One step Fitness

Cardiff ❤️
Came back to redeem myself from last year’s bonus five laps (didn’t order them, still had to pay for them). Yes, that was Open and this was Pro, but apparently the suffering is priced the same. To keep things interesting—and clearly because they heard I was coming—they tweaked the course just enough to make counting feel like advanced maths. Different ins, different points… basically a game of “guess your lap” but with sweat.
In a moment of what can only be described as questionable wisdom, I signed up for a solo Pro (last one of the season, go big or go home) and doubles with my partner in crime, Helena Yeadon from Manchester Hyrox. And this time… we had a time to beat. No pressure.
Race day checklist: nutrition ✔️ contacts ✔️ pickle juice for cramp ✔️ Helena giddy as a kipper ✔️
I had 1 hour 40 between races, which Helena quite rightly decided was far too sensible, so she suggested we ask to move one. The team at the stadium were absolute legends and shifted our doubles back 40 minutes—giving me over two hours between races. Luxury.
Off I went for race one. Ankle strapped up from a “what was I thinking?” moment a couple nights before. The sled and row? Agony. Counting? Going well… until run four, where I mentally left the building, forgot what lap I was on, and the board froze so I couldn’t even check. Ideal. Took a gamble, got a penalty for missing a lap (classic), but still finished two minutes faster. I’ll take that, thanks.
Also, shoutout to the wall balls judge—best one I’ve ever had. Honestly, could’ve done with him running it with me. Cheers, Mr Wall Balls Judge.
Quick turnaround: wipe down, outfit change, food, sugar, heroic swig of pickle juice—and back out with Helena. First lap: instant stitch. Thought, “this is it, this is where I simply lie down and become part of the flooring.” But no chance I was letting Helena down. Between my ankle and her lower back, we powered through and knocked 1 minute 30 seconds off our time.
Not even pretending to be tough—there were tears. It was done, and I genuinely have no idea how. Will I ever do that again? Absolutely not. Am I glad I did it? Also yes.
Helena was incredible, as always—every bit of her training showed. And to my husband, my biggest fan, who backs me every step (and probably wonders why I do this to myself)—thank you ❤️

So, the last 12 months: different courses, countless runs, all the stations, and a lot of lessons. Mistakes were made—some more than once—but that’s how it goes. I’ve gone from Open to Pro, gotten faster, gotten stronger… and still found new and creative ways to make life harder for myself. Work in progress, always 😅 …. and the pickle juice absolutely works btw 👍

So… a little rest now until October (read: I’ll sit still for approximately 12 minutes before getting twitchy) and then it’s time for a brand-new training plan.
As for my last Hyrox… who knows? I’ll be honest, the running and I are not on speaking terms—it’s a very one-sided relationship where it tries to ruin my life and I simply endure it. Maybe it’s time to defect to CrossFit?? Less running, more lifting heavy things and questioning my life choices in a different way. Sounds promising.
Truth is, I’m not chasing anything super specific—I just want to be the best version of me right now. Slightly stronger, slightly faster, and ideally less confused about what lap I’m on.
If anything I’ve done over this past year has inspired even one woman to get moving again, then that’s a massive win. And don’t worry—I’m not saying you need to sign up for a Hyrox (unless you fancy a bit of organised chaos). Just find something that gets you back into the gym, or into a sport you enjoy… or at least tolerate more than I tolerate running.
If you’re local, I’m based GRIMS Functional Fitness and Strength Centre —a place where everyone’s welcome, whether you’re just starting out or already smashing it. Passion for fitness is the only requirement… and maybe a decent sense of humour 😅

Yes Boys 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

And 2 podium flags become 3 👍👍

GRIMS is the areas premier HYROX gym if you fancy giving it a go get in touch 👍

Hyrox London Olympia - shared misery really is a beautiful thing.

