Family Bonds and Finish Lines: A Mother and Daughter HYROX Journey

Throughout our lives, our mothers are often the ones cheering us on from the sidelines. They are the ones who drive us to practice, make sure we have all the snacks, encourage us after failures, and celebrate us through every milestone and set back in life. As we get older, those roles are rarely reversed and moms don’t get the praise they deserve. We don’t realize what a privilege it is to still move with them, if we are even able to. We neglect to see how special it is to challenge ourselves alongside them or share physically demanding experiences together as they age. This story is about celebrating mother’s strength and the power that fitness has to bring families closer together in those shared moments of sweat. 

For Theresa Cacchioli Weiss and her daughter Brittany Weiss, that opportunity became very real as they competed at HYROX Miami in the Pro Women’s Doubles division this April, giving them a moment they would cherish forever.  

When we asked Brittany and Theresa about their first HYROX race together, one moment stuck out to them. They were deep into the race and fatigue was setting in on one of the runs. Brittany looked back and realized her mom was trailing behind her. Without hesitation, Brittany turned around and started running backwards towards her mom. This was finally her chance to support and lift up her mom like she had done for her so many times. 

“Let’s go Mom, you can do it,” Brittany shouted, as the crowd around them realized what was happening and erupted in encouragement. For Theresa, this moment was overwhelming and emotional to be able to run side by side with her daughter. For Brittany, it felt like a small chance to return something that had been given to her her entire life by her mom, which was belief. “She’s always believed in me more than I’ve believed in myself,” Brittany says. “I wanted her to feel that back.”  

Within minutes, the mother and daughter duo had made it to the final station of their race: the dreaded 100 walls balls. Brittany front loaded the effort for the team and Theresa finished them off strong with the last several reps. They crossed the finish line together with tears in their eyes and smiles on their faces. Not only did they hit their goal of finishing in an hour and 10 minutes, but they qualified for the HYROX World Championships as mother and daughter. Finishing together was what meant the most.  

At 60 years old, Theresa is doing things many people never imagine doing at any age. She trains for HYROX, continues to compete as an age group CrossFit Semi-Finalist, chases goals, and perhaps most importantly, continues to prove to herself that growth doesn’t stop with age. 

In many ways, she feels stronger now than ever before. “Fitness has aged my mom like fine wine,” Brittany says. “She’s hands down in the best shape of her life.” While Theresa says she has always been active, having four kids made it non-negotiable to keep up with them. The Weiss family was always moving. Gymnastics practices for the three girls, and baseball was the sport of choice for their son. Long weekends were spent supporting one another through sports and competition. Activity was simply part of the way they lived. 

Then one day, Theresa walked into a CrossFit gym. “It brought back my younger self,” she says. “I was always up for a challenge.” Starting CrossFit not only changed her life, but it also changed her family’s trajectory as well. Brittany was the first to start doing CrossFit after competing in gymnastics for 16 years. The rest of the family followed soon after. 

What started as daily WODs eventually became something much more substantial. It was a shared language, a support system, and a way for the entire family to grow closer together. “Fitness has completely changed our lives for the better,” Brittany says. 

Brittany would go on to qualify for three CrossFit games and reached the pinnacle of the sport after winning the CrossFit Games team title in 2023 with Team Invictus. In 2025, she suffered a serious back injury that required surgery and made her reconsider her relationship with CrossFit. While CrossFit no longer felt sustainable for her body, she still knew deep down that she needed something to train and compete for. HYROX gave her just that.  

In 2025 the gym they went to became a HYROX affiliate and they started dabbling in the classes. Soon Brittany was signing up for races and Theresa joined right alongside her. “HYROX brought a different level of goals and training for us,” Theresa says. “We definitely influence each other.” That influence went both ways. 

For years, Theresa had been Brittany’s biggest supporter. The one encouraging her through competitions, setbacks, and moments of doubt. Flash forward to Miami, the roles were reversed and Brittany was finally able to give back for all the years her mom cheered her on. 

“My mom was nervous before the race,” Brittany says. “She kept saying, ‘I think we can go sub-1:15,’ and I kept telling her, ‘No Mom, 1:10. I believe in you.’” Brittany wanted her mom to feel the same unwavering belief she had always received from her. And somewhere during those miles, meters, and reps, Theresa started believing it too. 

“As a parent, it’s incredibly special to not only watch your child grow, but to stand beside them as a teammate,” she says. Together, they moved through every station, every run, every difficult moment as a team and were able to make a podium finish. 

But for Theresa, the most meaningful part wasn’t the podium though. It was what the experience represented. At 60 years old, she hopes other women see that there is no expiration date on becoming stronger, trying something new, or challenging yourself. “For women over 50, my biggest message is it’s never too late,” she says. “Start where you are. Be patient with yourself and stay consistent. You’re capable and stronger than you think.” 

That message has resonated far beyond Miami. Since the race, Brittany says they’ve received countless messages from people inspired to train or compete alongside their own parents, children, or family members. “That’s what it’s all about,” Brittany says. “We inspired people to ask their mom or dad to do hard things with them.” 

Theresa hopes more families choose to experience that together. “If I could give any advice to families wanting to do HYROX together, it would be to simply start,” she says. “It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just move, support each other, and have fun with it.” Because years from now, they may not remember every split time or workout result. But they will remember what it felt like to cross a finish line together. As mother and daughter. As teammates. As proof that age is just a number, and that some of life’s most meaningful moments happen when families choose to do hard things together.

Want to follow Brittany and Theresa in their next races and competitions? You can find them on social at @brittany_weiss and @strongmamma