Participating in a HYROX competition can be challenging, especially for those new to the format. We caught up with two experts about common mistakes that people make – and how to prepare for greatness at your next HYROX race.
01
How do you train for HYROX?
His advice as is to plan HYROX workouts in a way that balances the strength elements like being able to push the sled or complete the walking lunges with interval running. “Training is quite intense!”, he says. “You’ve got high-impact, weight-bearing exercises, including running, and then you’ve got heavy strength exercises like the sled push and farmers carries, so you’re putting a lot of pressure and a lot of stress on your body.”
He also warns of focusing too much on your weaknesses in workouts leading up to a Hyrox race. “For a lot of people that might be the sled. They’ll put all their efforts into nailing this and they’ll not focus on doing burpee broad jumps because they think, ‘it’s just a burpee’. But these are incredibly hard and people underestimate the skill it takes to get the technique right.”
02
What does training look like in the week leading up to a HYROX event?
On a HYROX raceweek, workout emphasis is on getting sharp for the big day and getting the maximum rest to be race-ready. Take it from Dearden, “Use this as a deload week and strip everything back to around 80 percent effort. You’re not realistically going to improve strength in the week before an event.”
Jake’s course record (16-24 age group) stands at 57 minutes and 9 seconds
© Sam Arkwright
His take: “The main goal is being able to arrive on the day and feel confident that you know the exercises and that you’ve trained hard.”
According to Dearden, this is how you could plan your raceweek:
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On Monday and Tuesday of the raceweek, focus on technique and transitions
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On Wednesday, go for a gentle 5km run
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On Thursday and Friday rest for two days until the event
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Saturday is race day!
03
What are typical HRYOX mistakes?
Apart from an inadequate preparation and underestimating the event, many competitors start at an unsustainable pace, leading to burnout early in the event.
Ida Mathilde Steensgaard
© Desiré van den Berg/Red Bull Content Pool
The first time I raced the HYROX European Championship, I started out too hard. I had a super hard time breathing properly
2. Neglecting the warm-up
Other than not going out too fast, getting a good warm-up before your HYROX race is vital to get your body ready to perform. Ida Mathilde Steensgaard likes to start off with a two-to-three-kilometre run and then do some running-specific drills. After that, she would go through some of the fitness stations, do one or two minutes on the rowing machine and ski erg, and push and pull the sled for a lane.
Dearden also stresses that it is important to study the HYROX rules. “Definitely make time to find out the techniques for all the exercises or you may find you face a penalty or you’ll be slowed down”, he says. “For instance, walking lunges must be completed by standing up fully between lunges as opposed to keeping time under tension and not coming up fully.”
4. Improper nutrition and hydration
During a HYROX race, you will be burning a lot of calories – and you’ll likely be heavily sweating. So make sure to hydrate and fuel accordingly beforehand. If you’re wondering what to eat before the start, Ida Mathilde Steensgaard shares that she believes, “It’s a good idea to take some fast carbs like a banana or some dates too – an hour plus of racing is tough.” She also usually has a Red Bull mixed with water 30 minutes before her start. “Then I feel like it kicks in for the start and lasts for the first part of the race.”
Ida Mathilde Steensgaard drinks Red Bull mixed with water before a HYROX
© Jesper Gronnemark / Red Bull Content Pool
During the race, Steensgaard likes to refuel right before she hits the rowing machine station, midway through the competition after the burpee broad jumps and the fifth kilometre.
5. Inefficient transitions
Spending too much time transitioning between running and exercise stations can add unnecessary time. It’s something you can practice leading up to the event with HYROX specific workout sessions. Jake Dearden likes to practice the course every two or three weeks – “just to get my body used to transitioning between exercises and start building up my strength ready for the event”.