If you are investigating how to embark on some physical renewal this January, you may have come across Hyrox, a fitness craze combining endurance and strength. But what is it?
By the time Irish Times sportswriter Gordon Manning joined thousands of Lycra clad competitors in the RDS in Ballsbridge to take part in the long booked-out Hyrox Dublin event last year, he had had just six weeks training.
Not ideal when – in his own words – he has chicken-wing biceps and uses the weights he bought during Covid to prevent garden furniture from blowing away in storms.
Hyrox is punishing in its demands. There is a 1km run between each of eight activities. These include 1km of SkiErg pull downs, a 50m push of a sled weighing 152kg, a 50m pull of a 103kg sled, burpees, rowing, a farmer’s carry: sandbag lunges and 100 reps of throwing a 6kg ball against a wall from a squat position.
After all that, is Hyrox worth the effort?
Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.