Never
heard of HYROX? Completely understandable.
First developed in Europe
about eight years ago, this multi-faceted test of overall
fitness is only just making in-roads in Canada.
Still, the first ever hosting
of the event in Vancouver last month would manage to assemble
some 2,500 or so participants, with homelands ranging
from Australia, Ireland, France, Cuba, Germany, China,
North Korea, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Kazahkstan, Colombia,
Czechia and a few others, all supplementing the main contingent
from Canada and the United States.
And for as much as getting
in on the ground floor certainly helps with one’s
overall competitiveness in the field, it was nice to see
a Sudbury duo excel, both on an individual basis and as
a doubles team.
Tim Tindall (solo
– 16th of 1,427; 4th of 250 in 25-29 age bracket)
and Kelly Thompson (solo – 40th; 9th in same age
bracket as his partner) combined to hit the podium in
the Sunday event, third among the 581 men’s doubles
team and second in their age category.
Displaying some similarities
with CrossFit competitions, HYROX merges elements of cardio
fitness (competitors must complete eight, one-kilometre
laps) as well as core strength (between each lap are challenges
that include sled push/pull, sandbag lunges, ski and rowing
erg and such).
Where every single CrossFit race format and stations differs
from the next, HYROX opted to develop one standard consistent
approach that is utilized right across the globe.
A 29-year-old graduate of
Lockerby Composite who excelled in nordic ski in his youth
(earning a pair of silver medals at Eastern Nationals
as a teen), but also flirted consistently with cross-country
running and biking and pretty much any athletic test one
could throw his way, Tindall latched on to this new offering
last year, Vancouver representing his first race (with
Ottawa set for this May).
“I just got excited
about competing again,” said Tindall, who was able
to secure a partnership with Thompson because the latter,
who has now obtained his pro card in Half-Ironman racing,
is in the middle of his off-season training, with plenty
of cross-over benefits present in this new undertaking.
In time, increased participation
will inevitably raise the bar for the likes of Tindall,
though breaking into a new age bracket is always exciting
when it comes to any sport competition that extends well
into adulthood.
“It’s a new enough
sport that I can progress pretty quickly,” Tindall
said. “Getting in on it close to the ground floor
is super exciting. The attraction for me is trying to
be exceptional at something again, and having a goal that
you have to work for.”
Because the Tindall–Thompson
pairing came together only two months or so before the
December gathering in British Columbia, training was quite
condensed, with both young men understanding where a good
percentage of their efforts were likely to be directed.
“We’re talking
about two different energy systems for the body,”
said Tindall. “Eight kilometres of running is on
the endurance side — you can’t sprint that
— and then you have the muscular endurance events.
Two days a week were dedicated to learning to run on fatigued
legs, doing the heaviest of the stations and then transitioning
to running.”
That would pay dividends.
For as much as Tindall gives
way to Thompson when it comes to pure distance running
ability, their team recorded the fastest average lap times
in the entire field, with a format that requires both
teammates to remain within a few metres of one another
at every stage of their laps.
“Kelly is an incredible
runner but did not have quite as much experience on the
strength stations,” said Tindall. “I was able
to help out on the heavier stations.”
Hosted at the Vancouver Convention
Centre, HYROX 2025 attracted twice as many spectators
as participants, unveiling a competitive landscape that
allows fans to get quite close to the action, especially
by comparison to most endurance races.
Part of the pre-event preparation
for Tindall included participating in the Sudbury Backyard
Ultra for the very first time in October, covering 16
laps / 16 hours and more than 100 kms.
Tindall will race with a
different partner in Ottawa, focusing heavily on improving
his times in the solo grouping. Time will tell to what
extent HYROX will garner mass popularity, but at this
point in time anyways, Tim Tindall is all in.
“It’s newer and
trendy and people are excited about it.”
Randy Pascal is a sportswriter
in Greater Sudbury. Pursuit is made possible by our Community
Leaders Program.
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