Hyrox fitness competition could bring 'economic boost' to Cardiff
"What we saw with Hyrox when they went to Glasgow recently was 40,000 people going to the city who wouldn't have gone to Glasgow," he said."What we want to see here in Cardiff is tens of thousands of people coming here at a time when most students will have left, so it's a quiet time for the city and therefore giving an economic boost at a time when they didn't expect that kind of money to come into the shops and restaurants."
What is Hyrox?
Participants run 1km (0.62 miles) before completing one fitness exercise, including 1km on a standing ski machine, 50m of sled push and 80m burpee jumps.Competitors - either professional or everyday fitness enthusiasts - repeat the process until they have performed eight runs and the eight workouts.
At the Colosseum Gym at Gwaelod y Garth just outside Cardiff, some gym-goers said they had already upped their training ahead of the competition.Mother and daughter duo Tracey Bennett, 44, and Grace, 15, said it was a chance to improve their fitness as well as spend time together."It's just like a really different type of training to what I'm used to it," said Grace. "It has the strength that we are used to in strength and conditioning but also the running and the quite intense cardio as well, which I really enjoy."Grace is too young to enter, but has encouraged her mum to try."I am now very much thinking about it thanks to Grace, who is waiting until she turns 16 to do one at the end of the year. "I'd say she's strongly encouraged me have a go. I'm not the most competitive, so I'll just go and have fun," Tracey said.
Lauren Smith, who owns a gym in Barry and also presents content for Hyrox's social media channels, said she believed the event would be huge" for the Welsh capital."You already have this really lovely atmosphere of the athletes racing," she said,"We're going to be doing it on the hallowed turf of the Welsh Rugby Union where we've won Grand Slams and lifted trophies and you're just going to be in the middle of that stadium."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
2 minutes ago
- Wales Online
Scared team-mate found Lions star sat on toilet thinking he was going to die
Scared team-mate found Lions star sat on toilet thinking he was going to die 'I can tell this story, because spoiler alert, he's not dead,' explained Ugo Monye. Andy Powell had a little too much caffeine. (Image: (Photo by)) Former England international Ugo Monye has revealed Andy Powell once "thought he was going to die" after a night out on a British and Irish Lions tour. The former Harlequins flyer told the tale on talkSPORT, with hosts Darren Bent and Andy Goldstein cracking up. Powell and Monye were teammates on the 2009 Lions tour to South Africa, where the touring side lost 2-1 to the Springboks. Despite going 2-0 down, Sir Ian McGeechan's side were victorious in the third and final match, winning 28-9. Two tries from Shane Williams and one from Monye himself helped seal the win. A plethora of Welsh players were on that tour, much different to the 2025 edition, which featured only two Welshmen in the initial squad. Speaking to talkSPORT, Monye revealed that ex-Cardiff star Powell got himself into a right pickle during their celebrations. "I shared a room with a guy called Andy Powell," began Monye, before telling the tale of Powell's golf buggy trip down the M4 to the hosts. "Were you nervous about going to sleep?," asked Goldstein. "100%," replied Monye. Article continues below "I remember on the night of the third Test, we'd just won and it was a brilliant night. "He was just as committed on the pitch as he was to the social side. Everyone knows that Super Sunday is better than Super Saturday. "Generally, before a game you would have a caffeine tablet to get yourself revved up and motivated. He took four of these after the game because he wanted to go through the night. "So, he had had four caffeine tablets, a bucket load of Red Bulls, and then we got into bed at around three or four. "0.3 seconds later he sat bolt upright, because shock horror, he is having heart palpitations. "I can tell this story, because spoiler alert, he's not dead. "So, he woke up, having heart palpitations, I'm not in a fit state to manage him and I'm also not a doctor. So I've left the room to try and find our team doctor who was, funnily enough, asleep. There was no one around. I was frightened. "I go back into the room to not even consider what state he might be in. He's sat on the toilet with his phone in his hand, and his screensaver of his dog. And I was like: 'What are you doing?' "He was saying goodbye to his dog because he thought he was going to die." Article continues below "I just wonder what the stories you can't tell are," joked Goldstein, before all three cracked up. In the game itself, it was Monye who crossed for a try, with Wales legend Shane Williams grabbing a brace. Other Welsh internationals in the squad that day were Stephen Jones, Mike Phillips, Matthew Rees, Martyn Williams, Alun Wyn Jones and James Hook, although the latter did not come off the bench.
