Strong, resilient, unstoppable: Women lead the Hyrox fitness movement

Hyrox is an indoor fitness race that combines running and functional workouts, testing strength and endurance.

The recent Johannesburg event saw a significant shift in participation, with women making up 54% of the field.

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Fitness enthusiast and two-time Hyrox participant Palesa Mabuye says her experience has been transformative, enjoyable, and empowering.

She attributes this to her increased training and confidence, which enabled her to better navigate the event's challenges.

“I always say that Hyrox for me is more of a mental game rather than a fitness workout. At some point your body really does fail you, it wants to stop… but then your brain kicks in and pushes you to complete the stations and move forward,” she says. 

She highlights the growing interest in strength training among women in South Africa and the importance of mental resilience in overcoming physical obstacles.

“In the past, women were told they can’t look a certain way so they shouldn’t lift this heavy… We really don’t care.”

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To listen to Mabuye in conversation with CapeTalk and 702’s Zain Johnson, click the audio player below: