Is it just us or is absolutely everyone really into HYROX at the moment? Whether you’re catching up with an old friend over a coffee, dropping off your kids on the school run, or chatting with colleagues on your lunch break, absolutely everyone’s update seems to be “Oh, I’m doing a HYROX.” It’s also probably started cropping up on your Instagram and TikTok feeds.
So, what is this new fitness trend that has swept the nation? “HYROX,” explains fitness instructor and founder of Village Cricket, Freddie Chatt, “is a fitness race that combines endurance running with functional strength exercises.” The race involves performing a series of 1km races broken up by various fitness stations.
Courtesy of HYROX
“I’m always surprised when someone’s like, ‘What’s this HYROX thing?’ says Jane, a 33-year-old from Edinburgh who recently completed her first HYROX. ”I feel like it’s everywhere. It definitely feels like a bit of a trend, but if it’s a trend that gets me into great shape, is challenging, builds habit and community, then I don’t see why not hop on board!”
What is HYROX?
The HYROX fitness race was started in Germany in 2017 and has quickly grown into a popular trend around the world.
The race follows the same format: “Eight rounds of running 1km, followed by a workout station like sled pushes, burpees, or sandbag lunges,” says Chatt. “Because the format never changes, it’s easy to train for, and results are directly comparable worldwide. Unlike other fitness events that mix things up, HYROX keeps it simple — just you against the clock, testing how well you can sustain effort across multiple challenges.”
Courtesy of HYROX
How is HYROX different from CrossFit?
HYROX may sound a little like the CrossFit trend, but trust us, it’s pretty different. “Hyrox is predictable,” explains Chatt. “CrossFit isn’t. CrossFit workouts change daily and often include technical skills like Olympic lifts, muscle-ups, or handstand push-ups.”
HYROX, on the other hand, is always the same — you know what’s coming. Plus, each of the stations are designed around “endurance and functional movements that anyone can do,” as Chatt puts it.