The Post-HYROX Lessons That Changed Me Forever
This is a post-HYROX Freestyle Friday reflection. Uncut, unscripted, and real. My only goal going into HYROX was simple: finish. Just make it through. And I did. I can say without hesitation that HYROX was the hardest physical challenge I have ever put myself through. Harder than anything I have done before. I knew it would be difficult, but the level of challenge exceeded anything I could have imagined. This was not just a race. This was a full-body, full-mind, full-heart test.
Gratitude for the People Who Would Not Let Me Quit
Before anything else, I need to acknowledge my wife, Nikki. She was there every step of the way, and there were moments when I wanted to quit. Moments where I was ready to walk off the course and go back to the hotel. She would not let that happen. She kept me focused. She kept me moving. I also want to thank Logan, my videographer, who followed me across the entire course capturing content that we will be sharing in the coming weeks. And beyond that, I know without question that my son CJ was with me. I drew strength from him repeatedly, and I felt God lift me up at moments when I was on the edge. These moments were tests. Not signs to stop, but moments asking, do you really want this?
The Race Begins and the First Test Arrives Early
The day started well. I arrived prepared, rested, warmed up, and focused. I reminded myself this was me versus me. No clock. No competition against others. Just forward progress. The first runs felt controlled, but halfway through the ski erg, my back seized up. My left side cramped hard. I tried to run and could not. My IT band was locking up. Right out of the gate, I was in trouble. I had to stop, stretch on the floor, and mentally reset before pushing the sled. The sled work was fine. The running was not. I walked most of it, fighting through pain, stiffness, and doubt, but the crowd began to notice. People I did not know were cheering my name. That energy mattered more than they will ever realize.
The Exercise That Almost Took Me Out
Broad jump burpees will steal your soul. Without question, they were the hardest part of the entire event. The jumps were manageable, but the burpees were brutal. Doing them one-armed put immense strain on my shoulder and back. My heart rate spiked into the high 170s. I had to stop, breathe, and recommit repeatedly just to keep moving. I eventually got through them, but they took a toll that followed me the rest of the race.
The Fall That Defined the Race
By the time I reached the sandbag lunges, my legs were shot. The sandbag strap was not seated correctly, shifting the weight heavily to one side. Lunging on concrete beneath thin carpet, my knees were taking a beating. I was bleeding. Halfway through the final stretch, my legs gave out. I fell forward, face-first onto the ground, pinned under the sandbag. Support staff rushed in, assuming I was done. I told them clearly, I am not quitting. I said I would finish or be taken off on a stretcher, and I was not ready for a stretcher. I stayed there until I could stand again. I got back up, reset the bag, and finished the lunges.
The Finish Line and the Moment That Changed Everything
The final station was wall ball squats. One hundred squats. My first rep was not deep enough, so the judge brought a box to ensure full depth. By this point, the crowd was everywhere. The announcer introduced me as an adaptive athlete. People were screaming my name. I was exhausted. My heart rate was near 180. I broke the reps into chunks until the final twelve. I finished those unbroken. When it was over, I dropped the ball, crossed the line, and collapsed on the ground. I had finished.
The Lessons That Will Stay With Me Forever
I am far stronger than I ever thought possible, mentally and physically. This was intentional adversity. An adversity accelerator. Proof that I can handle whatever comes next. I cried multiple times during the race, overwhelmed by emotion, gratitude, and purpose. I spoke to my son. I asked for help. I entered a zone where quitting was no longer an option. And that is the lesson I want you to hear clearly. There is nothing that can stop you except yourself. If something truly matters to you, quitting cannot be an option. When it gets hard, focus harder. Move faster. Ask for help. Lean into the discomfort.
Stop Talking About It and Be About It
I am a different person today than I was when I boarded that plane to Dallas. I have receipts now. Proof I have been here before. And this is only the beginning. In business, in life, in leadership, excuses mean nothing. I am a 53-year-old one-armed man who completed HYROX and placed first in my division. Time and motivation are not missing. They are misplaced. If you say you want something, put it on your calendar. Book it. Pay for it. Commit publicly. Then do the work.
Final Challenge: Schedule the Hard Thing Today
A year from now, you will be in the same place or worse if you do not take action. Stop telling yourself stories about why you cannot do something. If you want to start a business, start it. If you want to change careers, do it. If you want to run a race, sign up today. Buy the ticket. Book the hotel. Remove the escape routes. HYROX was about more than a race. It was about becoming someone who does not quit when things get hard. That is the person you are capable of becoming too. Stop talking about it. Be about it.
