International Umpire and Referee Steve Smith, a popular member of the table tennis community, completed a gruelling HYROX challenge on October 26th.

Having watched the event last year in Birmingham, Steve was inspired to take part himself this year at the event at the NEC Birmingham in aid of MacMillan Cancer Support, a charity close to his family’s heart.

What is HYROX?

Combining both running and functional workout stations, participants run 1km, followed by 1 functional workout station, repeated eight times. Each race is hosted indoors in expansive exhibition halls, creating an immersive participant and spectator experience.

Steve told us why he took up the challenge;

“When I originally signed up to compete my only goal was to get across the finish line, no real care for how long it would take. Over the last few months I’ve been training 7 times a week to get myself as prepared for it as I could possibly be. With that my goal evolved, setting myself a target of completing it in under 2 hours, with an optimistic aim of 1 hour 45.”

“I completed the challenge in support of Macmillan. This is a charity close to my heart. My sister Cat passed away 15 years ago at the age of 23 from a brain tumour. The support that Macmillan offered our family at the time was incredible. They funded some of her treatment and offered support to the whole family for which I am forever grateful.”

“With a dozen or so people from my gym there cheering me on and supporting me the whole way around the course I crossed the line in 1:47:21. To have come in way under 2 hours and got so close to that optimistic target I can’t describe how happy and proud I am.”

“In the process of preparing and completing this I’ve continued my fitness journey and surprised a lot of people, including myself, along the way. There will be more challenges to come and I am already looking at where my next HYROX event will be.”

“Thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout, whether that be training with me, words of encouragement or sponsoring me. Everything is very much appreciated.”

Steve has raised over £1200 so far; donations can be made on his Just Giving page and would be very much appreciated https://www.justgiving.com/page/steve-smith-1709552208669