Gran, 71, to represent Scotland at Hyrox World Championships in Chicago

A Turriff grandmother of four says she’s “really excited” to be representing Scotland at the Hyrox World Championships in Chicago.

Carole Munro qualified for a spot to represent her country after competing in the gruelling fitness competition, which sees competitors run a total of eight kilometres, with a different functional exercise in between each lap.

Competitors ski, push and pull sleds, row, burpee, lunge and throw heavy medicine balls at a target in an effort to get the fastest time.

The 71-year-old has kept fit all her life – and says it was never her intention to become a world championship athlete.

“My son, who is a fitness instructor, said to me ‘would you like to do this competition with me?’

“So I said, ‘yeah I’ll easy do it’.

“He reminded me I didn’t even know what it was – and it wasn’t until I got home and Googled it until I realised I would have to train for it.”

Carole is set to head across the pond for the competition STV News

After successfully completing her first Hyrox in just over 90 minutes, she decided to take on the challenge on her own, racing at London’s Excel arena.

“I thought ‘I’ll try a singles’ – foolishly.

“I realised I had to up my game and that’s when I started training at Claymore Fitness with a PT.

“The age group I’m in just now is 70 plus. I’m 71 and there aren’t many of us because really we should at home sitting, watching the TV, knitting.”

Despite two hip replacements, Carole keeps training and pushing herself – and couldn’t believe she qualified to race among the fittest athletes in the world.

“I finished in London and my son said ‘I think you’ve got a podium’.

“I was more nervous about going up on the podium to get the flag than I was actually qualifying!

“But I really have to up my game now.”

Hyrox has taken the world by storm.

It’s a fitness craze that has grown from humble beginnings in Germany, to now having hundreds of thousands of competitors worldwide.

Carole’s now raising money to get to the United States – as she continues training hard for her American adventure.

Carole’s coach, Bryan Meekham, says he’s proud to see her doing so well.

“It’s pretty cool. When people try and talk to me about it I’m always trying to remind them it’s her achievement and I’d rather let her tell the story.

“I’m really proud of her. I just gave her a wee push.”