Reflections on My HYROX Vegas Race: Lessons, Setbacks, and Moving Forward

Alright, squad, let’s break this down. I just wrapped up a weekend of HYROX madness in Las Vegas, and I’ve got some thoughts—some reflections, lessons, and a little frustration. This race was a major, meaning it was an opportunity to qualify for the HYROX World Championships. I went in feeling confident, fully expecting to grab a qualifying spot.

The Lead-Up and Expectations

Going into this race, I truly believed I had an excellent shot at qualifying. The way the qualification system works, you have to finish in the top three unless those ahead of you have already secured their spots. I knew there would be some tough competitors, but I was mentally locked in—I was convinced I would make it happen.

But I didn’t. I finished eighth overall, clocking in at 58 minutes and change. Even taking into account those already qualified, I still fell a couple of spots short. That result stung. Hard.

The biggest disappointment? I had my training block mapped out with the assumption that I’d qualify here, giving me a chance to take a small step back, focus on base building, and enter the next training cycle refreshed. Instead, I now have to jump right back into competition mode, with the next major happening in Scotland in just a few weeks.

The Race Breakdown

Let’s talk about execution. I came in with the same strategy I used successfully in Chicago and Dallas: strong sleds, fast but controlled running and coming forward in the back half. I executed this well early on—through the ski erg and sled push, I felt strong. But then things took a turn.

The burpee broad jumps, oh man. Right away, I had a judging issue. My lane judge kept signaling that my hands weren’t close enough to my feet, even though I was well within the rules. I tried to stay focused, but it threw me off. Eventually, the head judge corrected him, but by then, I had already lost my rhythm and, honestly, my composure.

This is the part that stings: I didn’t get an unjust penalty, but I allowed the situation to get to me. My reaction—not the judge’s call—cost me time and energy. When you’re operating on the edge of blowing up for 40 minutes, even a slight disruption in focus can send things sideways.

And then, there was the rowing penalty. Apparently, both feet need to be in the pedals before you start rowing. I instinctively put one foot in, grabbed the handle, and then secured the second foot. Boom—10-second penalty. Does this rule make sense? Not really. But, again, I let it get under my skin instead of just rolling with it.

Lessons Learned

What’s the takeaway here? First, I need to work on maintaining composure no matter what happens. HYROX, like all sports, involves human judgment, and that judgment isn’t always perfect. It’s part of the game. The best athletes are the ones who stay locked in regardless of external circumstances.

Second, I need to dial in my standards for movements. I train at the edge of the rules to be as efficient as possible, but that also leaves me open to subjectivity. If judges are going to be stricter at certain races, I need to prepare for that.

Finally, I need to evaluate whether my training stimulus has stagnated. I’ve been doing a lot of the same things for nearly 20 weeks. Maybe my body has adapted, and it’s time to introduce some new stressors. I’m thinking about slightly increasing volume, adding in more race-specific simulation workouts, and tweaking some intensity levels.

Looking Ahead to Scotland

So, what’s next? Scotland. I wasn’t planning to go, but now I have no choice if I want to qualify for Worlds. That means more travel, something I’ve had a complicated relationship with in the past. But I’m choosing to view this as an opportunity—to refine my race-day mindset, optimize my travel routine, and get better at handling adversity.

I’ve also recently partnered with The Feed, which has a ton of performance-oriented supplements, including sleep aids—something I’m focusing on improving while traveling. It’s small things like this that can make a difference.

Final Thoughts

This race wasn’t what I wanted. But I’m not going back to the drawing board—I’m just refining the approach. The fitness is there. The mindset was strong. Now, it’s about cleaning up the details, keeping my cool, and making sure that when I line up in Scotland, I’m ready to punch my ticket to Worlds.

Big thanks to everyone who supported me, both in person and from afar. This community keeps me going, and I appreciate all of you. If you’re on the fence about doing a HYROX race, just sign up already. These events are electric, and I can’t wait to see more of you out there.

Onward. Let’s get back to work.