HYROX…Is It Time for PI to Join the Fun?
Last year, Steve and I stepped outside our comfort zone and entered our first HYROX Doubles event.
It was challenging.
It was exhausting.
And honestly…it was one of the most fun fitness experiences we’ve had in years.
Since then, we’ve had countless clients ask:
“Are you going to run a HYROX training program at PI?”
The short answer has always been…
Not yet.
Why We’ve Been Hesitant
If you’ve spent any time on social media, you’ve probably seen HYROX exploding in popularity.
It’s often described as the “marathon of functional fitness.”
Competitors complete eight 1 km runs, with a functional fitness station after each run. The stations include movements like the SkiErg, sled push, sled pull, rowing, farmer’s carries, walking lunges, burpee broad jumps and wall balls.
On paper, it sounds like a great fit for a strength-focused gym like ours.
But here’s the catch…
HYROX is really a running event disguised as a strength event.
You don’t just need to complete the workouts—you also need to run a total of 8 kilometres between them.
For someone who already enjoys running, that’s very achievable with the right training.
For someone who rarely runs? That’s a very different story.
Our Philosophy Hasn’t Changed
Our mission at Performance Institute has always been simple:
Help people look better, move better and feel better.
That means we have to think beyond what’s exciting and ask an important question:
“Will this help our clients…or increase their risk of injury?”
Many of our members are former athletes, busy professionals, parents, or active adults who strength train regularly but don’t consider themselves runners.
As exciting as HYROX is, asking someone to suddenly train for 8 km of running isn’t something we feel is responsible.
We’d much rather help you stay healthy than chase a trend.
Then We Started Thinking…
What if there was a way to experience HYROX without needing to run all 8 kilometres?
Turns out…there is.
The HYROX Team Relay
HYROX offers a four-person Team Relay division.
Instead of one person completing the entire race, the workload is shared between four teammates.
Each person:
- Runs just 2 x 1 km
- Completes 2 of the 8 workout stations
- Then cheers on their teammates for the rest of the event
Suddenly, HYROX becomes much more accessible.
Instead of needing to be both a strong athlete and an endurance runner, you can lean into your strengths while still challenging yourself.
It’s competitive…
It’s supportive…
And it looks like a lot of fun.
Could This Be a Great PI Community Event?
Rather than launching a full HYROX training program, we’re wondering if this Team Relay could be a great way for PI clients to experience the event together.
If there’s enough interest, Steve would design HYROX-specific programming leading into the event and help each team choose the events that best suit their strengths.
We would also organize the teams, complete the registrations, and handle all the logistics so all you’d need to do is train and show up ready to have fun.
If this year’s relay is a success, we could explore a larger HYROX training program in 2027 for anyone wanting to tackle Doubles or even the Individual division.
Interested?
The Vancouver HYROX event is expected to take place December 18–20, 2026, with the Team Relay likely occurring on Sunday (the official schedule has not yet been released).
Registration opens Thursday, July 23, and these events are known to sell out quickly.
If you’re interested in competing as part of a PI Team Relay, please let us know by Tuesday, July 21 at 6:00 pm.
Simply:
- Reply to info@pitraining.ca with the subject line:
“I’m Interested in a PI HYROX TEAM”, or - Let one of our admin team members know at the gym.
Our plan would be to organize teams of PI members, register everyone together, and then simply charge each participant their registration fee afterward. Current pricing appears to be approximately $75–105 per person, although final Canadian pricing hasn’t yet been confirmed.
Whether you’re hoping to compete or would simply like to come cheer on the PI crew, we think this could become a fantastic community event.
Let us know if you’d like to be part of it. In order for us to register you, we will need the following from you:
Personal details: First/last name, email, date of birth, and physical address for all participating athletes.
Emergency contact info: Name and phone number for someone not racing.
Note: We also know there are a select few clients who do have a running background and want to do the full 8 x 1km duo or individual event. We will support you too so please let us know if this sounds like something YOU’RE interested in.