HYROX: Visualize Your Race!

Preparing for your first HYROX? Congrats! You’ve probably already completed several workouts, at FLAG or elsewhere, but it can still be difficult to picture what race day will actually look like, what to expect, and how to get organized so you can arrive feeling calm and confident.

In this article, we help you better prepare for your arrival and visualize your race.

In the hours before the start, you’ve already prepared your gear: your bag, outfit, shoes, and anything you want to bring for your warm‑up or post‑race recovery. You’ve checked that you have all necessary documents for check‑in—your ID and your confirmation email. Take time to step away from the crowd, disconnect from social media, and rest physically and mentally before heading out to your HYROX.

I recommend arriving on site 1 hour and 30 minutes before your start time, but ideally not earlier. This will give you enough time to check in, get changed, drop off your bag, observe the race layout and station placement, warm up, and reach the start corral on time. If you're doing HYROX as a pair, make sure to always stay with your partner to avoid losing each other and adding extra stress before the start.

During check‑in, your race number will be written on your forearm: the first digits correspond to your start time (1030010 means you start in the 10:30 wave... and not a minute later). You’ll use this start time to plan everything that follows. You’ll also receive your timing chip, which must be kept safe and strapped to your ankle before the start—it records your race and splits across all runs and stations.

After checking in, head straight to the changing area, attach your chip to your ankle, and place everything else in your bag. Keep a small bottle of water with you, which you can throw away before the start, or a reusable bottle to hand over to friends or family. You can listen to music to stay in your zone during warm‑up, but since the venue is already loud, it may not be very useful. Your race number on your arm will allow you to drop off your bag and pick it up after the race.

Note: you can only drop off one bag per person, and it cannot be too large—so travel light and avoid bulky items.

Time to warm up, 30 to 40 minutes before the start. In the warm‑up area, you’ll find all the equipment you need—but keep in mind these zones are often crowded, so you’ll have to adapt to whatever is available on the day. The goal is to prepare your body without exhausting it: do a gradual load build‑up on the sleds, practice transitions with the sandbag for lunges, or do a few Wall Balls to reassure yourself, but nothing more.

At the end of your warm‑up, make a last stop at the restroom, check that you have everything you need for the race, then head toward the start corral at least 10 minutes before your wave. I recommend not entering the corral too early—stay nearby instead. The start corral gives a real adrenaline spike; you can feel the stress rising little by little, whether it’s your first HYROX or your tenth. Enter the corral 5 minutes before the start, check your laces one last time, interact with the people around you, and get ready for the iconic 10‑second countdown. And of course, make sure you know how many run laps you need to complete before the race begins.

If you’re aiming for a specific time, try to position yourself at the front of the corral to avoid weaving through the runners in the first seconds. If it’s your first HYROX and your goal is simply to finish, stay slightly toward the back to avoid being pushed by faster athletes.

Once your race begins, it’s all up to you—time to apply everything you’ve learned. In 8 runs and 8 stations, you’ll be a HYROX Paris Finisher!

Enjoy all the energy in the venue, the support from your teammates and loved ones, and the magic of the moment. When it gets tough, visualize the finish line and the pride you’ll feel as you cross it.