This was a bit of a last minute ‘why not’ decision, inspired by a woman I met on the circuit last year. She is basically a machine, slightly faster than me and built like she could carry a small car around the course for fun. Our pro solo times are not too far apart though so I felt brave (or delusional) and agreed.
Post Glasgow I was still feeling reasonably athletic and still sporting a slight left over cough but nothing too dramatic just hoped the runs were easier this time.
What I may have conveniently glossed over, however, is that I had just returned from a very wholesome 10 day hiking trip in Scotland, lots of walking, stunning views … absolutely zero HIIT, so, no excuses but some very light beautifully presented context.
So I got changed. My partner who is a good 20 years younger than me is apparently sponsored by crop tops r us and rocks the look. I on the other hand was half naked with my shorts asking where my top had gone. On the bright side it seems that less fabric and more confidence found me a cleavage so all good.
I was basically deceased after the first run. Came out like a rocket, classic rookie error and spent until sled pull regretting it. Lesson learnt: I am in fact not a rocket. Normally in my solo’s i pride myself on consistent, sensible runs. This time I thought I would go a bit quicker because I get a break at the stations. Technically true but not enough to undo the damage I had inflicted on myself. I also didn’t account for my partner flying through her part on the stations leaving me in her dust because she too got a break. The runs eventually settled down and we flew through the stations. Next issue was dragging my partner away from the water station, honestly it was like she was on a hydration pub crawl, i half expected her to ask for a pint and a packet of crisps lol.
1,17!! Genuinely thrilled with that. Running in an age group ten years below me we came 8th out of 29. Massive shout out to my partner Clare - an absolute weapon who kindly dragged me to my limits and hovered there making sure I stayed uncomfortable. Truly inspiring 💕 1:15 next time Clare.
So the grand finale of the season will be Cardiff for my last solo pro and more importantly dragging my next partner in crime along for the ride for a doubles too. Enter Helena who started PT sessions with me to be able to complete a Hyrox. Fast forward and she has launched herself into training like it’s a full time job. After her last minute debut in Manchester she now has a benchmark to improve upon.
Summer’s lurking around the corner, so it’s time to break up with your sofa and come down to GRIMS Functional Fitness and Strength Centre where you can find what ignites your fire. There are also PT’s for everyone, whether you are curious about Hyrox, fancy throwing a punch boxing, need a bit of menopausal help or just want to be able to tie your shoe lace without getting out of breath. What are you waiting for?

So…. Full circle back to where it all began a year ago, Glasgow.
I woke up the morning after arriving sounding like I had done a duet with James Brown and lost. Proper chesty cough, zero sleep and feeling like I had been hit by a bus. Of all the days to feel inhuman, but not deterred I plodded my way over to the stadium.
Hopped on the rower to warm up and after 3 minutes I was beginning to question my reason for being here, puffing like I had just sprinted a marathon. Ever the optimist, my husband said to try the first run and see how I feel.
Set off knowing there would be no PB today, I just wanted to survive without dying dramatically on the course. Breathing? Optional. Chest? Tight. Dizziness? All over the gaff. I started and kept going, couldn’t stop once I had started just did what I could. By the time I had reached wallballs my legs were cramping on top of everything else so I walked into the station. Spoiler alert: that walk would come back to haunt me.
Got across the finishing line fully expecting disappointment …. And somehow landed a PB, not as much as I would have liked but will take that win. I missed third place by 12 seconds which was my approximate duration of my walk to wallballs. 😩
Turns out that although my running resembled a wheezy penguin, my stations were all faster than Stockholm (thank you training and my PT GRIMS Functional Fitness and Strength Centre). But hey, showed up, survived, PB’d and only slightly died. Some you win, some you lose, good races and bad races, but we continue on…..

Massive shout out to my ride or die crew at home 😍 all the patience that comes with me permanently at the gym - thank you. Big love as well to Grims Functional Fitness and Strength Centre and all the hero’s there, the people, the vibes, the “why did I agree to this workout” moments …. Unmatched.

Exiting news though, on May 1st, Grims is expanding, so if you are after a gym with proper community spirit, top-tier coaches, and more classes than excuses, get yourself down and have a nosey.

Manchester – My First Doubles (aka “Wait… I Only Have to Do HALF?!”)

So, my first ever doubles. A last-minute partner swap could’ve gone horribly wrong… but instead I got Helena Rebecca Yeadon and honestly, jackpot. This woman is 12 years younger than me, fairly new to my PT sessions, had 10 days’ notice, limited training, and still jumped in like an absolute legend. That landed us neatly in the 50–54 age group. Maths is wild like that.
What I’m most proud of? She did. not. stop. Not once. She pushed at every single station, gave it everything, and never looked for the exit. We had a plan… kind of… but mostly just winged it station to station depending on how broken she was feeling at that moment. Very scientific.
As for me? After only ever doing solos, I had no idea what to expect — but turns out doubles are AMAZING. The first race I’ve actually enjoyed. I got to soak up the atmosphere, notice the people around us, and best of all… only do half the work. Absolute luxury. Highly recommend.
You can tell from the pics we had a blast the whole way round. I totally get the appeal of doubles Hyrox now — though let’s be clear, it’s a completely different universe from my usual singles races, which for me are essentially pain, suffering, and regretting life choices from the burpees onwards.
Huge thank you to Helena for jumping in last minute and saving the day so I could race. And the truly crazy part? She’s up for doing another one with me. So… back to the gym we go, and PT sessions are about to get a lot more focused.
To be able to cheer on fellow Grims athletes was brilliant, and honestly they smashed it but what else do you expect from our gym 💪.

4th in the age group was a lovely little bonus — onwards and upwards.

