


The fastest way to get better at HYROX is to target what’s slowing you down — whether that's your running pace, your overall strength, or your ability to transition between running and functional strength — instead of trying to improve everything at once.
Below are the skills that help you succeed in a HYROX race and how an Orangetheory class trains each one.
Our treadmill blocks, built around repeated intervals rather than one continuous run, train you to hold a consistent pace across multiple efforts, preparing you for the eight 1-kilometer runs you’ll face in HYROX. This is where most first timers find the biggest gains, since even pacing across all eight HYROX runs matters more than being fast on any single one.

Bodyweight conditioning work like burpees, done at the end of a session when you're already tired, trains the same kind of total-body output HYROX asks for late in a race, after you've already run several kilometers and worked through multiple stations.

Lunge and squat-based floor work builds the leg endurance you need for repeated running combined with lower-body station work, not just pure, one-time strength.

The single most HYROX-specific skill is moving from running straight into strength work without a break. Classes marked HYROX on your studio's schedule are built specifically around this transition, so prioritize those in your routine if this is your main focus.

Loaded carries and holds using dumbbells, whether done for time or distance, train the grip endurance that HYROX's carrying and pulling stations demand.

Not every athlete needs the same thing. If you're a strong runner but rarely strength train, your biggest opportunity may be building strength endurance. If you're strong but struggle to sustain effort over longer periods of time, improving your aerobic fitness may have a bigger impact on race day. Start with the area that needs the most work, then build from there.
Interval-based treadmill training that has you repeat efforts with short recoveries, rather than one long steady run, mirrors the actual demand of racing eight separate 1-kilometer runs.
Grip endurance often fails first for most newer athletes. Loaded carries and holds, done for time or distance, help prepare you for the continuous strain HYROX's carrying and pulling stations can put on your hands and forearms.
The HYROX sled push requires a combination of lower-body strength, power, and endurance, not just the ability to move a heavy weight once. Athletes who build lower-body endurance alongside strength are often better prepared for race day than those who focus on max strength alone. The exact HYROX sled push weight varies by division and gender. Click here to see our HYROX station weight chart for exact race standards.
You can approximate it by pairing short running intervals with strength or conditioning work done immediately after, with minimal rest between them. This trains the transition, even if the exact loads and distances differ from race day. Classes marked HYROX on the schedule are built around this exact structure.
*The “Free Class” offer is open only to first-time visitors and local residents aged 18 years and older; however, minors aged 14 and above may participate if special conditions are met. Valid at participating studios only. Conditions apply. See studios for details. Recommended retail price of a casual visit is $35; however, prices do vary, as each studio is individually owned and operated. Offer may be subject to satisfactory completion of pre-exercise screening and/or standard temporary/guest membership terms. Restrictions may apply; inquire at local studio for additional information.
1Based on internal Orangetheory data from over 3,000 members who participated in an 8-week Transformation Challenge, measuring average fat loss and lean muscle gain. Supported by third-party findings in Quindry et al., 2021: “Physiologic and Psychologic Responses to a High Intensity Functional Training Program.” Journal of Exercise Physiology Online, 24(2), 79–91.
†Offer limited to Premier members who complete 12 sessions within a month of membership start date. All sessions must be at the member’s home studio. Member must notify their home studio within 30 days of membership start date to initiate cancellation and receive refund of membership dues. OTBeat® sales are not refundable. Restrictions may apply; inquire at local studio for additional information.
§New members only. Former members must not have had an active membership or package for sixty (60) days prior to rejoin date. Participating studios only. Additional restrictions may apply, inquire at local studio for more information.
**Valid 10/27/26 - 11/30/26. Non-members only. Must purchase Premier or Elite Membership & qualifying performance monitor or Apple Watch activation fee (participating studios only). Discount for first two months of membership only. Membership automatically converts to standard pricing after second month. Void where prohibited. For add'l terms see orangetheory.com/en-us/promotion-terms.