Charlie Searle’s rise through the HYROX ranks has been rapid. After producing a string of impressive Pro Singles performances, she capped off the 2025/26 season by finishing third in the Elite Doubles at the HYROX World Championships alongside Lauren Stockley, before also claiming the Mixed Doubles age group world title.
But behind those results is a story that extends far beyond training plans and race strategy.
In this episode of the Rox Lyfe podcast, Charlie opens up about the eating disorder that nearly took her life, the lessons she learned during recovery, and how those experiences have shaped the athlete she has become. She also shares the training philosophy that’s transformed her performances, why she believes many HYROX athletes train too much, and the technique behind some of the fastest lunges in the sport…
From Football to HYROX
Before discovering HYROX, Charlie grew up playing football at a high level, representing her county, city and attending England trials.
After spending time travelling, she returned to the gym, became involved in functional fitness and CrossFit-style training, and was eventually introduced to HYROX.
That sporting background gave her a strong aerobic base, but she believes the biggest improvements have come from learning how to train specifically for the demands of HYROX.
Why Training Less Helped Her Improve
One of Charlie’s strongest messages is that more training isn’t always better.
Earlier in her HYROX journey she tried to copy the huge training volumes she saw others doing, particularly with running. Instead of improving, she simply became exhausted.
In the episode she shares what a typical training week looks like, including no more than around 50 km of running.
Rather than chasing mileage, every session has a specific purpose.
“You don’t need to train huge amounts. It’s more about the quality of the work you do.”
She believes many athletes build training plans based on what elite athletes post online instead of what their own body can recover from.
Don’t Build Your Training From Someone Else’s Base
Charlie explained that one of the biggest mistakes she made was trying to match the training volume of others.
Now she encourages athletes to build gradually from their own starting point.
> “You need to build from where your base is, not someone else’s.”
It’s advice that’s especially relevant for newer HYROX athletes who often jump straight into multiple simulation workouts every week.
The Secret Behind Her Fast Lunges
Anyone who has watched Charlie race will know her lunges are among the quickest in elite HYROX.
Surprisingly, she rarely trains lunges directly.
Instead, she credits years of heavy split squats and unilateral strength work during her bodybuilding days for building exceptional single-leg strength.
She also believes her naturally strong single-leg power transfers well into running, sled pushing and lunges.
The downside?
Her knees take a serious beating from driving them aggressively into the floor throughout every race.
How She Improved Her Wall Balls
Wall balls were an area Charlie wanted to improve before the World Championships.
Rather than simply practising them occasionally, her coach built an entire training block around them.
Sessions included:
– Six sets of 50 wall balls with one minute recovery
– Progressively reducing the rest period each week
– 1 km race pace runs directly into 50 wall balls
– Up to six rounds in a session
Across an eight-week block she estimates completing more than 3,000 wall balls.
By repeatedly exposing herself to shoulder fatigue, she developed far greater confidence and consistency late in races.
The Mindset Built Through Adversity
One of the most powerful parts of the conversation comes when Charlie discusses her battle with an eating disorder.
As a teenager she became seriously ill, spending years in hospitals and specialist eating disorder units.
At one point she was told that continuing down that path could cost her life.
Looking back, Charlie believes recovery only truly began once she accepted that nobody else could do the work for her.
Professional support, friends and family were vital, but she had to make the decision to fight her way back herself.
Today, those experiences continue to influence how she races.
When HYROX becomes physically painful, she reminds herself that nothing she experiences in competition compares to what she has already overcome.
“I’m thankful for the tough times, because without the bad, you don’t know what the good is.”
Watch the Full Podcast
Charlie shares far more detail throughout the full conversation, including:
– Her complete weekly training structure
– Why she keeps running volume relatively low
– How she approaches strength training for HYROX
– The role of power development in her programme
– Why she believes quality beats quantity
– Her favourite mindset strategies during races
– How she balances coaching alongside elite competition
– The lessons she’s learned from one of the toughest periods of her life
If you’re looking to improve your HYROX training, better manage your workload, or simply hear the story behind one of the sport’s fastest-rising athletes, this episode is packed with practical training advice, mindset lessons and one of the most inspiring stories in HYROX.
To check out the full episode, listen on the Rox Lyfe podcast or watch below on YouTube…
Related posts:
Joanna Wietrzyk on HYROX Training, Elite Mindset and Why She’s Only Just Getting Started
Pelayo Menendez Fernandez on His HYROX Injury Comeback, Doubles Strategy and HYROX Training
HYROX Running Sessions, Wall Ball Improvements and Muscle Oxygen Training with Thierry Willigenburg
Charlie Botterill on Going All-In for HYROX