I swore I was only doing two races this year. That was the plan, a solid and sensible plan. And yet …. Somehow by June I will be staring down at four. My husband is now officially a Hyrox widow and to him I say: I am sorry …. But also, remember.Stockholm ❤️

Feeling brave and fancy stepping outside your comfort zone? Whatever your goals, you are covered at Grims Functional Fitness and Strength Centre . I’ve only got Monday daytime PT slots left, but I can do singles, couples, or groups — plus there are loads of fantastic PTs in the gym who can help with whatever you’re aiming for. Just shout and we’ll find the right fit.

Next up… March: Glasgow Singles Pro and London Doubles Pro.
Can’t. Wait. 💪🔥

Stockholm - a city of beauty
So, in my infinite wisdom (again), I decided to book a HYROX overseas and cleverly combine it with a Christmas getaway with my husband. The poor man came straight off his ship after 35 continuous 12-hour night shifts offshore and met me at Stockholm airport 😍—no rest, no recovery, just straight into holiday mode.
After three days of exploring this absolutely beautiful city (highly recommend), race day arrived on the final day. I won’t lie—I was shattered. Three HYROX races in two weeks meant there was no time for improvement, just survival. My only goal was to enjoy the experience and not fall apart mid-race.
I’d previously met a woman in Birmingham who races Pro division and is casually 20 years younger than me. By complete coincidence, she’d also booked Stockholm. We ended up running a similar race and crossed paths at a few stations—although she was always slightly ahead of me, because she is an absolute powerhouse. Having someone to race with rather than against made a huge difference and was actually really motivating.
She posted an excellent time, and I finished five minutes behind her (we will not discuss my shocking wallballs). Somehow, I came in with the same time as London but snagged second place—meaning I podiumed and came home with a flag. Over the moon doesn’t cover it. Even better was having my husband there to see it all and support me.
Every race is different and depends entirely on who turns up on the day. So now there’s a shiny new flag for the gym—and hopefully a few weeks’ grace from my PT before he starts nagging me about the next one.
I’d always said I’d finish my HYROX journey once I got a flag and then move on to something else. But this horrible, tough, exhausting, yet ridiculously exhilarating race is addictive. I know I can be faster and stronger. I don’t accept that age means automatically accepting limitations—I choose to work with them, around them, and not let them dictate what I can achieve.
Next up: my first doubles race in January with my sister, which will be her very first HYROX. I hope she sees what she’s capable of and catches the bug too.
What have I learned this year?
✔ Maybe don’t book quite so many races so close together.
✔ And definitely take a moment to appreciate how far I’ve come since my first race in March.
Onwards and upwards 💪🏽🏁
On top of all this I was running for the RNLI during December to raise funds via their Reindeer Run appeal so all in all a productive December.

Start your new year by taking your first step and find the fighter in you. Come along to GRIMS Functional Fitness and Strength Centre and have a look round. There are a variety of PT’s there to help that all offer something different.

The mighty London Excel 😘
This was meant to be a warm-up for Stockholm. Naturally, I booked both a Singles Pro and a Singles Open because when you’re buying tickets, you’re convinced you can take on the world… right up until reality clocks in.
I wanted to improve both times—especially after my last Open in Cardiff.
This time I came prepared with contact lenses. After about 20 minutes of poking myself in the eye, walking away in defeat, and returning for round two, they finally went in. I did briefly resemble a rabbit with myxomatosis, but vision was achieved, so we move on.
I arrived at the Excel Stadium and it was absolutely bursting—by far the biggest HYROX I’d attended so far. Athletes of every ability were out on the course, which is honestly my favourite part of the Open races: people from all walks of life, all shapes and sizes, giving it everything they’ve got. The crowd was incredible too—cheering not just for friends and family, but for anyone who happened to pass by looking like they might need moral support.
It had been a few weeks since Birmingham, and I’d tried to up my running, hoping to shave a little time off. The race was tough as always, but all my joints behaved (a win in itself). Even though I went alone this time, I felt focused—and it helped massively that all the stations were in order and there were no laps to count, because let’s be honest, that’s not my strongest skill.
I finished 50 seconds quicker than Birmingham and placed 4th in my age group, which I was really happy with. However, somewhere around lap six, I did briefly consider skipping the Open race the next day and wandering around Covent Garden instead.
The next morning I felt… okay. Muscles were mostly fine apart from the glutes, and I was generally tired, so I was in two minds about racing again. My PT guilt tripped me with his words of wisdom that if I can, I should—and to be fair I would otherwise be forever wondering “what if?”. So, off I trotted back to the stadium once more.
I always hang back at the start tunnel until the last minute because seeing who’s in my wave makes me anxious. This time, I got chatting to a lady in the warm-up area and completely missed the starting cannons and the countdown. I ended up sprinting through the tunnel alone in the final seconds—slightly panicked, slightly impressed with myself, and wondering how on earth I was doing this again.
The station weights felt great after having done the Pro race, and I ended up knocking seven minutes off my previous Open time. I’m so glad I pushed myself to do both events—two races, two PBs. Just when I think I’ve hit my limit, I somehow pull it out of the bag.
My training works. I don’t always enjoy it, I don’t always want to turn up—but I do. No one can do it for you. You have to find it within yourself.
The journey continues… next stop, Stockholm 🇸🇪💪

