Are PBs and muscle gains all the gym has to offer? It feels like that sometimes, which makes it hard to stay motivated. It’s why gymheads are obsessed with Hyrox. Yes, the functional fitness challenge has given 650,000 athletes and counting – around the world a whole new reason to hit the gym.

A Hyrox race takes a killer mix of well-known (and generally avoided) workouts and weaves them into an 8k run. Each kilometre is broken up by a different functional workout station, including horrors like sled pushes, burpee broad jumps and sandbag lunges.

Aside from the $350,000 prize money up for grabs, and the highly ‘grammable arenas, Hyrox has one standout hook. It remains true to its claim of being ‘the fitness competition for every body’, which is why it is is drawing in a whole new wave of competitors. Gym-goers of all abilities have quickly realised that with a bit of graft (and a lot of sweat), anyone can learn the ropes and successfully cross the finish line.

The same game, every time

As humans, we’re hardwired for self-growth, and Hyrox is the perfect playground to zero in on your progress because the course stays the exact same, no matter where in the world you race.

“People want to train for something,” says Andrew Gillis, PT, Hyrox Pro and co-founder of Resilience Fitness. “Hyrox gives them a clear goal to work toward. It also provides tangible progress metrics metrics – your time, – your time, your ranking, your improvements – which fuels motivation.”

“The standardised Hyrox format has been pivotal to the sport’s growth,” he continues. “The repeatable race structure adds a continuous improvement element to how you train. It also ensures there is consistency in the way judging and scoring is conducted across all events.”

The race’s predictability is like rocket fuel for new Hyrox addict Keval Patel: “The consistency means I can compare my performance against myself and others across different events, which adds an exciting competitive edge. It also takes away any uncertainty around the course, allowing me to focus purely on my execution.”

Patel, 34, is among many Hyroxers turning Hyrox events into mini getaways: “Travelling for Hyrox adds another layer of motivation. It’s a great way to experience new cities while having a structured goal to work towards. Out of my 11 Hyrox races, half of them were abroad – my city breaks have now turned into fitness holidays. I’m almost certain I’ve spent £2.5k on Hyrox-related activities in the last two years but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Hyrox is making athletes less one-dimentional

The fitness world loves to box people into having “their thing”, and sticking with it. But Hyrox is making this notion a thing of the past, creating a breed of athlete who can do it all.