I got a taster of cult fitness phenomenon Hyrox at this new Edinburgh gym

If you’re taking part in one of these races, here’s where to train

If you’d asked me a month ago what Hyrox was, I’d have guessed a Greek mythological creature.

Wrong. First created in 2017, this is the fitness trend du jour, with a catchy name that’s a portmanteau of hybrid and rock star. Back in 2023, there were over 40 of these races globally. They say that it’s more accessible than, say, Crossfit, as it’s been created for all fitness levels, and there are categories including Open, Pro, Doubles or Relay. 

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A race includes eight exercises at functional fitness stations and these are interspersed by the same number of 1km running intervals.

Of course, Edinburgh Leisure already knew all this.

They’ve been way ahead of the curve and recently launched Evolve Meadowbank - a hybrid gym and Hyrox training club, within the recently refurbished sports centre.

I went along for one of their Hyrox 45-minute training sessions and I was a bit scared, especially once I met the other participants, who looked buff. 

It turned out that some of them were fitness class regulars who were just trying the sessions out, while a couple were training for forthcoming Hyrox events, including one who’d signed up for the London race at the end of November.

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Our instructor, Courtney, split us into pairs and told us which stations we’d be using, and timed our sessions. I went with the flow, and let her tell me where to be.

There was equipment that I’ve used before, like the SkiErg station. In Hyrox, you do this for 1000m, according to the digital control pad. Today, it’s 40 seconds of furious activity, before swapping stations with our partners for another 40 second blitz. 

Courtney shows us the correct form, which is more dramatic than my usual half-hearted Eddie the Eagle moves. 

We also use the rowing machine - again, in Hyrox, this is 1000m, but we do the timed session.

Then there's all the stuff I haven’t done before. 

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This includes the Sledge Push and Sledge Pull, which involves pushing or heaving (using a rope) a 125kg weighted contraption across the floor. Santa won’t need his reindeers this Christmas.

I was also new to the Sandbag Lunges, which involved slinging a 20kg (or 10kg) bag across your shoulders, and lunging for a distance of 200m. I try the heavier bag, but find it difficult to heave it onto my shoulders, so opt for the smaller version. 

The Farmer’s Carry is another weight-based exercise. I took a 24kg kettlebell in each hand, and it was like heading home from Lidl with an annual shop. I probably should’ve gone for the 16kg, but I enjoyed the arm-lengthening challenge.

Hyrox class at MeadowbankHyrox class at Meadowbank
Hyrox class at Meadowbank | Contributed

These routines are interspersed with running on the athletics track, which I adored. That’s because the surface has a bit of bounce, which made me feel so springy.

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The session ends in the same way as a Hyrox race, with Burpee Broad Jumps. 

Basically, you do a Burpee followed by a forward squat jump. I didn’t realise this part of the session was an actual race, until half way through. Doh. This is how I lost the egg and spoon, circa 1983. But, still, in this training session, I came third, not last, which made me feel like a rock star.

Afterwards, I found myself Googling future Hyrox races.

Stockholm, Chicago, Shanghai, Paris, Mexico, Valencia - so many destinations. 

However, as they were at Glasgow’s Scottish Event Campus earlier this year, there’s talk that they may return. 

I better start practising that sledge pushing.

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Use of Evolve (including all classes, use of indoor and outdoor tracks and Hyrox Training Club) at Meadowbank costs £59.99 per month for non members, £39.99 as a bolt-on for existing members, or £12.50 per class for pay-as-you-go.

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