Chatting with a Champion

Meg Sharp Msc., Fitness & Wellbeing Consultant CGOC

Cindy Gillies, long standing TAC Member, just placed first in her age group for Pro Women at HYROX Lisbon and has qualified for the 2026 World Championships in Sweden in June.

Cindy is unbelievably strong, beautifully inspiring and remarkably real.  If you get a chance to chat with her, do it (she loves chatting with new people!).  On her journey to accomplish wildly, amazing things Cindy has become a more grounded, humble, kinder version of herself.  (Cindy has always been incredibly kind.  Now her kindness also extends to herself.)

The two of us had a great chat the other day.  Please enjoy the highlights:

TAC has been integral to her healing and health:

Cindy joined the TAC Family (her words not mine!) 16 years ago and feels like she becomes more and more integrated in our community every day.  Cindy was a phenomenal runner.  It was a huge part of her identity and so she ran and ran and ran.  When she became injured, she felt isolated, untethered and honestly, lonely.  She’d lost herself and her place within a treasured group.  The Club became more than a gym. It gave her community, consistency, support, and somewhere to anchor herself while she found her footing again.  A new identity and sense of self started to grow.

“I don’t like lifting weights...”:

 “… and I LOVE feeling strong.”  At first the end result was enough to keep her coming back.  Ultimately those heady strong feels start to hit you throughout the workout making it – well not easier – but more fun/rewarding to push those plates (ask her about pull-ups — it’s her favourite topic that nobody asks about;).

Women elevating women:

She is absolutely delighted in her interactions and budding friendships with women over the past year.  Both in the Club and at competitions.  As her own physical power and vitality grow, other women are sharing in this energy.  They are inspired, not to do what she does per se, but rather to see what they themselves are capable of.  They too want to exercise to become more powerful versions of themselves.  Her confidence, her strength, her work ethic on the floor lifts other women up.  Who in turn lift others. 

Her most vital transformation…

… is in her internal dialogue.  Where 100% used to mean winning or at a minimum doing better than before, it now means doing the best with what she has to give on any given day, at any given moment.  Sure she has lofty goals, and she has a say in the experience along the way. Now it’s vital — not optional — that she enjoy the process and know she left it all out there.  Irrespective of the outcome.

“This stops here.”

March 2026 Cindy competed at Hyrox in Copenhagen.  She finished 8^th overall, 1st in her age group with a time two minutes slower than her last race and was embarrassed.  Certain she’d let everyone down. And then something snapped:  “Hang on?!  I just had a dream trip and an experience of a lifetime!  And I’m embarrassed??!? There’s so much more to THIS.  So much more to LIFE…

…So much more to ME.”

Cindy, we think you’re awesome.  We’re thrilled you finally agree.