My race was miserable. This was the first time I haven’t set a personal best in a race. My time was 1 minute slower than my last race, and I got an undeserved 2 minute penalty to boot, which made my apparent time 3 minutes slower than my last race. My running was slower – I think a large part because I over ate in the morning, and I think my last two rounds *were* somewhat impacted by the shock and distress at seeing my 2-minute penalty on the Board, after the Board had seemed to suggest I didn’t do farmer’s carry at all, with the reading “Run lap 4, Next: Workout 6” until the count became “Run lap 7, Next: Workout 6”, which only corrected after I completed my lunges, when the Board then read “Penalty: 2 minutes”.

But otherwise, my workouts generally improved, with almost a minute improvement overall vs Glasgow, most notably Sled Push, Farmer’s, and BBJs, somewhat offset by slower Row, and marginal losses in Ski and Wall Balls. This was despite some quite horrific judging – a judge in sled push insisted I pull the sled WELL OVER the line even though my sled was over the line, but JSUT; a BBJ judge made me do another BBJ because he claimed my foot touched the line (okay the edge of my shoe touched the edge of the line… but that was really splitting hairs); a Lunge judge made me repeat another lunge even though my foot was WELL ACROSS the line; the Wall Balls judges directing me to a pro weight station, so I started a couple 6kg wall ball throws before realising the mistake.

I was really really pushing hard on the Farmer’s this time, trying to complete one full loop before putting down the KBs once, then in the second loop, I put down the KBs at the end of the first lap, and pushed through until the end. I felt like giving up near the end, and I heard someone (a random person) shout to me: “Keep going – well done!” At the the end of the station, I started crying a bit because it was SO HARD for me, I really pushed myself because I wanted to gain every bit I could – I knew I was not hitting it out of the ballpark vs Glasgow, but I was close. And the fact that I got some encouragement really helped, and I started crying because I was thinking to myself, “Damn right, well done me!” No one is here for me, but I am pushing – I am really pushing.

At the end of the race, after I had faked a smile for the camera for my absurd time, I was crying and crying in the hall. A young couple came up to me and asked me if I was okay, and needed help. It was really sweet, and kind of them. I guess it was their first Hyrox, since this was the first time Hyrox had come to India, and so perhaps they didn’t understand why anyone would get so emotional about it. It’s just a race after all. It’s just a race. I do it because I largely enjoy it – the process, the focus it provides, the fact that it is good for health and fitness. But it’s also not easy for me. I do like a challenge, but it can be really hard sometimes. And it can feel harder alone.

HV is really lucky that she has two guys who want her, or at least who are willing to fly all over the world to support her, and race with her. While I have no one. Even my boys aren’t keen on supporting me in my races (“It’s so long and boring!!”), although O has said he is willing to race with me when he comes of age.

I clearly made some tactical errors, like over eating, and eating spices before my race (I did have to go the loo several times in the morning), which probably contributed to my bloating and slower running. And despite my poor sleep and slightly drippy nose, I don’t think that impacted my race that much… because I’m beginning to note a correlation between my level of fitness and my sled push performance. And while this wasn’t my fastest or easiest sled push, it was still reasonable. But the gist of it, is that I just really need to run faster, and be stronger… physically and mentally!

But as I said today – I always fix problems or work on issues as identified and prioritised. My run was the biggest problem – so I started running more with the Garmin coach. Then lunges to race with MHH. Then wall balls, which are my nemesis. Then O’s lack of phone as soon as there was a clear applicable use case. Then running again, as soon as I realised I was plateauing and someone suggested a new app. I just ruthlessly prioritise what I fix given limited bandwidth. For example, I never prioritised ‘fixing’ the flat, because it doesn’t register that high on my priorities / awareness scale, but I guess MHH moved it up my priority list. And it probably does impact me and probably the kids subsconsciously, so it is good that we are progressively sorting it out.

I’m also trying to tackle my fears. I’m afraid of traveling alone, but I’m fixing that too, because I want, NEED to travel, and I don’t want to have to rely on a man, especially as none seem to be forthcoming. So I am starting small – first Bahrain, and Qatar; then progressing – now India, partly because I could “dial a friend” on the research, and I eventually signed up for an organised tour. Growing up, my mum told me a ridiculous number of stories about women who have been raped and murdered. One would think these happened every other day! So I have grown up with a very healthy – perhaps too healthy!! – awareness of the risk to my person. So I am a bit scared of travelling alone, especially to less developed countries, which are the ones I am most keen and excited to visit.

After my race, I took an Uber from my first hotel in Goregaon, to a new hotel in Nariman Point, in southern Mumbai, as recommended by my friend’s friend who is from Mumbai. Despite my slight anxiety, I decided to get some night time sight seeing done based on a short walk around the hotel, as recommended by the concierge. I didn’t want to write off the ENTIRE day!

Even by night, I can see that south Mumbai has many beautiful, grand colonial buildings, unlike Goregaon, which is probably why it is a bit of a tourist hub, and my friend’s friend recommended I stay here. Tonight I visited / walked by: Marine Drive, Prince of Wales Museum (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sanghralaya), Gateway of India (and Arabian Sea bay), Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, the shopping district Colaba Causeway Market (at night, with a night market!), National Gallery of Modern Art (Kalaghoda Art District), Flora Fountain, and ate dinner at Gaylord.