From Wall Ball Struggles to Loving the Grind: Laine HYROX Journey

With three HYROX doubles races now in the pocket, it’s funny to look back at where this journey actually started.

I still have a love-hate relationship with burpee broad jumps and wall balls. But that wasn’t always the case.

I remember my very first HYROX race like it was yesterday. I competed in doubles with my friend Alina, the person who originally pulled me into the HYROX world. Back then, wall balls felt impossible. I could barely manage 10 to 20 reps before hitting my limit. It was frustrating, embarrassing even. Alina had to finish the remaining wall balls on her own while I stood there, completely exhausted.

At the time, I honestly wondered what I had gotten myself into. My energy was low, my lungs were struggling, and mentally I wasn’t sure I belonged on that start line. But somehow, step by step, station by station, we finished the race.

And somewhere along the way, something clicked.

Falling in Love With the Challenge

With time, training, and consistency, things started to change. Movements that once broke me, wall balls and burpee broad jumps, slowly became some of my favorites. Not because they got easier, but because I got stronger.

That race marked the moment I truly fell in love with HYROX. Not for the competition itself, but for what it demanded: resilience, patience, and the willingness to keep going even when your body tells you to stop.

Finding Strength at Stage 12

Everything shifted again when I joined Stage 12.

For the first time, I didn’t just train harder, I trained smarter. Structured workouts, intentional programming, and a supportive community made a massive difference. Today, I can honestly say I’ve never felt as strong as I do now.

Running, however, is still my weakest part of HYROX training. I’m relatively new to it, I bought my very first pair of running shoes only a year and a half ago.

And here’s a fun fact: I used to be the person who skipped sports classes at school whenever possible. I didn’t discover how powerful and life-changing movement could be until I was 22.

Now? I can’t imagine my days without it.

Running, strength training, HYROX sessions at Stage 12, movement has become part of who I am.

Why I Keep Coming Back

Every time I sign up for another HYROX race, I ask myself the same question: Why am I doing this?

The answer always comes after the finish line.

That feeling, the mix of exhaustion, pride, relief, and quiet confidence, is impossible to explain unless you’ve experienced it yourself. But once you do, you understand why it’s worth every tough training session, every uncomfortable moment, every doubt.

HYROX taught me one of the most important lessons in training, and in life:

Progress doesn’t have to be fast. It just has to be consistent.

And that lesson? I’ll carry it far beyond the race floor.