Birmingham: an eye opener
Ah yes, Birmingham. The city of questionable weather, excellent rock groups and questionable decisions, which in my case was a ticket to the Pro Division because it was the only event my husband could attend between his chaotic work schedule and his deep commitment to avoiding cardio and the only tickets left. So naturally I thought “let’s just throw myself into the lions den and see what happens”.
After Cardiff, my training took a nosedive thanks to a calf injury so running was more like hobbling with flair. But I pivoted like a true warrior (or confused squirrel) and focused on strength. I changed my diet, ate more and let my PT Wayne GRIMS Functional Fitness and Strength Centre unleash his weekly wrath. He’s got that charming ‘take no crap’ vibe, which is great until you are crying into your protein shake, but he knows his stuff and pushes me hard.
Come race day my knees were behaving for once but my hips and ankles had RSVP’d “yes” to the pain party. Four warm up wees later - where does it all come from? - and I was ready.
The race kicked off and about half way through - right around the rower’s existential crisis checkpoint, my brain casually whispered “I can’t do this, just get up and go home”. Now excuse me but that’s a thought reserved for training sessions not the main event so I gave myself a stern pep talk without looking like someone who is slightly unhinged. Because Hyrox is not just a physical punishment - your muscles scream, your brain heckles you and you are running about trying to look heroic whilst questioning your life choices.
Then came the cramps. My leg seized up during the final run and wallballs and my hamstring felt like it was trying to escape the premises. And just to keep things spicy, I grabbed the 32kg weights instead of the 24kg for farmers carry because why not? Let’s make this a strength AND comedy show! Note to self - contact lenses a definite for next time. I finished with a time to match my first open (lesser weights) which is either impressive or proof I have plateaued like a stale biscuit. I even earnt a 2 min penalty for passing the in and out tunnels incorrectly but they couldn’t be specific when I queried so will just take the hit as apparently I like to run further than I need to.
All in all I survived my first Pro Division. I am proud, exhausted and mildly broken. A couple of days off and back to training. Because I am doing the next one, Pro again obviously. 🙄 I have goals, I have grit, I have a wonderful support network and a weird habit of making things harder than they need to be at these races.
Let’s be honest, getting older isn’t for the faint of heart especially for a woman (no offence to all the men out there). We come with bonus features: mysterious aches, spontaneous overheating, brain fog, and anxiety that shows up like a bad uninvited party guest. But guess what? We push through and eventually all these quirks become part of the daily soundtrack.
The good news? You don’t need to run a Hyrox or wrestle a kettlebell to feel better. Exercise is your best ally and it can be as simple as moving more than your thumb on the remote.
If you are ready to take that first step towards something fulfilling and maybe even fun, drop me a message. No judgement and no Lycra required. 😁😁💪

Cardiff Hyrox recap. A tale of triumph and … extra laps 🙄
I was buzzing to head to Cardiff, such a brilliant city and one that is close to my heart thanks to my love of Wales ❤️ Training had gone well and aside from one slightly rebellious knee, I felt ready for the challenge. And I did, I beat my previous time but … I also ran 5 extra laps. Yes 5, because apparently counting is not my strongest suit. I’d love to blame my menopausal brain but honestly it was just good old fashioned stupidity. The disappointment hit hard at first, I kicked myself ( gently as injuries come a flooding at this age) but now that the dust has settled, I am choosing to laugh, learn and move forward.
Next stop is Birmingham in October…. Redemption awaits and I am taking a lap counter 😁
So the lesson is, not everything goes to plan. Sometimes you miscount laps, sometimes your body protests and sometimes your brain takes a holiday but that’s not the point. The point is, you showed up, you trained week after week, you pushed through the setbacks and you kept going. Take stock of the moment , celebrate the achievement- flawed, funny and fiercely earned, because at the end of the day being lucky enough to wake up and move is the real win.
So ….. if after that inspirational speech you are sat there thinking “I want some of that” or “if she can do it so can I” then you are already halfway there. Whether your goal is to lose weight, move more or build muscle, I can help make that happen. With a passion for empowering women and guiding them towards sustainable results, I will bring the motivation to every session. I currently have openings on a Monday both day and evening, so WhatsApp/SMS me and meet up for a friendly no pressure chat and a tour of Grims gym to see if the fit is right for you.
I work with individuals, pairs and groups whatever suits your style and keeps you motivated.
Make your goals a reality .