HYROX shows how far that thinking has travelled. The race, which began in Germany in 2017, pairs eight one-kilometre runs with eight functional stations such as sled pushes, rowing and wall balls. India’s first edition was held in Mumbai in May 2025, and the September race there drew more than 3,200 participants, nearly double the debut. Karachiwala understands the pull, but does not see it as a “better measure of fitness.” “It’s a different challenge,” she says. “You’re running, pushing, pulling, carrying, lunging, you need strength and endurance, and you have to keep going even when you’re tired.” However, her interest lies in pairing it with Pilates, which can work on the core, mobility, stability and efficiency that hard training tends to overlook. She does not think it has to be HYROX or Pilates or weights, it can be an amalgamation or what your body needs.
