Hyrox is the new Crossfit—but what exactly is it, why do people like it, and what can you expect if you decide to try it?
Hyrox is all the rage, but I know that for a lot of gym-goers, it appears to have popped up out of nowhere. Maybe you noticed a class on your gym's schedule labeled "Hyrox" and wondered what on earth it was. Or maybe a video of an old friend appeared on your Instagram feed with a corny caption about how Hyrox has helped them push their limits. When I first started noticing Hyrox, I felt the same way I have about CrossFit, or Tough Mudders, or any other group fitness trend: a mix of skepticism, indifference, and a vague sense that it simply wasn’t for me. Now that I’ve completed a Hyrox race, however, I gladly eat my words—or most of them, anyway. (I still think I’d rather run 20 miles than drag a weighted sled across a gym floor for 20 meters.) But even if I never compete in another Hyrox, I’ll definitely be returning to Hyrox-style workout classes. Here’s why I think Hyrox workouts are still worth your time, even if you have zero desire to compete in an official Hyrox race.What exactly is Hyrox training?Lifehacker senior health editor (and my doubles partner) Beth Skwarecki goes into more depth elsewhere, but here’s a quick primer on Hyrox: Launched in Germany in 2017, it is currently one of the fastest-growing competitive fitness events in the world. A lot of people will tell you Hyrox is short for “hybrid rockstar,” since “hybrid” is a term that athletes often use when they feel they exist somewhere between the extremes of endurance athletes and strength athletes. The company hasn’t confirmed this origin story, but it fits the bill.
