HYROX Relay
/ ˈhaɪrɒks ˈriːleɪ / · proper noun
Also: HYROX Corporate Relay, HYROX Team Relay
A four-athlete team format in which the eight 1km runs and eight functional stations of a HYROX race are divided across the team: each athlete runs two of the eight legs and completes one of the eight stations. It is the most beginner-friendly and time-efficient way to experience the HYROX format, since no single athlete has to sustain the full 8km run plus all eight stations.
How the division of labor works
- Four athletes, eight running legs, eight stations, each teammate typically handles 2 runs + 1 station
- Team members can be assigned by strength: a fast runner takes more running legs, a strong lifter takes the sled or sandbag station
- All four athletes must be present and race under the same team bib; there is no minimum individual time requirement
Why it's the accessible entry point
Relay strips away the two biggest barriers to a first HYROX attempt: total training volume and total race-day duration. An individual Open racer needs a base capable of 8km of running plus eight stations under fatigue, a real ask for someone new to structured fitness. A Relay athlete only needs to be capable of roughly a quarter of that load, which makes the format popular for corporate teams, friend groups, and first-time HYROX spectators talked into "just doing one leg."
Corporate and group use
Because of its low individual barrier, Relay is the format HYROX and race organizers most actively market to workplaces and social groups: a "corporate relay" bib lets a company field a team without requiring every employee to be independently HYROX-fit. This has made Relay a meaningful driver of first-time exposure to the sport: many athletes who go on to race Open or Pro individually report their first HYROX experience was a Relay leg.
Training for a Relay leg
Training is naturally scoped to the assigned leg. An athlete running two 1km segments should prioritize repeatable pace at slightly faster than 5K effort, since the legs are spread across the race rather than back-to-back. An athlete assigned a station should drill that single movement (e.g., sled push or wall ball) to technical proficiency, since they only need to perform it once, not eight times.
FAQ
- How many people are on a HYROX Relay team?
- Four athletes. Each teammate runs two of the eight 1km segments and works one of the eight stations, so no single athlete completes the full course.
- Is HYROX Relay a good starting point for beginners?
- Yes, it is widely considered the most accessible entry point into HYROX. Each athlete only handles a quarter of the total workload, which lowers both the fitness and time barriers to entering an event.
- Is HYROX Relay the same as the corporate team format?
- Relay and the corporate/company team format are the same underlying structure, four athletes splitting the eight legs and stations, often marketed under a "corporate relay" name for workplace teams entering together.