Lucy Cooper has become a well known face due to her brilliant Hyrox classes, and I sat down with the Happy Hyroxer to find out more about her sporting background and why she loves Hyrox so much.
‘I did every sport possible at school and was sports captain in secondary school. I have also always been incredibly competitive!’ Lucy explained.
In terms of the origins of Lucy’s Hyrox journey, Lucy said. ‘Hyrox launched in 2017 and I had heard of it through social media and I was quite interested in that style of training. I didn’t jump onto the Hyrox bandwagon until 2020/2021. I liked using the Skierg and the equipment in the gym that wasn’t as popular, so I googled it to find some workouts and I gave them a go.’
‘I was in quite a dark place mentally for about six months to a year and I really zoned into my training. That is when I really got into Hyrox, and I feel Hyrox saved me in a way. I was so dedicated to my training, and then started filming + posting my workouts which resulted in people becoming interested through my socials. If I don’t train I am in a worse mental state, so exercise in general is so important for me. I am a positive person, and my glass is always half full, but things happen. I lost my dad three years ago and that was traumatic, but I turned to fitness and I feel it was the something I could focus on, that I needed at that time. I really believe on the positive affects that exercise can have and I am a prime example of that’.
What is Hyrox, is the next question people want answering, so I asked Lucy that exact question! ‘Hyrox is advertised as an 8km running race! After every 1km you have a station of Functional Fitness to complete. These include the Skierg, Sled Push, Burpee Broad Jump, Walking Lunges with a sandbag, Farmers Carry and Wall Balls. They are all challenging exercises! You can do it as a partnership or do it on your own, all in a race looking to do it in the fastest time possible!’
Lucy then went to compete herself! ‘I was sat at work on my break googling Hyrox races and I went to buy myself a ticket for a race on in Dubai during a half term, but as I went to buy it sold out for the solo races. I turned to my teaching assistant at the time and asked if she wanted to do a Hyrox and she agreed so we signed up as a pair! She wasn’t fully aware what Hyrox was but I managed to persuade her! We had a six week window to train, and doing it with somebody was probably the best thing to do for my first race. I did my second competitive race in London three months after and I was really ill, but my competitive drive took over. It is you vs you, and now I know what time I have to beat to get better. I have been trying desperately to get into another race but it is so busy now, it is difficult to get tickets.’
In terms of competitive goals for the future Lucy told me ‘I definitely want to do another solo competition and then I want to do a men’s weight doubles. If you compete with a man you have to do their weights so I want to challenge myself and do that! Finally I would love to have a go at a women’s pro race!’
Turning attentions to the coaching side of Hyrox, Lucy told me ‘It is a funny story how The Happy Hyroxer started. I made the Instagram page to show my journey and then I had friends, and relatives, interested in training in the same way as what I was doing on the videos. We met in St Andrew’s Park and did a little session together, so that was how it started! There was about six of us and the feedback after was fantastic so I went on my Instagram and did a post to see if anyone else wanted to join, and the response was a big shock as so many wanted to try it out! I have built up my cliental through social media and went from there to where we are today!’
‘I was coaching at CrossFit Valiant for a while which I loved and their programme was brilliant, but the move to Strive has helped me develop as an instructor and I can now teach my own lessons and do my own Hyrox competitions. The clients are great as well as the facilities and equipment! I feel really lucky and I get new members interested all of the time.’
The love for Hyrox is growing in Jersey. ‘I have a group of women in their late sixties and they come to my classes, give it their absolute all and it just highlights Hyrox is a sport for everyone. You don’t have to go to compete, it is brilliant for general health no matter who you are and what your fitness abilities may be. Watching my clients on their journey, building their confidence and see their progression has been, and is really rewarding!’
Could there be a competition in Jersey one day? ‘I have tried! I have been in touch with Hyrox and I have emailed numerous people, and have tried to launch an event myself at Fort Regent but it goes off square footage and the space couldn’t accommodate the race but I would love to organise something! If I had my own facility one day, I would love competitions to be held there. It would be great and I think it would be really good for the island. Watch this space!’