Wales Online
5 hours ago
- Wales Online
Jiffy's most remarkable feat yet as he pieces himself back together for big day
Jiffy's most remarkable feat yet as he pieces himself back together for big day The Wales rugby legend has done an outstanding job as president of Velindre Cancer Charity Jonathan Davies goes again for charity (Image: John Myers) Jonathan "Jiffy" Davies is one of Wales' greatest ever rugby players, but his greatest achievement in life has been his incredible commitment to raising money for Velindre Cancer Charity. It is a cause very close to his heart after his father, Len, and his first wife, Karen, passed away from cancer. It was the contrasting nature of their treatment and his desire to help others which drove the dual-code international to get involved with Velindre. Davies first got involved with Velindre Cancer Charity in 2007 and became a patron before getting promoted to president in 2009. The 62-year-old has overseen, coordinated and participated in numerous fundraising events over the years, raising over £50m for Velindre Cancer Charity. This Sunday Davies will be taking part in his annual 50 mile bike ride which starts at the Cardiff City Stadium and finishes outside Rock restaurant in Swansea. But this year will be a tougher challenge than ever before after a difficult year for the legend following two major surgeries. A full knee replacement back in September was followed by a major back operation that saw him have a metal cage and four screws inserted in his back and left him feeling like he's been "run over by a bus". Pulling out of this event, was never an option though. Article continues below Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. "I pinned my hat to Velindre very early on because of the treatment my wife had and how difficult it was for me and my family along with my mother when my dad was being treated in Cambridge," Davies tells WalesOnline. "Sometimes you just take things for granted until somebody gets cancer and then you soon realise how important it is to have something like this on your doorstep. "I've just got to thank everyone who has put money in. "It's an amazing ride and one of many rides people do throughout the year. "It's one of those things where I do my little bit to help and keep it up." Jonathan Davies is raising money for Velindre Cancer Charity (Image: Adrian White Photography) Davies will be joined by over 300 people on the bike ride, including Welsh rugby legends Alun Wyn Jones, James Hook and Dwayne Peel. The well-respected rugby pundit has always put great stock in his fitness but this year will be more challenging than ever, given his inability to prepare as he would wish. "I've had two operations leading up to it but I'm back on the bike now," he said. "I had a knee replacement last September and I had a cage put in my back last December. "The operations went well. "I haven't trained as much as I'd like to but I'm feeling okay. "I've not prepared as well as I'd like to have but I've been on the bike a couple of times around the Gower. "The weather seems to be very hot so it will be tough but it's all about getting the numbers up and raising money for a good cause. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free "My body is alright but I'm not a cyclist. "I'm just going to take my time and enjoy the day. "We've managed to get over 300 people which is great but I'd like to get more than that over the next couple of years if I can. "It's 50-odd miles for us but there's a couple of other stops where you can do less if you want to and join in." Velindre Cancer Charity has been a godsend for those who have suffered with cancer and their families. There is a plan to build a second Velindre Cancer Centre in Coryton and Davies is committed to continue raising money for a cause close to his heart. "Cancer rates are getting worse and worse," he told WalesOnline. "They think it's going to be one in two soon. "It's always creeping up and there are a lot of people I know now currently going through treatment. "I want to help everyone that's had cancer and I want to help their families who are going through it. "It's a horrible place to be in but hopefully one day all the cancer charities all over the country and the world really if we can find a cure for it that would be the most amazing thing. "We are just doing our little bit really because I know how difficult it is whether it's yourself, family or friends. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. "Velindre are amazing. "The staff have been amazing and there's a new hospital opening in 2027. "Hopefully it will be bigger and better. Article continues below "Hopefully we can get people treated a lot better in Wales with better facilities but it is still a horrible disease. "I just raise money and give it to people who know better how to use it. "It's gone towards a lot of research, some outstanding staff and some new equipment."
Leader Live
15 hours ago
- Leader Live
Phil Parkinson addresses £10m Nathan Broadhead fee rumours
Welsh international, Broadhead, put pen paper on a four-year-deal at the SToK Cae Ras on Thursday. It has been speculated that the Reds have paid Ipswich Town £10m for the North Wales-born attacker, who was at Wrexham as a child. But ahead of the visit of West Brom on Saturday, in which the new signing could make his debut, Parkinson was clear to address talk about the transfer fee. He said: "The fee has been out there as £10m, but I think we've got to get in the Premier League and win the Champions League for it to go up to that, but it's a price for a player of real Championship quality. "The fee with Ipswich has been agreed for quite a long time but they wanted to bring a player in so we've had to be patient but they've been very fair and both parties are happy with the deal. "He's got that Championship pedigree and he can create something in tight situations. "You need players that can unlock the door and can create key moments in games and Nathan's got that, he's shown it at Ipswich and the story of him coming home is a great one as well. He was really keen to come to us and looking forward to working with him. "He's shown a real desire to come to us but has been respectful for his time at Ipswich as well."
