Why the world loves Hyrox

The world’s fastest-growing indoor workout, attracting over 250,000 participants annually, is capturing global attention.

But what makes this competitive event so irresistible? Women's Health’s Fitness Director steps into the action to find out firsthand.

Upon entering London’s Olympia, I briefly worried I might have mixed up the dates.

Dance music blared through the arena, where lines of people waited for wristbands amid excited chatter.

A voice over the speakers boomed, “Today is the day you’ve all been waiting for!” I double-checked my phone, confirming that I hadn’t mistakenly arrived at a concert.

It was only when I noticed the athletes sweating it out at workout stations that I realized I was exactly where I was supposed to be.

I was there to experience Hyrox, the hottest event in functional fitness, which had made a stop in west London.

Here, 12,500 participants, including my partner, would compete in front of a comparable number of spectators, myself included.

A blend of 'hybrid' and 'rock star,' Hyrox was launched in Germany in 2017. The event combines eight 1 km runs with eight workout stations, featuring exercises like the SkiErg, sled push, and wall balls.

Participants can compete solo, in pairs (running 8 km while splitting exercises), or as part of a relay team of four (each doing 2 km and two exercises).

Entering its seventh year, the 2024/2025 season will feature 84 competitions across 25 countries. In the UK alone, there's been a 233% year-on-year increase in Google searches, with Hyrox events linked to about 750 gyms, including Third Space and Fitness First.

Tickets are in high demand, even harder to secure than Glastonbury tickets. October’s event in Birmingham sold out in minutes, and waiting lists have exceeded 4,000.

With entry fees of £114 for Singles, £109 for Doubles, and £69 for Relay, they aren’t cheap. The top 15 fastest competitors vie for $25,000 (around £19,000), but what keeps the rest of us captivated?

The Competitive Pull

“There’s something special about sweating alongside hundreds of like-minded people facing the same physical and emotional challenge,” says Mintra Tilly, head of sports and global race director at Hyrox, who attributes its success to inclusivity.

“We wanted this to be a competition accessible to everyone, not just elite athletes. There are no barriers to entry.”

This inclusivity extends to age—with a minimum requirement of 16 years but no upper limit. Celia Duff, 70, from Cambridgeshire, is among the few British women over 70 to complete the race.

She has participated in five events, including the World Championships in Nice, where England won most medals.

“I’ve run marathons, rowed at university, and competed with the Territorial Army,” she tells WH. “But Hyrox elevates fitness events to another level, with its almost carnival-like atmosphere.”

The event's flexibility accommodates varied fitness levels. “No specialized skills—like L-sits or handstands—are needed,” says Celia, who excels in her age group and beyond.

“While there are rules for exercises like squatting low enough during wall balls, general strength and endurance suffice.”

In October, competing in doubles with her daughter, she plans to tackle fewer weighted exercises.

Since Celia’s first race in 2022, participants over 60 have increased from seven to 274. She believes training for Hyrox has fortified her body.

“Reducing my finish time by 15% over 18 months has made me stronger, fitter, and more mobile—I can take longer walks with my dog and play with my grandchildren effortlessly.”

The competitiveness provides structure and motivation for training.

Hyrox’s inclusivity goes beyond age. Competitors in wheelchairs encounter barely any differences, as some exercises are modified to be performed seated with lighter weights, and burpee broad jumps are swapped for triceps dips for those with function above the hip.

“These adaptations allow all athletes to compete seamlessly together,” says Tilly. Adaptive athlete and wheelchair user Lydia Rose, 25, felt “extremely” supported during her London competition and hopes to see adaptive athletes in a dedicated division.

The audience plays a crucial role too. A sense of community thrives in the spirited atmosphere created by cheering spectators, who view from stands strategically placed at each station, flanked by food trucks and a DJ. In many ways, it's an ingenious marketing strategy.

“I attended last year to support a friend and was so enthralled by the vibes that I couldn’t wait to participate this time,” reveals Helena Sharpe, 44, a recruitment director from London.

“Whether spectating or racing, there’s an incredible energy. I got emotional at the starting line.”

Building Strong Bonds

In an era of rising loneliness, the sense of belonging fostered by Hyrox is vital—it’s also a catalyst for connection.

Emily Emmins, social media manager for Women’s Health and Men’s Health, participated in May as part of a relay team with three colleagues.

“It was a fantastic way to bond outside the office,” she says. “We had group training sessions, something that wouldn’t have happened without Hyrox. The shared workload eased pressure on race day.”

For Celia, the Hyrox community is invaluable. She plans to volunteer at events after deciding to stop competing—only after attempting Hyrox at 75, she insists.

“I’ve smiled at and hugged more people at Hyrox events than anywhere else – you can’t feel lonely here.”

Her social well-being is just the tip of the iceberg. “While competition and self-betterment are vital, nothing surpasses kindness—Hyrox reminded me of this,” she states.

“Supporting others, expressing gratitude, and kindness on the track matter more to me than winning—this space has brought friendship, joy, and contentment.”

A strategic move by Hyrox is maintaining uniform event formats worldwide, ensuring participants know what to expect anywhere.

Many turn their races into travel experiences. YouTube personality Zoe Hague (sister of former Love Islander Molly Mae) began competing in Warsaw with her partner, Danny, and has since raced in Berlin, Copenhagen, Dublin, Vienna, and across the UK.

Similarly, Drita Nunez, 51, started Hyrox classes at F45 Chiswick Park before traveling to Málaga with classmates to compete earlier this year.

“We rented an apartment and holidayed in the Spanish sunshine before the main event,” she explains, noting that friends and family tagged along.

“Being abroad offered greater chances to meet diverse people,” Drita adds. Any language barriers quickly dissolve with the universal language of Hyrox.

This has always been the plan, Tilly reveals. “Hyrox events are standardized globally—with consistent order and distances,” she says.

“Participants enjoy competing in various locations and can compare their results fairly. This uniformity fosters a global community and facilitates meaningful personal performance benchmarking,” she adds. It’s a simple yet potent approach to global expansion.

The Sprint Finish

But will Hyrox maintain its momentum? Co-founder Christian Toetzke has previously stated ambitions for marathon-level longevity—a lofty goal, given the recent London Olympia event had less than 25% of the London Marathon’s participants.

Yet it’s not implausible. The fitness form differs—the marathon tests pure running endurance, while Hyrox assesses functional fitness.

“The exercises reflect human movements like pushing, pulling, lunging, plus walking, running, or sprinting,” says Tilly.

Parallels exist, with racers using time chips, and November introducing the first event ticketed via ballot in London.

Hyrox’s future appears promising, especially as more young people participate. Celia’s granddaughter will compete in Hyrox Youngstars for ages eight to 15, debuting in May.

While lightning-fast ticket sellouts add allure, access isn’t meant to surpass the challenge itself—so the brand is responding by hosting multi-day events in popular locales.

And me? In my role, I’m accustomed to challenging workouts and appreciate having goals. But I’m not inherently competitive.

I was undecided about participating—but after experiencing the electrifying atmosphere firsthand and witnessing my partner’s post-finish excitement—I’ve reconsidered.

Come November, I’ll join three colleagues in the London relay. See you there, perhaps?

Source: womenshealthmag

The opinions shared in the GymNation blog articles are solely those of the respective authors and may not represent the perspectives of GymNation or any member of the GymNation team.