Cardiff Hyrox competition brings extreme fitness craze to Wales
Tens of thousands of people are expected in Cardiff for a gruelling fitness challenge to be held over three days at the Principality Stadium.Hyrox is a "fitness racing" event that has become a craze, going viral on social media since the first competition in Germany eight years ago. There are now 200,000 competitors worldwide according to organisers, with the first ever event in Wales starting on Friday. The event is set to include the oldest known participant in the gruelling indoor race of eight 1km (0.62 mile) runs followed by different fitness exercises.
"Age doesn't have to be a barrier," said Prof Peter Herbert, 80, from Carmarthen. "Vitality is something we can choose to nurture every day."As the Hyrox craze descends on the capital, roads in the town centre are expected to be busy until after the final on Sunday. Competitors - either professional or everyday fitness enthusiasts - perform eight runs and eight workouts, including 1km on a standing ski machine, 50m sled push and 80m burpee jumps.Economist Dylan Jones Evans previously said "tens of thousands" could visit the Welsh capital to take part in the event."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.
Prof Herbert, from University of Wales Trinity Saint David, is a world-renowned fitness expert, academic, and life-long athlete. Undeterred by a knee replacement, he is aiming to be the oldest known competitor to complete the full event.
"If I'm able to complete this challenge, I hope it sends a clear message," he said. "Through a commitment to a healthy lifestyle and staying physically active, it's absolutely possible to have the energy, strength, and resilience to enjoy activities that many believe are out of reach after 50. "Whether it's surfing, mountain biking, rowing, swimming, or anything else that brings you joy, age doesn't have to be a barrier."
What is Hyrox?
Founded in 2017 as an indoor discipline, athletes take part in eight legs, each a 1km run, followed by a fitness exercise.The exercises competitors are put through include 1km on a standing ski machine, 50m sled push, 50m sled pull, 80m burpee jumps, 1km indoor rowing, carrying a kettlebell 200m, 100m lunges carrying a sandbag, and finally 100 throws and catches of a medicine ball off a wall.
World championships are held every year, with contestants taking part in singles and doubles races. The 2024 world championships in France featured a new relay event by nationality.The sport is closely related to CrossFit, but has different, simpler exercises and prioritises endurance over raw strength.Its popularity is primarily put down to two things: accessibility and visibility. Hyrox has been designed with the intention of going viral, whether by giving contestants patches instead of medals to wear on their gym bags, or by pushing "training club Tuesdays", getting people to tag gyms that offer classes.The top athletes in the sport are doing the event in under an hour. But Hyrox competitor and former Wales rugby player Laura Payne said the race could be geared to all abilities, with some using lower weights, walking the sprints and taking up to three hours to finish."It's quite open and inclusive," said the co-owner of Penarth gym Arth Strength.
"If you've not done much fitness you could get by if you did it with a pair," Ms Payne, who has done Hyrox events in Birmingham and London, added."There is 8km of running but spread out a little bit and some of the stations can be made harder or easier." According to Ms Payne, it is a mass participation event like a half marathon, but "less boring" because running is not the only event. The training is mainly around endurance, with hour-long sessions, she said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
4 hours ago
- The Guardian
Nations League roundup: Wales suffer thrashing by Italy in Euro 2025 send-off
Rhian Wilkinson said Wales would not suffer any trauma in Switzerland after being thrashed 4-1 by Italy at their Euro 2025 send-off. Wilkinson suffered the biggest defeat of her 15-month reign as Italy scored four times in the first half of a Nations League finale in Swansea – the Wales manager calling it a 'little bit of capitulation'. First-half goals from Cristiana Girelli, who struck twice with excellent headers, Elena Linari and Sofia Cantore punished poor Wales defending and secured Italy second place in the group. Jess Fishlock produced some late cheer with a stunning consolation eight minutes from time, scoring off the underside of the crossbar from 35 yards for her 47th Wales goal. 'The first half felt like a punch in the face,' Wilkinson said after Wales' final fixture before their opener against the Netherlands in Lucerne on 5 July 5. 'Let's be clear, that was not a performance that I expect from this team. 