Dr. Jeff Irvine is transitioning to HYROX after spending years competing in triathlons. (Submitted photo/Jeff Irvine)

By Derek Cornet

pushing the limits

Doctor returns to Canada after competing in new sport in Texas

Mar 26, 2024 | 3:50 PM

La Ronge’s Dr. Jeff Irvine has recently returned from Houston, Texas, where he competed in a new sport called HYROX on March 16.

HYROX combines both running and functional workout stations, where participants run one kilometre, followed by a functional workout station, repeated eight times. The sport began in Europe and is currently gaining popularity in Canada and the United States.

“It was my first time, so I didn’t have any particular goals in mind, just to have fun and experience something new,” Irvine said.

“It was quite a blast actually and something now I am getting more into and going to take more seriously and have some goals for my next one.”

Irvine explained after a one-kilometre run, participants complete a functional fitness skill like sled push and pulls, jumping with burpees, using a rowing machine, walking lunges, wall balls and more. He finished ninth (out of 64 competitors) in his age and weight-skill group with a total time of one hour and 15 minutes.

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“It’s a fairly all-encompassing activity and sport in terms of participation. A lot of different ability levels can do it and there are different levels you can do in terms of different weights that you can use,” Irvine said.

“You can do a lighter weight version or a heavier weight version and they advertise that 99 per cent of participants complete their event because the skills themselves are not highly technical. It’s not like you have to do these fancy moves.”

The sport mixes running and fuctional fitness activities. (Submitted photo/Jeff Irvine)

Each race is hosted in a stadium or convention centre and the format remains consistent around the world. That way each competitor knows what to expect and can either strive to place in a higher ranking or work towards completing a personal best.

In total, there were approximately 2,500 people competing in Houston and Irvine plans to attend another race in Toronto in October. At that race, he hopes to complete it in one hour and 10 minutes, as well as place higher in ranking. It will be the first time a HYROX race will be held in Canada.

“They pride themselves in having these exercises that are demanding physically, but still easy enough to do that with a little bit of practice anyone can do them,” Irvine noted.

“It’s very all-inclusive that way in terms of a lot of people can join and a lot of people can complete these exercises.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com