On the face of it, HYROX shouldn’t be as popular as it is. The indoor fitness competition combines 8 km of running with eight functional workouts and, for most fitness lovers, either of these would qualify as a complete workout. But when you consider that the event which was founded by an Olympic field hockey champion, and saw only 650 participants in its first 2017 edition in Germany, has swelled to several countries with tens of thousands of participants, it becomes apparent that this is not just another passing fitness fad. Mumbai saw its first HYROX race in May this year, and is already prepping for the next event on Sunday. So viral is its popularity that even self-confessed fitness lover Mira Kapoor made waves on social media when she hinted at her participation at the upcoming edition.

Marbet Mary Wahlang trains ahead of the competition in Mumbai. Pic courtesy/Marbet Mary Wahlang

Although the stars of the event’s Mumbai debut primarily comprised professional athletes, the event also saw its fair share of fitness enthusiasts. We spoke to two past competitors for a glimpse of what it takes to be a HYROX champion.