Most people in their 50s are off enjoying the luxuries of life, from pursuing hobbies to travelling the world. However, for some, this is the ideal time to find their passion and give meaning to their days. Among the 9,000 participants at the Hyrox event in Bengaluru earlier this month, there was a grandmother in her late 50s. Ashu Jain initially struggled to complete the challenge, even breaking down a few times, but later scored a podium finish.
Overcoming Anxiety
On the morning of April 11, Jain woke up feeling jittery and anxious. 'The fact that there had been so much time, effort, and financial investment, including registration, travel for the entire family, gear, and training, created an unspoken pressure. What if I wasn’t able to live up to all those expectations?' she thought. At 58, surrounded by people years younger with more energy and zeal to win, she felt overwhelmed but decided quitting was not an option. She gathered courage and completed the circuit, securing a third-place podium finish in her age group (women aged 55-59).
Breaking Age Stereotypes
In a video shared on Instagram, Jain performed at the event in a t-shirt and skirt, noting that the outfit once seemed 'age inappropriate' to her, but she was finishing a Hyrox in her 50s wearing exactly that.
What is Hyrox?
Hyrox is a popular fitness racing series that has gone viral globally. It is a standardised indoor competition combining 8km of running with eight functional workout stations. Athletes complete a 1km run before each station, repeating the sequence eight times. Stations include SkiErg (1,000m), sled push (50m), sled pull (50m), burpee broad jumps (80m), rowing (1,000m), farmers carry, sandbag lunges, and wall balls. Each participant paid nearly Rs9,000, and with 9,000 participants, the event generated Rs8 crore in revenue.
Why Participate?
When asked why she would pay such a hefty amount for a one-day event, Jain said it was not about validation. 'Nothing pushed me like Hyrox. It gives you something to chase, otherwise it gets boring. It gave me a target. Without that, it’s just a repetitive routine,' she said. 'You can’t do it just for Instagram. It’s extremely tough and requires proper training. Some athletes say the focus is more on influencers than on serious competitors. But if an influencer shows up and does not perform, it shows. The timings are entirely based on your performance.' She added, 'For the amount spent, considering the organisation and the environment they created, it felt like value for money. There are also options across budgets, especially in the hybrid fitness space.'
The Effort Behind Hyrox
Jain began training for Hyrox in December 2025 after recovering from a serious injury. She trained in Dehradun under her coach alongside other fitness enthusiasts. Initially, she was last to finish the runs, feeling demotivated, but later realised performance varies with age and kept pushing. 'I am the oldest in my gym. While training, I was the slowest, often lagging behind because the others were more experienced and trained regularly. I was training just to complete the circuit, not with a competitive mindset. But I am so happy that I secured a podium finish,' she said. She is now looking forward to the upcoming Delhi Hyrox event in July this year.
Interestingly, fitness was not always her interest. She had nothing to do with sports growing up. In her 50s, diagnosed with hypertension and high cholesterol, she ventured into fitness. In 2022, at age 54, she began with short walks and entered a gym for the first time in 2024. At 56, she started her gym journey. With over three lakh followers on Instagram, Ashu Jain wants people to understand that it is never too late to start a fitness routine.
