Hayley and I met a year ago at a fitness retreat, neither of us could have guessed how pivotal that weekend would be. For both of us, it marked the start of something bigger, a shift in mindset, movement, and the courage to chase down change.
Fast-forward a year, and Hayley is training for Hyrox, signing up for 23km races, and squeezing sunrise sessions between school runs, leadership meetings, and life on the move. Hers is a story of grit, growth, and learning how to do hard things, and love it.
Who is Hayley?
Hayley lives on the southeast coast with her husband Abby and their two daughters. Claudia and Camilla. By day she is a senior HR leader. By early morning, she is a hybrid athlete, training for triathlons, pushing through Hyrox circuits, or simply stretching before the rest of the house wakes up. She is structured, driven, and still learning how to rest (sort of).
A Life in Motion
Sport has always been part of Hayley’s DNA. At school she was the fastest on the track. As an adult, she became a triathlon coach to help save a local club. She does not have a favourite discipline - swimming, cycling, running, strength training - they all play a part in what she calls being “a hybrid.”
Her entry back into running was accidental: after 18 months off, she laced up and went out for a 7k. It was easier than expected. The strength training had built a foundation her brain was not ready to believe, but her body knew better.
Her Why
Hayley’s “why” runs deep. She trains because she wants to live a long, fulfilling life, with strength, independence, and energy. She has seen what it means to lose role models too early and when her dad was diagnosed with leukaemia, it triggered a new phase. She ran to release the anger, the fear, the helplessness.
“I would come home from the hospital, and just run, get out into the countryside, and let out all the emotions, sometimes not even knowing where I was going. It helped and it made me stronger for him.”
That is when she started doing hard things. Because if she could push through physical limits she can also have strength to be strong for others.
The Routine
Ask Hayley how she fits it all in and she will say: “I start the day by looking after myself.”
She is up by 4:30am most mornings. Not because she has to, but because her body is tuned in. It is all part of the rhythm: early training, proper sleep, planned fuel. When she is home, it is the juggle, when she is in London, it is all work and fitness. She does not rely on motivation. She relies on commitment.
“You will never regret a session. But you might regret skipping one, and you will never get that moment back.”
Running, Breathwork & Big Ideas
Hayley’s fitness has transformed her work. Running gives her clarity. Her mind wanders, problems unravel, ideas spark. It is on those early morning runs or long commutes that her best thinking happens.
From launching a 400-strong Run Club at work, to introducing breathwork routines with her kids and her team, to managing cyberattacks with military-style calm, Hayley brings the discipline of training into everything she touches.
“I do not stress anymore. I have already done the hard thing that day.”
What’s Next?
Hyrox. A 10k. A 23k. More sunrise training. Possibly a 50k one day (if I can convince her to join me). More than anything, more doing hard things. Because for Hayley, that is where the magic is.
Meeting Hayley was meant to be, and I am pleased to call her a friend and looking forward to some more adventures together!