HYROX: your quick guide to the global fitness phenomenon

Along with terms such as “Do leg” or “maximising gainz” (z intended!), HYROX is now fully ingrained in every gym-goer’s lingo. However, most people who are not a member of a gym or part of the universal fitness culture will probably not have heard of the fitness competition taking the world by storm.

In 2017 Christian Toetzke noticed a huge gap in the market for a large-scale fitness event that was accessible to varying fitness levels. In the same way the London Marathon will attract professional athletes along with the average Joe, Toetzke wanted to devise a grand-scale fitness competition that was not so technical that everyday folk can’t enter but challenging enough to lure the fittest of weekend warriors and elite athletes alike. He noticed the growing trend of obstacle course races and endurance events and wanted to create a fitness competition that would bridge the gap between traditional gym workouts and competitive racing. He also wanted a race that could be standardised yet varied, allowing participants to track their progress over time and compete against others worldwide. And so HYROX was born. The competition quickly expanded beyond its birthplace, Germany, with events popping up in major cities around the world, including New York, London and Sydney. The name is a combination of Hybrid training, a mixture of cardio and resistance exercise, and Rock Star, because anyone brave enough to enter deserves such a title.

HYROX combines eight challenging workout stations interspersed with running 1 km laps, creating a rigorous and highly engaging competition format. These events are held in large indoor spaces, negating the worry of bad weather. You can compete alone or in pairs. For the super strong, there is an option to go “Pro” where the weights are even heavier. This December HYROX returns to ExCeL London, with around 40,000 competitors.

The stations are: Ski Erg; Sled Pull; Sled Push; Burpee Broad Jumps; Row; Farmers Carry; Sandbag Lunges; Wall Balls.

Wherever you compete, the workout is exactly the same. The only thing that changes is you. This leans into the inherent human drive to improve, with competitors entering multiple events in the hope of beating their previous time.

HYROX aficionado, Liz Hawkins, explains:
“I started HYROX around 18 months ago, and now attempting my 8th. I love the challenge of mixing the running and weights. Because the race is the same format every time it’s really easy to track where you can improve. It’s also a great way to travel and go to new places, I started in Houston then went to Berlin, Stockholm, Zurich and Riga. The UK events are great for doubles, and training with a mate certainly drives a higher intensity. The next challenge is to move up to the pro weights in December for a doubles. Training has ramped up, more weight, more HIIT style workouts and lots of compromised running.”

The success of HYROX has far exceeded anything Toetzke could have ever hoped for. Major cities, such as London, have had to introduce a lottery to buy tickets and the hordes of people that are unsuccessful in purchasing one are happy to travel further afield to compete. Both Glasgow and Cardiff noticed a huge boost in their economies when tens of thousands of competitors and their supporters flooded in, filling hotels, restaurants and checking out the local attractions.

So if you’re looking for a challenge or just want to ignite your passion for the gym, this could be the perfect motivator. Many gyms and class studios around the country now offer specialised HYROX classes. If you’re curious as to what it’s all about, head down to ExCeL London from 4 to 7 December and check it out.

For race format, rules and upcoming dates, see the official HYROX website.

For more independent coverage of fitness, sport and travel in London and beyond, follow EyeOnLondon. Share your HYROX tips or questions in the comments.

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