For your first HYROX, enter Open if racing solo or Doubles if racing with a partner, both use standard weights and are built for newcomers. Choose Relay for a social, mixed-ability team, and save Pro for experienced athletes who want heavier sleds, a heavier wall ball and stricter standards. Division changes the workload, not the course.
- Open and Pro are solo over the full 8km; Doubles has both partners run all 8km while sharing station reps; Relay splits the course between four athletes.
- Pro raises the loads, heavier sleds and a heavier wall ball, versus Open's standard weights.
- As of 2026, UK events sell out quickly, and popular divisions often fill first, so decide early.
What is the difference between Open and Pro?
Open and Pro cover the same 8km and the same 8 stations in the same order; only the weights and standards change. Pro uses heavier sleds and a heavier wall ball, and demands stricter movement standards, making it substantially harder than Open. Almost every first-timer should race Open, learn pacing and station technique, then consider Pro once they have a benchmark time and confidence with the standard loads. Jumping straight to Pro without race experience usually means grinding through sleds and blowing up on the back half.
How do Doubles and Relay work?
In Doubles, two athletes complete the race together: both run all 8km side by side, but they share the reps at each station, splitting wall balls, lunges and carries between them. It nearly halves station workload while keeping the running fully honest, which makes it a popular and forgiving first entry for pairs. Relay divides the whole course among four athletes, so each person runs and works a portion rather than the entire race, the most social format and the easiest entry point for mixed-ability groups.
Which division suits which athlete?
Your choice should follow your experience, your training partners and your goal for the day. The table below maps common situations to the sensible division.
| Division | Running | Station load | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 8km solo | Standard weights, full reps | First solo race |
| Pro | 8km solo | Heavier weights, strict standards | Experienced athletes |
| Doubles | 8km each | Shared reps between two | Pairs, first-timers with a partner |
| Relay | ~2km each | Split across four | Mixed-ability teams, social entry |
How should you decide your first division?
Work through your situation in order rather than defaulting to whatever your friends picked.
- Racing alone with no HYROX experience? Choose Open.
- Racing with one committed partner of similar fitness? Choose Doubles.
- Assembling a group with mixed fitness levels? Choose Relay.
- Already finished an Open race and want a bigger challenge? Consider Pro.
- Unsure about the running volume? Doubles or Relay reduce the standalone pressure.
"We steer almost every first-timer to Open or Doubles. You learn the roxzone, the pacing and the station standards once, then you have a real benchmark to chase. That's worth far more than an ego entry into Pro," says the THETA coaching team.
How does your training change between divisions?
Your division should shape your preparation, not just your entry. Open and Pro solo athletes must train the full 8km of compromised running because they carry the entire race alone, so aerobic base is non-negotiable. Doubles athletes still need that full running base but can train station work with the understanding that reps will be shared, which allows a slightly heavier strength focus per rep. Relay athletes should train their specific leg intensely, often a shorter, faster effort, rather than the full-distance grind. Pro athletes need the same engine as Open plus meaningfully more strength to move the heavier sleds and the heavier wall ball without stalling. Matching your training to your division stops you over-preparing for demands you will never face on the day.
Can you change divisions after entering?
Division availability and transfers depend on the specific event and how full it is, and popular divisions frequently sell out first, so flexibility is limited once you commit. This is another reason to decide early: as of 2026, UK events fill quickly, and the division you want may not be available if you delay. If you are unsure, entering Doubles or Relay with a partner reduces both the physical pressure and the risk of a solo entry you are not ready for. Treat the division choice as a training decision made months in advance, not a race-week afterthought.
Common questions
Should my first HYROX be Open or Pro?
Your first HYROX should almost always be Open. It uses standard weights and lets you learn pacing and station technique, whereas Pro's heavier sleds and wall ball and stricter standards are best attempted once you have a completed race and a benchmark time behind you.
Is Doubles easier than Open?
Doubles reduces station workload because two athletes share the reps, but both partners still run the full 8km. It feels easier at the stations and harder to coordinate on pacing, so it is a great first entry for pairs but not a way to avoid the running demand.
How is Relay different from Doubles?
In Relay, four athletes split the entire course so each person handles only a portion of the running and stations, while in Doubles two athletes both run all 8km and share only the station reps. Relay is the more social and beginner-friendly of the two.
What weights does Pro use compared with Open?
Pro uses heavier sleds and a heavier wall ball than Open, alongside stricter standards. Open is designed as the accessible standard-weight division, so the jump to Pro is significant and best reserved for experienced athletes.
Can a mixed-ability group race together?
Yes, Relay is built for mixed-ability groups because each of the four athletes covers only part of the course. Stronger members can take larger portions while less experienced members still get the full race atmosphere without carrying the entire distance.
Do all divisions run the same course?
Every division uses the same 8 stations in the same order over the same distances; only the weights, standards and how the work is shared change. This is why times remain broadly comparable within a division across venues and seasons.
Which division is best for two friends of different fitness levels?
For two friends of clearly different fitness, Relay in a larger team or a relaxed Doubles entry works best, because Doubles requires both partners to run all 8km at a shared pace. If the gap is large, Relay lets the stronger athlete take more of the load while both still complete the race together.
Can you qualify for championships from any division?
Qualification pathways to HYROX championships depend on the division and the times achieved, with solo divisions being the standard route to individual rankings. As of 2026, most first-timers should focus on completing a race and setting a benchmark before worrying about qualification standards.
Sources
- HYROX official divisions, format and rulebook (hyrox.com)
- THETA coaching data, 2024–2026
- Established principles of progressive competition entry and load management
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