A friend recently sent me an essay on the type of people great cities attract, and it got me thinking. If I had to stereotype Australia as a whole, I’d say we attract the adventurous, health-conscious crowd who thrive on a good challenge. From the F45 frenzy to the reformer pilates renaissance and our most recent marathon madness, Australia’s fitness fads are always on the move. But now there’s a new trend taking the world by storm, and it goes by the name of HYROX.
What is HYROX?
Launched in 2017, HYROX is an intense indoor fitness race that combines running and functional strength exercises. It’s similar to CrossFit, but has less technical exercises (designed for everyday athletes) and prioritises endurance over raw strength. The HYROX craze is spreading across the globe with almost 500,000 athletes having taken part in more than 30 countries, including Australia. Every race follows the exact same format, so competitors can compare their times with athletes around the world and maybe even qualify for the HYROX World Championships.
What does HYROX stand for?
HYROX is a fun blend of the words ‘hybrid’ and ‘rock star’ – and we bet you’ll feel like a rock star after finishing the race.
What’s involved in HYROX?
Each race consists of eight one-kilometre runs, each followed by a tough fitness exercise. Expect to tackle one kilometre on the ski erg, a 50 metre sled push, a 50 metre sled pull, 80 metres of burpee jumps, one kilometre of indoor rowing, a 200 metre kettlebell farmer’s carry, 100 metres of walking lunges carrying a sandbag, and finally 100 wall ball throws. Easy, right?
Who can take part in HYROX?
What sets HYROX apart from other wild fitness challenges is its inclusivity – it’s designed for both elite athletes and everyday fitness enthusiasts looking to test their limits. The race is open to individuals (male and female), with an open division for athletes of all fitness levels and a pro division for experienced competitors with heavier weights and added difficulty. You can also sign up for the doubles race (male, female or mixed), where partners run together and share the workload of the functional exercises. Finally, HYROX offers relay events for teams of up to four, where each member completes two one-kilometre runs and two strength exercises.
Is HYROX coming to Australia?
HYROX is headed to four Aussie cities in 2025. After kicking things off in Brisbane in March, the fitness race will take over Sydney from July 4 to 6, followed by Perth on September 6 and Melbourne from December 11 to 14. You can check out all the details here.
How to train for HYROX?
To smash a HYROX race, you’ll need to combine running with resistance training. Need help? F45 is the official HYROX training partner in Australia and has got your back with exclusive training programs across selected studios.