From Mum to HYROX Worlds: Mary Anne’s Advice for Your First HYROX

There are some people who start as customers and gradually become part of your story.

For Exsto, Mary Anne is one of those people.

She has supported us as a customer, represented us as a model, competed in our clothing as an athlete and become a genuine friend of the brand. More importantly, she is a mum and an all-round brilliant human being.

She is also incredibly humble—so she probably won’t appreciate us making too much of this—but Mary Anne made it all the way to the HYROX World Championships.

We recently caught up with her and asked a simple question:

What advice would you give someone preparing for their first HYROX?

Her answer wasn’t about expensive equipment, complicated programmes or training twice a day. It was honest, practical advice that almost anyone can use.

Find a routine you can maintain

Mary Anne’s first piece of advice is to establish a consistent training routine.

You don’t need every session to be perfect. You don’t need to completely reorganise your life around HYROX. You need a routine that works alongside your job, your family and everything else life throws at you.

The spectacular sessions might make good Instagram content, but it is the ordinary sessions—completed consistently—that build the foundation.

Progress rarely comes from one massive week of training. It comes from continuing to turn up.

Don’t underestimate the running

HYROX might be known for its functional workout stations, but running makes up a huge part of the event.

It can be tempting to concentrate on sleds, wall balls and burpees because they feel like the most distinctive parts of HYROX. However, every station is separated by another run—and those kilometres feel very different as fatigue builds.

Mary Anne’s advice is simple: make running a genuine priority within your training.

You don’t need to be the fastest runner in the room, but improving your running fitness can make the entire race feel more manageable.

Find people to train with

Training for your first HYROX can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be lonely.

Finding a training partner or a supportive group can make an enormous difference. They provide accountability on the days when motivation disappears and make the difficult sessions far more enjoyable.

Mary Anne is a huge believer in the value of training alongside other people. Everyone might enter the gym with different abilities and ambitions, but working towards something together creates a powerful sense of community.

That support matters—particularly when race day starts getting closer and the nerves begin to arrive.

Remember to enjoy it

This might be Mary Anne’s most important piece of advice.

Enjoy the training. Enjoy the build-up. Enjoy being part of the HYROX community—and when race day finally arrives, take a moment to appreciate what you are doing.

It is easy to become completely focused on finishing times, rankings and everything that could potentially go wrong. But your first HYROX is something you will only experience once.

You have worked hard to reach that start line. Give it everything you have, but don’t forget to take it all in.

More than an athlete

Mary Anne has worn Exsto as a customer, model and athlete, but this story isn’t really about what she wears.

It is about what she represents.

She is proof that you can be a mum, manage a busy life, remain incredibly humble and still compete at the highest level of your sport.

Mary Anne would never be the person shouting about reaching the HYROX World Championships—which is exactly why we wanted to shout about it for her.

We couldn’t be prouder to have her representing Exsto.

And if you are preparing for your first HYROX, remember her advice:

Build a routine. Don’t neglect the running. Find good people to train with. Most importantly, enjoy the experience.

You never know where your first HYROX might take you.