For Padmini Ambatipudi and Amitha Netla, the biggest takeaway from Hyrox is that human connections can make even the most grueling journey a lot easier. The much-hyped indoor fitness competition, which includes eight kilometers of running and eight functional exercises, was indeed a test of endurance and patience for the duo who competed in the 50-54 age category as a team. Despite the challenges, they enjoyed every bit of it and even secured third prize.
Complementary Strengths
We complemented each other. I am into running while Padmini is a regular at the gym. When I struggled with some exercises, Padmini, 54, stepped in, and while running, I slowed to match Padmini's pace, recalls Amitha, 49, a soft skills trainer at the Judicial Academy. She adds that the chemistry and camaraderie kept them going, enabling them to cross the finish line in two hours and 17 minutes. Amitha and Padmini attended about six simulation sessions, covering roughly 25 to 40 percent of the event in coached, technique-corrected workouts. We stayed highly consistent, exercising daily even during travel or family functions, journaling workouts, sharing updates, and setting challenges to build endurance, says Padmini, a former IT professional.
Overcoming Tough Stations
The hardest stations for Padmini and Amitha were burpee broad jumps and squats. Initially, they could not do even five burpees continuously but managed to perform around 90 burpee broad jumps during Hyrox. The final station, where they did approximately 100 squats after eight kilometers of running, was a real killer. Endurance is as much mental as it is physical, says Amitha.
Event Overview
Hyrox, an international competitive fitness event held at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre recently, brought together a broad mix of participants and spectators around a shared fitness experience. The event saw around 8,000 athletes and over 12,000 spectators, making the impossible possible. Participants trained hard for the event, with some optimizing their performance by joining group classes at fitness centers dedicated to Hyrox training.
Training and Resilience
Around 120 athletes trained at our studio, and all of them crossed the finishing line with good timing, says Pavan Chavan, head coach at 6262 Fitness in HSR Layout. We helped them with structured sessions: strength workouts on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday that mimicked race movements to build muscle memory; a Tuesday session that used all event stations and equipment to give a race-like feel; and weekend coach-led simulations that included a full race, says Pavan. These sessions helped participants understand each station and improve their performance. Tanya Arora from Bengaluru sustained a physical injury and managed only one practice session before the event, but she still completed the race, demonstrating remarkable resilience.
Community Impact
Four months ago, Ritesh Varma, who weighed 102 kilograms, had little or no interest in marathons or Hyrox. Looking back, he says joining a fitness community and watching people work out has transformed him inside out and helped him lose 15 kilograms. A community that shows up every day, sweating in real time, makes it impossible for you to stay on the couch. You cannot unsee it. You just lace up, smiles the 33-year-old, who looks forward to catching up with his newfound friends every day.
Youth Success
Eshaan Kattepur, a first-year undergraduate student at Azim Premji University, believes in the power of two. Along with his childhood friend, Abraham Jacob, he won second place in the 16-24 age category. We trained four to five days a week and did simple exercises. We were consistent, and I think that matters a lot, he says. Eshaan and Abraham completed Hyrox in one hour and 11 minutes. The race was not easy. It required a lot of commitment and discipline. Many athletes participated in the event with their friends and colleagues, says Pooja Rajpal, head judge at the SkiErg station at the event, adding that winners were chosen based on timing.
What Is Hyrox?
Hyrox is a fitness competition that blends endurance running with functional strength workouts. It consists of eight one-kilometer runs, each followed by one workout station. The eight stations are: SkiErg, pulling repeatedly through set resistance for 1,000 meters on a SkiErg machine; Sled Push, pushing a weighted sled forward for 12.5 meters four times (50 meters total); Sled Pull, pulling a weighted sled using a rope for 12.5 meters four times (50 meters total); Burpee Broad Jumps, performing a burpee and jumping forward repeatedly for 80 meters; Rowing, working the rowing machine at set resistance for a distance of 1,000 meters; Farmer's Carry, walking while carrying heavy weights in both hands for 200 meters; Sandbag Lunges, performing walking lunges with a weighted sandbag for 100 meters; and Wall Balls, performing 100 squats while throwing a ball to a target height of 10 feet for men and 9 feet for women.
At the end of the day, Hyrox was much more than a fitness event. It proved that being part of a community can make you stronger, both physically and mentally.
