Hyrox Open, Pro or Doubles: which should you enter?

Before you train, you need to know which category you are training for. The category sets your loads, and it decides whether you race alone or with a partner. Here is how to choose.

The categories in plain words

• Singles Open: you race alone with the standard loads. Most first timers start here. There is a men's and a women's division.
• Singles Pro: you race alone with heavier loads. It is for athletes who are already strong and used to hard racing.
• Doubles: you race with a partner. You share the work at each station, and you both run every 1 km. Divisions include Doubles Women, Doubles Men and Doubles Mixed (one man and one woman), plus Pro versions.

The stations and the distances are identical in every category. Only the loads change. See all the numbers in our weights guide or the weights and standards tool.

How big is the jump to Pro?

Big. In Pro the sled push is 50 kg heavier than in Open, for both men and women. The farmers carry and the sandbag are heavier too, and so is the wall ball. Pro is not a step up in difficulty to try on a whim.

One more detail: Pro Women use the same sled, carry, sandbag and wall ball weights as Open Men, with a lower wall ball target of 2.70 m.

How to choose

• Never raced, not sure? Pick Singles Open. It gives you a clean read on your own fitness.
• Want company and a shared load? Pick Doubles. A partner makes training easier to stick to, and you split the station work.
• Raced Open and moved well? Chase a faster Open time first. Move to Pro only when the Open loads feel comfortable.

Not sure where you stand? Take the readiness quiz. It gives you a score, your level and your weak points in about two minutes.

Five questions to ask yourself

1. Have I moved loads like these in training, regularly and not just once?
2. Can I run 8 km in total, with a station between each kilometre, at a pace I can repeat?
3. Do I want a clean read on my own fitness, or a shared race with a friend?
4. Do I have 8 weeks or more to prepare?
5. Would I rather finish strong, or take a risk?

If your answer to the first two is no, start in Open. You can always step up later.

Training for each one

The training is the same shape in every category: running, strength, station practice and race skills. What changes is how heavy you go. Build toward your category's loads over weeks and test them before race day.

If you race Doubles, practise with your partner. Agree who does what at each station, and keep your run paces close, since you both run every kilometre.

Check the event details

How you enter, and the rules for each category, can differ by event and season. Read the official rulebook and the event page before you sign up.

Questions people ask

Can I race Pro as a first timer?

Entry rules vary by event, so check the event page. The loads are much heavier though, and most first timers start in Open.

Do doubles partners run together?

You both run every 1 km, and you share the work at each station. Plan your pace so the slower partner is not left behind.

Is doubles easier than singles?

You each do less work at the stations, but the running is still 8 km each. Pace still matters, and so does teamwork.

Does the category change the stations?

No. The 8 stations and their distances stay the same. Only the loads and the wall ball target change.