'Obviously this is a painful lesson and this is the first time that we've really been exposed. There's no psychological damage, there really isn't. This team punished us for every mistake, and that's something that we talk about as a team. There was more bad news for Wales as goalkeeper Olivia Clark, already sporting a black eye suffered in the Denmark game, was forced off before half-time with a head injury. Clark had required treatment for a head injury 15 minutes earlier after being caught by her own defender Hayley Ladd, but continued before conceding a third goal. Wilkinson said: 'Two head hits in a week is not good, so we decided to pull her. We weren't messing with this and took her out, but I'm not concerned there's any lasting damage.' The Scotland manager, Melissa Andreatta, thought her side were unlucky not to win after they picked up their first point in the Nations League with a 1-1 draw away to the Netherlands. Already-relegated Scotland fell behind when midfielder Jill Roord put the hosts in front – and they were in position for a sixth defeat from a possible six – but Andreatta's side got themselves on level terms courtesy of Kathleen McGovern's 27th-minute equaliser. Scotland were not happy with just the point and pushed for a winning goal after the break, but Netherlands had goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar to thank for their point after she made a string of saves in the second period. Andreatta was happy with her side's performance, telling BBC Scotland: 'With that performance. We earned that result. Especially when you think about the last 24 hours that we had, I think that showed what this team is about. That was established long before me but they put in a great performance tonight. I was really pleased. I think we did start well then the Netherlands started to dominate. We did a tactical change, got a foothold back in the game and we were unlucky to concede that chance but I think we dominated the second half and were unlucky not to win.' Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion Northern Ireland secured a promotion playoff place after securing a 1-1 Group B1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Zenica. The visitors only needed to avoid defeat to secure their playoff spot and Simone Magill's opener put them in a healthy position before Sofija Krajsumovic brought Bosnia back on level terms before the break. Northern Ireland seemed happy to protect their result but suffered a scare when Una Rankic hit the goal frame from a free-kick but hung on to grab their chance to climb into League A.
Daily Record
4 hours ago
- Daily Record
Sport star's 'beautiful' daughter 'dismissed multiple times' before death
Amy James died a day after being admitted to hospital. The daughter of a cricket star was "dismissed" by doctors multiple times before she died in hospital. Amy James died a day after being admitted to hospital, an inquest has heard. The 21-year-old, daughter of former England cricketer Steve James, was admitted to hospital on February 8, 2020. She passed away on February 9. Ex-Glamorgan star James, a highly respected sports journalist, was covering Wales' Six Nations match in Ireland when she took seriously ill. Weather delays meant he was unable to return home to see her before she died. Today, an inquest into her death opened on Tuesday at Pontypridd coroner's court. Wales Online reports it heard how Bethan had visited hospital on several occasions prior to February 8. Her doting mother, Jane James, told the inquest that her daughter was 'dismissed' by multiple medics and that 'her life could have been saved'. Speaking in person at the inquest Jane James described Bethan as a 'caring' and 'beautiful' person who always put others before herself. She explained that Bethan had suffered with gastrointestinal issues throughout most of her life, before she was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2019 at the age of 20. Mrs James said her daughter took her diagnosis with 'great maturity'. Prior to her death Mrs James said Bethan had been studying journalism at the University of South Wales. She dreamed of being a voice for those with Crohn's and related illnesses. It was heard how Bethan had started a vlog account where she documented her experience of the condition, before she became involved in a BBC documentary with Amy Dowden, who is also diagnosed with the condition. The documentary sadly aired after Bethan's death. The programme was dedicated to her memory. Paying tribute to her daughter Mrs James said: "As a person she never moaned, she never made a fuss. She was very caring. She was just beautiful. She put people before herself. She was more interested in other people and their stories and I think that's why she would have made a brilliant journalist." Mrs James told the inquest about the heartbreaking events that led up to her daughter's death. She explained how on Saturday, January 25, 2020 her daughter had been out in town with a friend when she complained of feeling tired and having shortness of breath. Mrs James said they decided to book her daughter in for an emergency appointment with her GP on Monday, January 27. The inquest heard that her GP, Dr Jonathan Carnell, was concerned about Bethan and set up an urgent referral at Llandough hospital for her respiratory symptoms to be investigated. It was heard that discharge summary notes from the appointment on January 28 read that Bethan was likely suffering from 'community acquired pneumonia'. She was given antibiotics and discharged. However, Mrs James said this diagnosis was not verbally relayed to her or her daughter by medics at the hospital. She said: "They didn't tell her 'community acquired pneumonia'. We sat in the waiting area and they said they think she may have a chest infection and that she should take antibiotics as a precaution." She added that if the word 'pneumonia' had been used it would have struck the family as more sinister in that early stage of her illness developing. The following day, on Tuesday, Mrs James said her daughter was determined to go to university to deliver a presentation that was important to her. Bethan was well enough to drive herself to university, but was 'absolutely exhausted' by the time she got home, it was heard. She developed numbness in her right arm and continued feeling short of breath, the inquest was told. Over the next few days Bethan developed more symptoms including involuntary movements in her right arm and difficulties using her right arm and hand. It was heard how she struggled to hold a cup and had problems holding her arm above her head. In addition it was heard how Bethan was suffering abdominal pain and nausea to the point of being unable to 'tolerate food '. 