‘Intimidating but fun’: Why Hyrox is swiftly gaining a big following in Singapore

SINGAPORE – Videos of peers pushing sleds, doing burpees and running flooded Mr Tay Hui Hong’s social media feeds in June. 

The clips were taken on June 29 at the National Stadium, where a fitness event called Hyrox was held, the 26-year-old information technology graduate analyst soon found out. 

“I first got curious after seeing the various Instagram stories,” he said. “Then my friend asked me to try, and I was quite keen to compete to find out my fitness level.” 

So, even before he lifted a sandbag or heaved at the handle of a rowing machine to train for it, Mr Tay signed up for the next Hyrox race, which will be held from Aug 31 to Sept 1 at the Singapore Expo.

Hyrox may be relatively new to the fitness scene, but it is swiftly gaining a substantial following in Singapore.

About 3,500 participants competed in Hyrox’s inaugural race in Singapore in October 2023, a Hyrox spokesperson told The Straits Times. Almost double – 6,500 –

took part in the second,

on June 29.

As at Aug 23 and with over a week still to go, more than 6,000 competitors have signed up for the upcoming race, said the spokesperson. 

Hyrox combines running and eight functional workout stations: 1km SkiErg (indoor skiing machine), 50m sled pull, 80m burpee broad jumps, 1km rowing, 200m farmer’s carry, 100m sandbag lunges and 75 or 100 wall balls. Each station is interspersed with 1km of running. 

Participants can race in pairs, quartets or fly solo. It costs from $114 to $181 to enter the race, depending on the category chosen. 

To prepare for the race, Mr Tay, who previously focused primarily on weight training, curated a new workout routine which includes Hyrox stations. 

He now starts workout sessions with a 2km run and intersperses his sets with 1km of rowing. 

Ms Jaclyn Chua, 40, will also be participating in her first Hyrox on Aug 31. 

“I’ve been seeing Instagram stories about Hyrox ever since the first event here last year,” said the housewife and e-commerce business owner, who signed up for the mixed relay category. 

“It looked intimidating but also seemed like a very fun and doable thing to do even for someone like me, who is not very athletic but enjoys doing sports.”

For more serious competitors and fitness enthusiasts, Hyrox offers a pro category, where heavier weights are used. 

Principal consultant Adrian Wong will be competing in the men’s pro category on Aug 31. The 42-year-old participated in the mixed doubles category in the races in October 2023 and June 2024 with his wife. 

Mr Wong said the category switch is a “significant step up”, and he has ramped up the intensity of his training by running more, lifting heavier, and increasing the length of workout sessions.

“My primary goal is to enjoy the experience and see how far I can push myself.”

Mr Wong said he and his wife – who is competing in the women’s pro category on Aug 31 – hope to inspire others by showing that it is possible to stay fit and be competitive, even as working professionals and parents of two children.

A sense of community at local gyms

Many gyms in Singapore have members training for the upcoming race. 

Body Fit Training branches in Upper Thomson and Geylang Bahru offer a 10-week programme before each Hyrox event. As the gyms are decked out with race equipment and have experienced trainers, many who are gearing up decide to train there, said owner Richardo Chua. 

“In Singapore, where space is a constraint, there’re not many places where you can train with a sled,” he said, adding that about 110 members across the two branches will be competing in the upcoming race.

Ms Lizzie Corbett, owner of Empower Fitness, said that participation in Hyrox-specific classes has increased significantly from when she introduced them in the lead-up to the inaugural event in 2023.

In these classes, running mileages and Hyrox station training are increased over time across sessions, she said.

“As the event approaches, focusing on specific movements like the sled push and pull becomes crucial, as these are some of the most challenging elements,” she added.

Such classes also offer a sense of community, and allow members to “push through the hard work together”, added Ms Corbett, who will be participating in the women’s doubles pro category in the upcoming race. 

Hyrox is “a little more than just a test of fitness”, added Mr Chua. “It is also an activity you can do with your friends.” 

Is Hyrox here to stay?

For the 2024/25 race season, organisers are aiming to increase the local participant base to 15,000, said a Hyrox spokesperson.

And although organisers have not made an announcement for any subsequent editions following the Aug 31 to Sept 1 event, they are hoping to hold regional championships in Singapore. 

The European championships were held in Vienna in February and the US version was held in Washington in March. Enthusiasts who travel for Hyrox races can also look forward to competing in neighbouring countries in future.

Organisers in Singapore aim to spread the Hyrox “gospel” throughout South-east Asia, and “grow the sport to all major cities in the region in the next two years”, said the spokesperson. 

Mr Chua, who has travelled to South Korea and Hong Kong to compete in Hyrox races, thinks the race is no fad, and is “here to stay for the next three to four years, at least”.

“The race is standardised – same stations and running distance – no matter which country you compete in, so there’s a sense of measurability to it,” he said, adding that it is a good way for participants to track their progress. 

Comparing the event with marathons, Mr Chua added: “For marathons, you know it’s 42.2km. For Hyrox, you’re practising multiple disciplines – a bit of cardio, a bit of strength, a bit of endurance.

“Variety does lend a novelty to the sport.”