and bet a no.
I started training with Spirit Level and Dannie in Dubai (my home for 25+ years) in 2022. Back then, I could barely run a minute without gasping for breath, or get low enough for a wall ball squat or lunge.
How things have changed.
On 3rd May, I completed my 3rd HYROX race (and 2nd HYROX Open) in Mumbai - India’s first Hyrox event.
This HYROX felt special. Racing in my hometown with around 20 other team members (who had flown in from Dubai), a year after moving back to Mumbai, felt personal. It made me pause and reflect.
My performance greatly improved from my first Open race back in September 2023. I set a new PB, beating my last time by 12:38 minutes. Every station felt smoother, and I had 2 unbroken runs. I should have been elated. But I felt the opposite - close to tears.
What happened?
The four months leading up to it were my strongest training block yet. I had dialled in runs, rehabbed niggles and finally befriended lunges and burpees. I felt physically and mentally strong, ready to race.
But the race week was unexpectedly stressful, and I only got in the headspace for the race that Saturday morning. The race was smooth until I hit a calf cramp after the final wall ball, which left me unable to walk. I lost a few minutes blinded by the pain, and finally hobbled over to the finish stage with some help. I was more disappointed than I expected and had to force a smile for the finisher photo.
It wasn't the perfect race. But it was the perfect imperfect one. The kind that reminds you of how far you’ve come and why you keep showing up.
Here’s what I took away:
Trust the process, and your coach
After disappointing experiences with trainers, I used to think coaching didn’t work for me. Dannie changed that. She met me where I was and took time to understand me. Having a coach who understands your physical AND emotional needs is unparalleled. Soon, I learned to trust her - and the process. On days when it feels slow or uncomfortable, I now know there’s a method to the madness.
The hard days count the most
Motivation is the flakiest friend. The discipline I’ve built to train on low-energy when I just don’t feel like it days gets me through race days - and often life. If I can push through burpee broad jumps and cramps while questioning my life choices, I feel like I can handle whatever life throws at me.
Recovery is the real MVP
I didn’t expect to spend more time on stretches or with my foam roller and massage ball/gun. I learnt rehab and mobility is the glue that holds the training together.
Team Spirit is everything
Racing solo feels less lonely when you’ve got a strong group behind you. Their voices cheering on or just a glimpse of a familiar face gets me through the dark moments. When I had gone blank with pain due to my calf cramp, a friend’s voice alerting the volunteers on how to help me brought me back to the moment and to the finish stage. We don’t just train together, but understand each other in a way few others do. Each person inspires me differently, and together, we push each other.
An unconditional support system
The ones who show up to cheer you on-even when they don’t fully get what you’re doing - those are your people. My parents have consistently shown up, along with friends I never expected to see. When I hear I inspired some of them to start moving, that’s the icing on the cake.
My worlds colliding
I met my crew in Dubai, my home for 25+ years. For the last three, Spirit Level became my second home. I only moved back to Mumbai - my hometown - last year.
Having a part of the team in India felt like a homecoming of sorts. For many, it was their first time here. The small moments pre and post-race made the weekend unforgettable. I introduced them to many firsts - traveling in an Auto Rickshaw (a tuk tuk, as many called it), Alphonso Mangoes, Indian food beyond ‘curry and naan’. We also went street shopping and got a group dancing to Bollywood music post race! Experiencing my culture through their eyes brought us closer, and also gave me a fresh lens into the city.
I strengthened existing friendships and formed new ones. Early-morning and late-night chats with my roommate made us bond in ways we wouldn’t have in Dubai. Despite the race nerves, the weekend was full of fun, carefree moments that reminded me of teenage sleepovers and school trips.
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The beauty of sport is more than just the physical gains.
Even with a PB, the weekend was about so much more than race victories. It was how everything came together - a great coach, a supportive community, self-belief, showing up for myself, new experiences, and plenty of laughs.. All the elements culminated in an unforgettable weekend and a turning point in my journey.
While creating new memories, I realised I had found a home in places, people, and a sport I never expected to.
I also felt proud of Mumbai and India - to see so many of my own take on the sport that changed me.
I’m left hungry for the next racecation and challenge, ready to go through it all over again!
Anvita Dasani
