Owning the Race: My HYROX Journey with T1D

Owning the Race: My HYROX Journey with T1D

On October 3, 2025, I completed my very first HYROX race in Toronto at the Enercare Centre. If you have never heard of HYROX, it is a fitness race that combines eight 1 km runs with eight functional fitness stations in the same order every time:

• 1000 Meter Ski Erg
• 50 Meter Sled Push
• 50 Meter Sled Pull
• 80 Meter Burpee Broad Jumps
• 1000 Meter Row Erg
• 200 Meter Farmer’s Carry
• 100 Meter Sandbag Lunges
• 100 Wall Balls

Training for the Challenge

Months of strength, endurance, and learning how my body responds

I started training for HYROX in June 2025. For months, I was in the gym four or five times a week, building strength, practicing the stations, and learning how my body responds to sustained endurance, repeated high intensity efforts, and long periods of elevated heart rate. As someone with T1D, this training was not just physical. It was constant experimentation. Every workout meant tracking blood glucose levels (BG), adjusting insulin, learning how adrenaline affected me, and figuring out how long my body could push before my BGs became unpredictable. I grew so much during that time, both physically and mentally.

The two stations I became the most confident in were the Sled Push and the Farmer’s Carry. The Sled Push was 225 pounds for 50 meters, and the Farmer’s Carry was 35 pounds in each hand for 200 meters. I worked hard on both of them, pushing myself little by little each week. By race day, I had those two stations down to under two minutes and thirty seconds each. That felt like such a huge win and something I was really proud of going into the race, especially knowing how much energy and BG stability they demanded.

Confidence, Strength, and Visibility

I started training for HYROX in June 2025. For months, I was in the gym four or five times a week, building strength, practicing the stations, and learning how my body responds to sustained endurance, repeated high intensity efforts, and long periods of elevated heart rate. As someone with T1D, this training was not just physical. It was constant experimentation. Every workout meant tracking blood glucose levels (BG), adjusting insulin, learning how adrenaline affected me, and figuring out how long my body could push before my BGs became unpredictable. I grew so much during that time, both physically and mentally.

The two stations I became the most confident in were the Sled Push and the Farmer’s Carry. The Sled Push was 225 pounds for 50 meters, and the Farmer’s Carry was 35 pounds in each hand for 200 meters. I worked hard on both of them, pushing myself little by little each week. By race day, I had those two stations down to under two minutes and thirty seconds each. That felt like such a huge win and something I was really proud of going into the race, especially knowing how much energy and BG stability they demanded.

Race Day Highs and Lows

When race day came, I wanted a sub two-hour finish so badly. My final time ended up being 2:23:34, and even though I did not hit the goal I had trained for, I am still proud of the way I fought through every single moment.

There were challenges I never planned for. My start time was 4:50 pm, which was not ideal. I trained in the mornings for months. My body is used to running, lifting, and pushing my limits early in the day, when my blood sugars are typically more predictable. Racing late in the afternoon meant dealing with accumulated fatigue, fluctuating glucose levels, and a body that already felt used up from the day. I felt that difference immediately.

Between Station 4 and Station 5, when I was already physically and mentally exhausted, I accidentally missed one of the running laps which made up the 1 km. When I found out I had a five-minute penalty, it hit me so hard. Five minutes is a huge difference. It felt like my whole goal slipped away right there, but I still kept going. I told myself to finish the race as honestly and bravely as I could.

The Emotional Moments

The emotional part of HYROX surprised me. During Burpee Broad Jumps, tears started falling before I could stop them. I felt overwhelmed, frustrated and completely drained. Later, during the Sandbag Lunges, the same thing happened. I cried while lunging forward, my legs shaking and my heart racing. Those moments were raw, but they also showed me how much I was willing to fight for myself.

Pushing My Limits—Physically and Mentally

And speaking of heart racing, this was the hardest I have ever pushed my body. My average heart rate was 182 bpm, which alone shows how intense the entire race felt from start to finish. But at one point, my heart rate spiked all the way up to 202 bpm. Seeing that number after the race felt unbelievable. It reminded me of the level of effort, the adrenaline and the sheer determination it took to keep moving.

Managing HYROX with Type 1 Diabetes

Fueling, hydration, insulin adjustments, and trusting the plan

Doing HYROX with type 1 diabetes added an entire layer of planning, awareness, and mental math that never shuts off. To keep myself safe, I started the race with a large Gatorade and finished it after the third station to front load carbs before fatigue set in. After that, I relied on the HYROX hydration stations and stayed proactive rather than reactive. I carried two packs of energy gummies and used them strategically during the runs to keep both my energy and blood sugars stable. I also set a temporary basal rate on my pump for the entire race and started it one hour before my start time.

Managing T1D during something this intense means constantly balancing insulin, fuel, adrenaline, fear, and trust in your own body. It means making decisions while exhausted. It means listening to warning signs while still pushing forward. It is complicated, stressful, and invisible to most people around you, but it is possible! This race taught me how much I trust myself and the preparation I put in.

Crossing the Finish Line

There is so much I learned from this race. If you are thinking about doing HYROX, especially with T1D, here is what helped me. Train consistently. Eat lots of carbs. Do not fear fuel. Listen to your body. Let go of the idea of perfection. HYROX is honest, and it forces you to be honest too.

Crossing that finish line was emotional. Even with the crying, the penalty, the missed lap, the late start time, the heart rate spikes, the exhaustion, and the finish time that was not what I hoped for, I felt strong. I felt proud of the months of training and the courage it took to show up, not just as an athlete, but as a diabetic athlete.

I proved to myself that I can do hard things!

That sub two-hour HYROX is still out there for me. And now, more than ever, I know I will get it!!