Over the past few years, I’ve been pushing my body hard. Outdoors, strength training, CrossFit – I did it all. My workouts were intense, my diet consciously chosen. Yet something kept wriggling: no matter how hard I trained, that last bit of belly fat seemed unyielding. An echo from the past of my physique from twenty-five years ago remained just out of reach.
It frustrated me. I still weighed 98 kilos in September 2024 and devoured everything loose about nutrition, training and the right balance. But what I found was a jumble of conflicting advice and diets that contradicted each other. Until I got in touch with Bernard Reichling of Project IJzersterk (Project Ironclad in English) – an online fitness coaching programme that is not about quick results, but lasting change. And that’s where my journey began.
From training to transforming
With Eljan van Soeren as my personal coach, I not only got a training schedule, but also a structured approach that balanced nutrition, rest and exercise. The results didn’t take long to appear. My body got stronger, my energy levels rose, and for the first time in a long time, I felt like I was really getting a grip on my physical development.
At the same time, another challenge came my way: Hyrox. A fitness race on the rise worldwide that combines running with functional strength movements. No empty trends or marketing talk, but a brutal test of endurance and mental toughness. I wanted to sign up for the Hyrox in Amsterdam, but was too late. Instead of balking, I volunteered. This gave me the chance to taste the atmosphere as a ‘judge’ and see what awaited me. One look at the battleground and I knew: this is what I have to participate in.
The first showdown: Hyrox Maastricht
My first official participation was 1 February 2025 in Maastricht. The format of Hyrox is as simple as it is merciless: eight one-kilometre runs interspersed with functional exercises such as sled pushes, lunges and rowing. Sounds manageable, but practice is another story. By the seventh run, I was completely worn out. My legs felt like lead, my pace slumped. Until two Defence Forces servicemen along the course urged me: ‘Hang on now!’ Smiling and with renewed vigour, I pushed on. This is the essence of Hyrox: you fight alone, but never without support.
The Hyrox Workout: more than just running
The Hyrox workout seems logical on paper, but it has quite a few variables. The final challenge in particular, the wallballs, is a mental and physical killer. You throw 100 of them, with weights ranging from 4 to 9 kilos. Not to mention the weights in the other parts.
You fight alone, but never without support
With both the SkiErg and the RowErg, you get to set the damper to your own desired setting beforehand. The damper setting is the position of the slide that determines drag. This setting ranges from 1-10.
Hyrox weights by category:
Women individual / doubles / relay
- Sled push: 102 kg (incl. sled)
- Sled pull: 78 kg (incl. sled)
- Kettlebell Farmers Carry: 2 x 16 kg
- Sandbag Lunges: 10 kg
- Wallballs: 100 x 4 kg
Women Pro, Doubles Mixed en Men individual / doubles / relay
- Sled push: 152 kg (incl. sled)
- Sled pull: 103 kg (incl. sled)
- Kettlebell Farmers Carry: 2 x 24 kg
- Sandbag Lunges: 20 kg
- Wallballs: 100 x 6 kg
Men Pro individual / doubles
- Sled push: 202 kg (incl. sled)
- Sled pull: 153 kg (incl. sled)
- Kettlebell Farmers Carry: 2 x 32 kg
- Sandbag Lunges: 30 kg
- Wallballs: 100 x 9 kg
So it’s not just a lap of running with some exercises in between. The right balance between strength, technique and endurance will determine whether you complete this race.
The setup of Hyrox is as simple as it is merciless
Where can you find Hyrox races?
Hyrox races can now be found all over the world. In the Netherlands, you can go to the Amsterdam RAI, Ahoy Rotterdam, Thialf Heerenveen and MECC Maastricht. But those who look further afield will see many more possibilities. Hamburg, Berlin and Cologne in Germany, Bordeaux and Paris in France, London and Birmingham in England, or further afield such as New York City, Toronto, Sydney, Singapore and Doha. One thing is certain: wherever in the world you want to participate, you have to be quick. Tickets are going fast.
The right gear makes all the difference
Hyrox has Puma as an official sponsor, but I mainly chose my own trusted brands. Being a fan of dryCELL, as far as shirts go, I chose the Puma x Hyrox Tad T, Björn Borg 2-in-1 shorts, On-running socks, a Junk headband (essential for the sweat on my baldilocks) and Hoka Speedgoat 6 shoes. In hindsight? Not a brilliant choice. Trail shoes are great for grip and stability, but less suitable for fast running. Lesson learned.
From baseline to next level
I finished in Maastricht after two hours. Not a top time, but I didn’t care. It was my baseline, my starting point. Thanks to Project IJzersterk, I feel fitter than ever and with Hyrox Rotterdam and Mechelen on the agenda, there is no way back. This is no temporary hype, no superficial fitness goal. This is a transformation. And the best part? The only opponent who really counts is myself.
