Katerina, a member of the Batala London drumming group, took on a completely different kind of performance at the HYROX fitness event at ExCeL London on Friday 29 November, starting her wave at 6:30pm. With just three months of fitness training under her belt, she stepped up to a gruelling challenge that demanded both strength and endurance. Watching her, I felt a mix of pride and exhaustion—and I wasn’t even competing!
The course was intense, featuring eight tough workout stations interspersed with laps of the arena. Katerina faced tasks like burpees, rowing machines, sandbag lunges, and the dreaded sled pull. The latter, which involved dragging stacked weights 12.5 metres four times (50 metres in total), seemed particularly grueling. Between each station, she ran a 1km loop of the arena, keeping a steady pace despite the fatigue that must have been setting in.
I was there to cheer her on, take photos, and capture video clips of her progress. But honestly, I was knackered just watching! The atmosphere was electric, with spectators shouting encouragement and clapping as competitors powered through each section. Every time Katerina moved to a new station, I found myself in awe of her grit and determination. It was inspiring to see someone so focused, despite the obvious physical toll of the event.
As if the challenge wasn’t enough, Katerina was also raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support, bringing even more meaning to her efforts. It was clear she wasn’t just competing for herself but for a cause she cared about, and that made her resolve all the more impressive.
By the time she crossed the finish line in an impressive 01:43:28, with no penalties to slow her down, she had completed an event that would leave anyone drained. Her name appeared up in lights on the leaderboard, proudly displayed alongside the Greek flag. Yet she managed to finish with the same determined energy she started with. Watching Katerina take on such a tough course—and smash it—was both exhausting and inspiring. It’s not every day you get to witness someone push themselves so far, and I felt lucky to be there to support and capture her incredible achievement.
If you'd like to support Katerina’s fundraising efforts for Macmillan Cancer Support, donations can be made directly via this link: Donate to Macmillan Cancer Support.
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