Belizean Sisters Challenge Hyrox Competition in Red, White and Blue

Two sisters, Shari Garbutt and Tashera Bowen, pulled the patriotism and cheers from several Belizeans back home after they proudly represented Belize’s flag in their first international Hyrox competition in Taiwan on Saturday.

Garbutt and Bowen’s personal initiative to compete in the women’s doubles open category saw them tackle eight rounds of one-kilometre runs paired with a series of grueling obstacles.

Hyrox is one of the toughest one-day indoor global fitness competitions that tests strength, endurance, and speed through a mix of running and high-intensity functional workout stations. 

“It was my first time, but I do high-intensity training once a week and run twice a week,” Garbutt said. “Honestly, just get to the end and don’t cramp up. My sister got a cramp in her thigh, so we were trying to keep positive.”

The Hyrox results recorded the sisters placing 35th out of 520 teams in the women’s doubles open category. “We didn’t come in first, but we did place pretty good,” Garbutt said.

The sister duo crossed the line in one hour and 25 minutes while proudly wearing Belize’s colours. “We went with red and blue and had bandanas with the Belize coat of arms,” Garbutt said. “An official recognised the flag while we were on the course and cheered, ‘Let’s go Belize.’ That was very motivating.”

“Especially with Women’s Month, I want more women to get into these spaces and challenge themselves,” she added.