Scottish Grandmother Breaks Hyrox Fitness Record at 72
A Scottish grandmother has set a new fitness record at the age of 72, despite having undergone three hip replacements.
Carole Munro and her teammate were the first to complete a Hyrox race in the 70-74 age category at the European Championships held in London last weekend, achieving a record time.
Hyrox is an indoor fitness race that involves thousands of participants competing in a series of physical challenges. Since its inception in Germany in 2017, the event has seen a significant rise in popularity.
This accomplishment has qualified Carole, who only began training a few years ago, for the Hyrox World Championships in Sweden.
The retired army driver from Turriff, Aberdeenshire, shared with the BBC that her primary motivation is to inspire her four grandchildren.
"My eldest son, who is a fitness instructor, asked me if I fancied doing this competition with him and I foolishly said yes," Carole told BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast.
"I didn't know what I was doing when I first agreed but I thought I would be fine.
"It wasn't until I got home and Googled it that I realised what I had signed up for and I would have to train harder than I was already."
The term "Hyrox" does not stand for any acronym.
Held in large venues worldwide throughout the year, the event consists of a demanding circuit of eight strength-based exercise stations, with a one-kilometre run between each station.
Competitors engage in activities such as skiing, pushing and pulling sleds, rowing, performing burpees, lunging, and throwing heavy medicine balls at targets, all aiming to complete the course in the shortest time possible.
In the mixed doubles event, women are required to lift the same weights as men, presenting an additional challenge that Carole had to overcome.
"I then thought I would try to do it solo because it would be easier and I'm still going," Carole said.
"It's almost two hours of endurance with running and weights so that is what I do in the gym several times a week.
"Older people should be doing weights because we lift things and carry the children but we never lift anything above our head and it's good for us."
Carole completed her first Hyrox event with her son Stuart in just over 90 minutes before taking on the challenge solo at London's Excel Arena.
She finished third in the solo event in her age group when representing Scotland at the World Championships in Chicago last year.
Overcoming Challenges and Continuing to Compete
In September, Carole underwent her third hip replacement, which necessitated a break from training.
"I vowed to myself I would never hobble after my hip replacement," she said.
"My last one was really sore so I only had three months to train for the European Championships because of the pain."
Carole competed at the European Championships in London last weekend alongside Dutch athlete Jim Malinka.
The duo won the 70-74 age group and set a new world record with a time of one hour, 45 minutes, and 22 seconds.
For Carole, the focus is not on the medals but on encouraging her children and grandchildren to maintain fitness and enjoy exercise.
She is currently training for a mixed doubles event with her youngest son and preparing to support her 12-year-old granddaughter at her second Hyrox Youngstars event on Sunday.
"It's competitive and once it's in your blood, you can't stop," Carole added.
