HYROX positions itself as the “sport for everybody”. It is designed to be accessible to people of all fitness levels while still being challenging enough for elite / professional athletes. Here are eight reasons why HYROX appeals to such a broad audience:
1. Different Divisions
HYROX offers various categories, including Individual Open and Pro; Doubles Open and Pro; and Relay.
The Open division is more accessible, with lighter weights, while the Pro division is more challenging, with heavier weights.
The Doubles allows you and a partner (Women, Men or Mixed categories) to share the workload of the event. Both of you complete the full 8km of running together, but you can split the work on the stations between you as you see fit.
The Relay is for a team of 4 (Women, Men or Mixed categories) and allows you to split the workload between the 4 team members. Each participant completes 2 x 1km runs and 2 functional stations each.
Whether you’re just starting, or are an experienced athlete, there’s a division that suits you perfectly.
2. Achievable Goals
HYROX is, for many, ‘Finish Line Focused’ – it is about completing the event, not just winning or getting the best time. Many participants simply aim to finish.
That said, the event is timed, with a large amount of post-race data available. This ability to set personal bests, and measure progress over time, makes it appealing to a broad audience who are looking for a motivator to continue to work on their fitness / performance.
3. Age Group Categories
The minimum age requirement for HYROX participants is 16 years old but there is no maximum age.
Other than at the Elite level, the competition is within your age group, i.e. you are not competing directly against people who are significantly older or younger than yourself. Places to compete at the World Championships are also allocated by age group.
In May 2024, in London, HYROX launched “HYROX Youngstars”. This is a HYROX competition designed for kids aged 8 to 15 years old, thereby opening the sport up to an even greater number of people. It is not yet commonly an option at HYROX events across the world but potentially will be at some point.
4. Adaptive Categories
HYROX allows for adaptations to those who need it, and there are adaptive categories for athletes to compete in. The HYROX team will work with you to identify how you can complete the race by deviating from the movement standards, if required.
There are many examples of athletes who have competed with adaptations allowed, but some notable mentions go to:
- Maurice Andre (who you may know as @SCImotivation on Instagram) competes in HYROX despite suffering from a spinal cord injury.
- Tyler Saunders, who was born with one leg and half of his pelvis, competes using a combination of crutches and wheelchair for the runs.
What’s more, there are example of athletes who many people might have assumed would need adaptations but didn’t. For example:
- 2023 World Champion Lauren Weeks finished 9th in the 2022 World Championships while 7 months pregnant.
- Ricky Banner lost the lower half of one leg and now races with a prosthetic leg.
All four of these incredible athletes have appeared on the Rox Lyfe podcast. Check them out on YouTube, or wherever you normally get your podcasts from!
Of course, if you have any health concerns, it’s advisable to consult your healthcare provider prior to registering.
5. Accessible Training
Very little equipment is needed to help you train for HYROX.
Firstly, a large portion of the event is running, so if you have nothing more than some clothes and a pair of trainers, you can start to train for a HYROX.
The functional exercises involved don’t require specialised equipment beyond what’s found in most gyms, so training is accessible to nearly everyone. For example, most gyms will have all you need to practise the lunges, wall balls, and farmers carries. In an ideal world you would use a gym which has a sled, ski erg, and row machine. However they are not essential, and you would still be able to compete in HYROX if you didn’t have access to those during training as they are very simple movements requiring a limited amount of skill to execute.
What’s more, with the ever-growing popularity of HYROX, more and more gyms across the world, especially HYROX affiliated ones, are ensuring they are equipped well enough for their members wishing to enter the event.
6. Standardised Events
HYROX events consist of the same sequence of exercises across all competitions. The uniformity allows anyone, from beginners to seasoned athletes, to train specifically for these tasks.
A standardised event means that there are no surprises or guesswork – you know what exercises to train for and can therefore plan your training effectively to fit in with a busy lifestyle.
Additionally, since the format is standardised globally, participants can compare their performance with others worldwide, which is particularly motivating for those who enjoy tracking progress and competition.
7. Never at the Back
The set up of the event / how it’s run means that no one is obviously in last place. Athletes are all starting at different times, are on the same running loop, and it is impossible for any onlookers to know who the slowest person is on the day. This can be much less intimidating for slower athletes than, say, a marathon, where, with everyone on the same length course, it’s clear who the final finisher is.
8. Community Focus
The event fosters a fantastic community atmosphere where participants support one another, creating an inclusive environment that encourages participation regardless of individual fitness levels.
This is seen at all levels in the sport and starts at the top; the Elite 15 finishers, for example, are often seen cheering on the athletes who are still completing the wall balls.
Additionally, online there are numerous pages, groups, social media accounts, and our website, dedicated to the sport where you can interact with, and hear from, other members of the community. Our Instagram page and podcasts are a great place to start.
