Rhian Powell

It Started with a Lot of Doubt

When Rhi first considered HYROX, she wasn’t convinced it was for her.

Her partner had signed up for a race, but Rhi couldn’t imagine herself taking part. She worried about not being fit enough, not knowing what to expect and whether she could handle the challenge.

Then a last-minute ticket became available for Manchester. She decided to give it a go.

But getting to the start line was anything but easy.

The Hardest Part Was Starting

At her first race, Rhi experienced a panic attack in the start tunnel. She cried through the first lap.

For someone who had once felt fearless in competition, the anxiety was overwhelming. But despite everything she was feeling, she kept going.

She finished the race. That first finish became the beginning of something much bigger.

From Surviving Races to Enjoying Them

With structured training, support and growing experience, Rhi began building confidence in her ability.

She learned how to prepare, pace herself and approach race day with a better understanding of what lay ahead.

Her original HYROX solo time of 1:41:31 eventually became a personal best of 1:38:07.

But her progress wasn’t simply about getting faster. She was becoming an athlete who could turn up, trust her preparation and take on challenges that once felt intimidating.

And She Didn’t Stop There

Since those early races, Rhi has continued challenging herself.

She’s completed multiple HYROX events, stepped up to Pro Solo and qualified for the Deadly Dozen World Championships.

That’s quite a journey for someone who once couldn’t imagine entering a HYROX race.

The Real Achievement

Rhi’s story shows that confidence doesn’t always come before you do something difficult. Sometimes it comes afterwards, when you look back and realise what you’ve already overcome.

Her race times improved, but the biggest transformation was in what she believed she could do.

From tears in the start tunnel to taking on bigger challenges than ever. That’s the Rhi we’re proud of.