'On Tuesday she could drive, and by Sunday she couldn't hold a cup in her hand,' Mrs James told the inquest. Due to her worsening symptoms Mrs James said she took her daughter to accident and emergency (A&E) at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff on Sunday, February 2. Mrs James said she clearly remembers the day, including telling the triage nurse about the previous appointment in Llandough. In response, she said the nurse was 'abrupt' which upset her daughter. She explained how Bethan was seen by one particular doctor who was 'dismissive' of her chest symptoms. She said he did not think it was of 'any significance'. She said he spoke to A&E consultant Dr Chen Wen Ngua for advice as well as to neurology registrar Dr Mark Willis. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. It was heard how the outcome of this hospital trip was that Bethan's symptoms were likely the result of a hemiplegic migraine. Mrs James said: 'I don't feel on the 2nd that they fully assessed her.' Mrs James became emotional when she described how on Monday, February 3, her daughter had collapsed because she was 'so exhausted' from being at hospital. Following this Mrs James said an ambulance was called and although paramedics arrived her daughter said she did not want to go to hospital, having felt dismissed by various medics and exhausted by the hours of waiting around she had already endured. It was heard how paramedics noted that Bethan's heart rate was high, but that she couldn't be forced to go to hospital. Two days later, on Wednesday, February 5, Bethan's symptoms persisted in her right arm, and she had also developed numbness and issues with her right leg. Myself and my husband knew we needed to do something to try and find out what was going on,' Mrs James told the inquest. She said they took her back to A&E at the University Hospital of Wales. During this visit Mrs James said they encountered Dr Ngua for the second time. She described him as "very, very dismissive" of her daughter and recalled that he told her daughter words to the effect of: 'You again! You were here on Sunday.' He said on reflection Bethan's high heart rate could have been investigated further. Mrs James said while in the hospital waiting area a medic came and did an observation of her daughter. During this, she explained how her heart rate appeared unusually high. Mrs James said the medic assumed that the machine was broken, but that the family believe it was more likely that Bethan was being dismissed and that her heart rate really was that high. Coroner Patricia Morgan asked Mrs James whether she thinks her daughter should have been admitted at this point. 'Definitely,' she said. 'She was so unwell. They didn't appreciate how unwell she was.' Mrs James added that it was only when she threatened to contact health board seniors that medics agreed to arrange a follow up appointment with neurology. Meanwhile, Bethan could 'barely walk out of the hospital,' she said. The family was advised to return to the hospital the following morning for the neurology referral, Mrs James said. However, upon their arrival she said there was 'no record' of the referral appointment and that medics had 'no idea' why they were there. She described this as 'appalling'. Mrs James said: 'Again her heart rate was off the scale and they said the machine was not working - it probably was just her heart rate and it was dismissed again.' Mrs James added that throughout the assessment, which was with Dr Willis, her daughter's respiratory symptoms were not investigated. She noted a comment made by Mr Willis that she found inappropriate during the assessment. She said: 'He said he had seen a 17-year-old girl with similar symptoms and that she is now symptom free and fine. I have no idea how he could say this to Bethan without diagnosing her.' She said Dr Willis did organise for blood tests to happen that day, but that Bethan was so dehydrated by the time that these came about that medics could not draw blood. Bethan was advised to get these done at her GP instead. Mrs James added: 'I felt they just wanted Bethan out of there as soon as possible.' Speaking during the inquest Dr Willis said he made the comment in an attempt to show compassion and reassure Mrs James. He added: 'I'm sorry to hear Mrs James feels she wasn't listened to.' Answering questions from the family's advocate, Richard Booth, Dr Willis said it was unusual for neurology assessments to result in hospital admission. He said when examining Bethan he found only mild weakness in her right arm. He addressed that neurological symptoms of the nature experienced by Bethan were rare in cases of sepsis. On Saturday, February 8, Mrs James said her daughter had been in bed all afternoon. By the afternoon she said she was watching rugby with her daughter and trying to encourage her to eat. By 4pm Mrs James said her daughter 'looked dreadful' with bags under