Kris Rugloski has become one of the most adaptable athletes in hybrid fitness. She won the 2022 HYROX World Championship, still often features in Elite 15 races, has major results in ultras and OCR, and manages it all while working full time as a nanny. This conversation covers the mindset, training, setbacks, and life choices behind her success…
The Mindset Behind Her Versatility
Kris says her drive starts with gratitude. She feels lucky to be alive and able to move, and that shapes everything she does. She aims to be capable across a wide range of challenges. She wants to run a strong HYROX, finish a one hundred miler, or spend long days in the mountains without feeling limited. Longevity sits at the centre of her goals. She wants to stay active for the next seventy or eighty years.
From Homeschooled Kid to World Champion
Kris did not grow up with organised sport. She was homeschooled and spent most of her childhood outside. Her first race came in her late teens when she tried an obstacle course event and realised how much room there was to grow in niche sports.
When HYROX arrived, she already had strength, good running ability, and a strong mindset. She won the 2022 World Championship in Las Vegas after entering the race expecting a top five finish. She did not believe she could win until she had about thirty wall balls left.
The Wyoming Race That Changed Everything
A one hundred mile race in Wyoming in 2021 had a big impact on her. Forty five hours. Thirty thousand feet of climbing. Rain, hail and snow. Only seventeen people finished.
That experience changed her sense of what hard feels like. Any effort shorter than forty five hours now sits in a different category. It gave her deep confidence in how far she can push.
Setbacks, Injury, and Learning To Slow Down
In early 2024 she tore her meniscus. She could not walk comfortably for weeks. She removed Instagram, lowered her step goal to three thousand a day, and focused on helping her body heal rather than forcing fitness. The recovery period taught her to rest properly and appreciate the periods when her body works well. She still manages knee flare ups with incline treadmill work and careful progress.
Her View on the HYROX Elite System
Kris prefers qualification by racing rather than time. She believes the best experiences come from lining up with the field on the day and letting the result decide who goes through. She enjoys head to head competition far more than chasing a time on different courses.
What Her Training Looks Like
During HYROX season she focuses on:
- Two threshold sessions a week
- One sprint style session
- Strength work that supports HYROX stations
- Limited zone two because she already gets plenty through outdoor training
Her summers look different. She spends most weekends in the Colorado mountains, often covering sixty to seventy miles over two days. That keeps her mentally fresh and helps her enjoy her training. Weekly volume usually sits around ten to fifteen hours. If she had more time she would sleep more, not train more.
Hormones, Health, and What Women Need To Know
Kris is vocal about the lack of understanding around women’s hormones in sport. She wants more female athletes to understand the menstrual cycle, the infradian rhythm, and how training can work with those patterns.
She recommends two books for anyone who wants to learn more: In the Flo and Invisible Women. She also points people toward specialists who work directly with female physiology.
Her Approach To Racing
Kris smiles during races. It helps her stay relaxed and reminds her she enjoys the challenge.
Her mantra is “strong legs, unbeatable mind, no distance too far”. She uses calm, encouraging self talk when things get difficult.
To check out the full interview, watch below or listen on the Rox Lyfe podcast.
