I’ve competed in 21 Hyrox races around the world. These are my 3 favorite host cities.

This as-told-to composition is according to a conversation alongside Lau Wen Loong, 37, who, complete the former two years, has contested in 21 Hyrox races in 11 cities about the world. It has been edited for dimension and clarity.

I hadn't exercised regularly in two years whenever a companion stated to me, "I think you'll be curious in this." He was taking part in Hyrox, an endurance competition that combines operating alongside fitness stations. You can competition individually, as doubles, or in a relay, and there are the two amateur and expert racers. He asked if I wanted to competition alongside him.

My companion ended up doing the competition alongside his wife, so I decided to do it on my own. "Don't be crazy," he told me. But I signed up six weeks before the event and completed my archetypal competition in Singapore in August 2024. My final timing was fair under 73 minutes. I was a cross-country runner in elevated school, but for the archetypal period in my life, I understood why several group dislike running.

After finishing one race, I started asking myself what I wanted to do next. I'd put so much period into training for that archetypal race, and I didn't desire to endure that momentum.

The competitions arrive alongside demands

It's been two years since I got started in Hyrox, and I've completed 21 races in 11 cities, including Chengdu, Bangkok, and Mumbai. I have seven additional lined up for this year. I'm in between jobs at the instant and operating on an AI startup alongside my brother.

Each competition expenses concerning $150, during flights and another expenses can add up to $1,500. In conditions of competition prep, I lately bought a yearlong membership at a gym in Seoul, anywhere I'm currently based, for concerning $55 a month. I've rotate into an ambassador for multiple Hyrox-related brands, and they assistance shield several of my costs.

Hyrox is a fine mix of operating and weights. I think I may be the fittest I've always been. I never imagined I could be faster than my younger self.

So far, these have been my three favorite presenter cities:

1. Osaka, Japan: January 2026

Every Hyrox venue is different. Similar to F1 tracks, the setup is tweaked, and the runs between stations are never the identical for all race. It was my archetypal winter Hyrox, and I hit a individual finest of 61:51.

The winter part was interesting, since the competition was held between two halls in a small venue. You ran in one hall, traversed to the another flank to do the workout, and traversed rear to run again, getting a blast of caller air in the process.

I spent seven days in Osaka, most of it about the competition area, but I managed to do a bit of buying in the Dotonbori district. I had meal at a celebrated cancer eatery alongside my father, who sometimes comes to assistance me at my races, depending on his agenda and whether he likes the city.

2. Incheon, South Korea: May 2026

It was my friend's first Hyrox. He raced before me, and I got to see it. Not lone that, but I additionally came in archetypal in my age collection and did a individual best

Like many Hyrox races, the Incheon type was held in a important gathering center. The layout provided for a extremely gentle race, dissimilar at another races, which can sometimes disrupt your rhythm

I'm based in Seoul, so I went there daily. It was one hr all way. On the archetypal day of the race, whenever I hitched a journey rear alongside a friend, I got to try out the hyugaeso, or remainder stops alongside the highway. They are akin mini buying malls, and the one I went to had three floors and many of small stalls.

In the way of my races, I have made a lot of friends, akin my doubles partner Ian, and Yvonne, a Singaporean operating mom who has done 55 races. A brace on the aircraft from Seoul to Singapore additionally noticed my Hyrox bag, and we started chatting and became friends.

3. Jakarta, Indonesia: June 2026

The competition venue was in a beautiful part of Indonesia I'd never been to — I anticipation to return.

It was the extremely archetypal Hyrox competition in Indonesia, so it was new for everyone. It was held in a gathering center in one of Jakarta's green spaces, which is extremely scenic.

It was my archetypal period doing two doubles races, and I didn't equal cognize the guy I was racing alongside until I met him on the day. We were introduced through a mutual friend, and we lone trained together once.

The run to complete and win

I was competing in distinct races at the September 2026 Hyrox event in Beijing, anywhere Joanna Wietrzyk dirty herself. I saw her from afar, but didn't see what happened firsthand.

I've tried to put myself in her shoes and wondered if I would continue. I don't think I would or could. I do anticipation that she'll bounce rear from it.

I've seen a lot of group crying at Hyrox. Whether it be tears of joy or tears of frustration, it motionless surprises me. Hyrox is a bit akin therapy, as you are handling through your body. I average to continue racing for at smallest another year.

I think the biggest advantage is that it enables you to be additional self-aware.