her eyes and nails so pale she thought she was wearing white nail polish. On a number of occasions Mrs James recalled asking if she could call for an ambulance, but in response her daughter reiterated that Dr Willis said she would soon be fine. However, she called 999 that evening. The first person to arrive was a rapid response paramedic named Paul Humphries. Mrs James said Mr Humphries could not record Bethan's blood pressure properly. In hindsight Mrs James said she now knows this is a sign of sepsis. She said the 'signs' of sepsis were 'right in front' of Mr Humphries. The inquest heard how initially Mr Humphries called for a P3 ambulance response, which refers to a low priority. He later escalated this to a P2. Mrs James said: 'I don't know why someone doesn't get a P1 when they are so unwell.' Speaking during the inquest Mr Humphries said in hindsight he believes he dealt with Bethan appropriately. He added: 'I didn't come away from that incident thinking I did a bad job.' When the ambulance turned up Mrs James said she didn't sense any 'rush' to get her daughter to hospital. She finally arrived at 7.45pm following a 12 minute journey, it was heard. Mrs James described that on arrival at the University Hospital of Wales they had to wait in the ambulance outside the hospital for some time. She said they 'now know' there was a bed available, claiming her daughter wasn't 'deemed unwell enough' to have it. At 8.10pm Ms James was triaged before she went down to resus at 9.15pm. Mrs James said it occurred to her that her daughter was only at this point going down to where she needed to be to receive help, some three hours after the ambulance had been called. She described there being 'chaos' at the hospital as medics struggled to administer a line into Bethan, and with nobody clearly in charge of her care. Mrs James said she believes it should have been administered in her daughter's neck instead for easier access, or that she should have been taken down to intensive care. All the while this was ongoing Mrs James said her daughter was awake, could 'hardly breathe' and was 'so scared'. After some time Mrs James said an anaesthetist came down and Bethan was put to sleep. Mrs James said she felt that with that her daughter's body lost its ability to fight. She said she was asked to leave at around 9.25pm before she was told her daughter had a cardiac arrest. She recalled being told medics were working on Bethan and if she wanted to be with her as she passed away. 'As soon as I walked in, I knew she was dead,' Mrs James said. She commented that a sepsis protocol should have been put in place early on. She said her daughter 'should have had the right care straight away'. She added: 'It's heartbreaking as a mum to know that her life could have been saved. They didn't know what they were doing.' The inquest continues.
South Wales Argus
4 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Wales head to Euros on back of home hammering by Italy
Relegation from the top tier of the Women's Nations League had been confirmed by Friday's 1-0 defeat in Denmark, but there was still plenty to play for with Euro 2025 places up for grabs ahead of next month's finals in Switzerland. First-half goals from Cristiana Girelli, who struck twice with excellent headers, Elena Linari and Sofia Cantore punished poor Wales defending and secured Italy second place in the group. Jess Fishlock, on as a second-half substitute to win her 162nd cap, had the consolation of scoring the best goal of the tie with a 35-yard chip that went in off the underside of the crossbar for her 47th Wales goal. It was by far the biggest defeat of Rhian Wilkinson's 15-month reign as Wales had not previously lost by more than one goal on the Canadian's watch. Wales started brightly after making several slow starts in the Nations League, with Azzurri goalkeeper Laura Giuliani holding Rachel Rowe's header under her crossbar. But Italy profited from their first attack after nine minutes as Wales failed to cope with Manuela Giugliano's corner sent to the near post. The ball bobbled off a couple of defenders and looped into the air for centre-back Linari to volley home in splendid fashion. Giugliano's delivery was also key to the second after 20 minutes as Girelli punished more slack Wales marking from a free-kick. Olivia Clark pushed away a powerful effort from Cantore and Girelli miskicked at the near post as the home midfield was bypassed with ease. Clark, sporting a black eye sustained in Denmark, was in the wars again when caught in the head by her own defender Hayley Ladd. The Leicester goalkeeper required treatment but continued and was beaten again by the unmarked Cantore's header four minutes before the break. The Wales players held a huddle after that goal, but Italy scored again in first-half stoppage time after Clark saved superbly from Cantore and departed after further treatment. Replacement Safia Middleton-Patel's first touch was to pick the ball out of the net after Girelli's deflected header flew past her. Wales were much improved after the break, even if the outcome was a formality. Josie Green had a header palmed away, but Italy stood firm until Fishlock spotted substitute goalkeeper Francesca Durante off her line and produced a moment of brilliance. Wales finish the Nations League campaign with two draws – both against group winners Sweden – and four defeats, with much to ponder before meeting England, France and the Netherlands at their first major tournament.
