Kerry Lamarche had long since proven she was an elite multi-sport athlete.

Sure, that was more than 25 years ago now – but her accomplishments in both figure skating (silver medal winner – junior nationals – 1995; 7th in senior women’s nationals – 1997) and track and field (OFSAA gold and silver medal winner in high-school) are more than just a tad noteworthy.

And yes, family and career and everything else in between would force the now 46 year-old mother of three to simply turn to physical activity as a pathway to general good health, a lifelong devotion for the Sarnia native whose family enjoys several cross-connections to Sudbury – even beyond the fact that Lamarche has lived here almost her entire life since attending Laurentian University to study Sports Administration.

Then along came HYROX, with Lamarche first exposed to the unofficial merging of “hybrid” (combining strength and cardio) and “rockstar” (a tribute to the strength component) two years ago or so while pursuing her regular workouts as a member of Apex Warrior.

“I think I am not super fast or super strong – but I’m pretty fast and pretty strong,” said Lamarche, who ran cross-country with the L.U. Voyageurs after competing in the 1500m and 3000m early during her time at Northern Collegiate Institute & Vocational School back home.

One of just a small handful of women in her age bracket who has broken the hour & ten minute barrier on the standardized course, Lamarche has qualified for the PUMA HYROX World Championships next month in Stockholm (Sweden), a gathering of the top 0.5% of the participants who have embraced this fitness challenge on a global basis.

Lamarche had tackled a handful of half-marathons a few years back but fell victim to leg injuries prior to landing in a discipline in which she has remained remarkably injury free – a testament to a highly respected coach in Mike Fecik and a fit with her natural physical attributes that could not be much better.

“Two years ago, as I started to hear more about it, I thought this might be in my wheelhouse,” said Lamarche. “I am certainly never going to be winning half marathons and I am certainly not going to be lifting crazy heavy, but I can stay in that middle ground for a really long time.”

For those not in the know – and that is still likely the overwhelming majority of casual sports fans – a HYROX race consists of eight kilometres of running staggered with eight functional workout stations inserted at gaps of 1000 metres.

Basically run one kilometre then break off to perform one of: SkiErg; Sled Push; Sled Pull; Burpee Broad Jumps; Rowing; Farmers Carry; Sandbag Lunges and Wall Balls.

“The running base is probably most important – but you can’t push or pull a sled while running, so you need strength to knock that off,” explained Lamarche. “And after you push the sled, you want to keep your pace when you get back to running.”

This will be the second appearance at Worlds for Lamarche, having qualified for the 2025 festivities in Chicago when both Open and Pro qualifiers were being held (switched essentially to just Pro qualifiers for 2026).

“It was a learning experience,” stated Lamarche with a smile, elaborating to note that penalties can be assessed for infractions ranging from littering the course, spitting or wandering just outside of the course lines.

Above all else, however, Kerry Lamarche is thankful.

Like so many young athletes who display athletic potential far above the norm, Lamarche (then Salmoni) dealt with the on-going challenge that is trying to find fun in an environment where the pressure of expectations can easily become completely overwhelming.

“Eventually, I fell out of love with sport and with competing,” she said candidly. “I feel like I have gotten that back now through competition in HYROX.”

As much as most coaches these days will ask their very best athletes to focus solely on the controllables, ignoring the performances of fellow competitors, that is far easier said than done.

According to Lamarche, the very metrix upon which HYROX is built certainly makes it easier in the environment that is her current passion.

“Levelling the playing field with age categories is something that HYROX does really well,” she said. “I get to feel like an athlete again.”

A multi-sport athlete of sorts, to be fair.