Ace A FITNESS RACE!

HYROX is the functional fitness event that's taking over the workout world. We reveal why its so popular and how to get started

Obstacle course races, CrossFit, Swimrun... it's been a moment since a new exercise event has whet our workout appetite, so it's no wonder that 'fitness racing' - aka combining running with functional movements - has taken the workout world by storm. And there's one fitness race that's proliferating in the UK right now: HYROX.

With event entries typically selling out in a matter of hours, participation in the global event has increased by an impressive 1,081 per cent in the past five years. In this season alone, 195,000 people are expected to compete quite the increase from 2018's 11,000 individuals! In fact, when our editor-in-chief first took part in HYROX at London's Excel in 2022, there were 4,080 racers; at London Olympia this year there will be 12,500. And that's just the UK, as HYROX currently has events in 24 countries and more than 55 different cities. 'I could never have imagined it would be this big,' admits Mintra Tilly, Global Race Director and Head of Sport at HYROX (and the brains behind the race design). 'It doesn't matter whether you go to the UK or to Singapore, there are thousands of people who do it and they all love it. It's a huge movement and has become such a big thing that I have to pinch myself because it's cool to see it.'

THE FIT FORMULA