Fast forward three years, and this indoor fitness competition now takes place in over 11 countries, attracting more than 90, athletes across all age groups, as well as a staggering 50, spectators. Participants run 1km, followed by a functional workout station, and this is repeated eight times. The workout stations are 1,m SkiErg, 50m sled push, 50m sled pull, 80m burpee broad jumps jump forward, drop into a burpee , 1,m row, m farmers carry literally walking a set distance with a weight in each hand , m sandbag lunges, and wall balls squat down and throw the weighted ball to a high target as you come up.
Yes, it sounds brutal. And yes, having done 11 HYROX competitions, from solo to relay, and same-sex and mixed doubles, I can confirm it is definitely pretty brutal. Tempted to give it a go yourself? The Roxzone has two big inflatable arches; one marked 'Entrance' and one marked 'Exit'.
After the 1km run , you pass through the Entrance and head to your workout. The idea is that participants complete a workout station each time they complete a 1km run, and this is repeated eight times. HYROX races are held in cities all over the world throughout the year and are designed to be accessible to all, regardless of fitness level.
Several athletes have rocketed to fame after taking part in the sport, including Celia Duff and Marc Dean. Squats, burpees and lunges; you need to be able to do all of these, several times, with some weight.
Most gyms now offer some sort of HYROX-based workout so you can train specifically for your chosen race. Click here to find a gym near you. Yes, there are workouts in between, but you don't need to devote hours of your day to boring long runs like you would if you were training for a marathon. Lace up, get outside or on the treadmill, and run or jog 1.
