Hyrox

The fitness competition combining running and strength work is taking the world by storm

Words: Lucy Waterlow

With a focus on strength work, HYROX can be particularly beneficial for women

Strength work is super important to run well and stay injury-free, but not all runners have the desire or motivation to hit the gym and do it. But what if you could combine your burpees, lunges and farmer’s carries with the actual bit you love the most – the running? Well, that is exactly what a fitness craze called HYROX offers, as it provides you the opportunity to run and test your strength in one session.

Starting in Germany in 2017, the sport has grown in popularity around the world in recent years, with thousands of people of all abilities doing HYROX workouts at the gym, or taking part in the fun fitness competitions.

What is it?

HYROX combines aerobic exercise, including running, with ‘functional fitness’ – moves that aid you in everyday life. For example, mastering the farmer’s carry will make light work of lugging your supermarket shopping bags, and squats will have an impact on all sorts of everyday exercises.

HYROX is similar to CrossFit in some ways but involves less variety in terms of weightlifting, gymnastics and HIIT, meaning it’s a bit more beginner friendly for newbies.

Fitness trainers Harry Charleir and Megan Carolan (check them out on Instagram @bars. and_bells) explain in more detail. “HYROX is fitness competition made up of a 1K run, followed by a functional workout (such as burpees or sled pulling). This sequence is repeated eight times which means you run 8K and do eight workouts in total,” Megan explains.