I Tried This German Fitness Trend Growing in Nairobi, Now I am Hooked

In the wee hours of Sunday morning, as most Nairobians are still asleep, you'll find a group of eight people gathering at the Uthiru Roundabout at 6 am, stretching, chatting and preparing for what looks like another ordinary workout.

It isn't.

They're training for HYROX, one of the fastest-growing fitness movements in the world, and after spending one morning with them, I finally understood why so many people are either ditching the traditional gym for it or combining the two.

Founded in Germany in 2017, HYROX is a fitness race that combines running with functional workout stations. The official competition consists of eight one-kilometre runs, each followed by a different exercise, including burpee broad jumps, lunges and wall balls.

HYROX was designed for almost anyone willing to train. Whether you're an elite athlete or someone who simply enjoys keeping fit, the workouts can be adjusted to your fitness level while still challenging your endurance.

Also Read: More Than a Morning Run: Why Nairobi is Obsessed with Running Clubs

I had heard about HYROX before but had never actually tried it. A friend of mine, who trains with the Sunday group, invited me to join them.

I go to the gym regularly and spend most of my workouts lifting weights, so I assumed I'd cope just fine.

I was wrong. The session started with an 800-metre run before moving straight into 40 burpee broad jumps. There was barely enough time to catch my breath before we were running another 800 metres, followed by 50 walking lunges.

Then came another run. Then 50 bodyweight squats. You get the drift. By the time we finished, we'd completed eight separate 800-metre runs, each interrupted by a different exercise. The workout was targeted to last for 50 minutes, but  I completed it in 1 hour and 5 minutes.

What surprised me most wasn't that the exercises were difficult. It was how quickly they became difficult.

In the gym, you can rest between sets or reduce the weight if you're struggling. HYROX doesn't really give you that luxury. From the very first run, your heart rate stays high, and every station tests a different part of your body while you're already fatigued.

I realised that being able to bench press or squat decent weight doesn't necessarily prepare you for this kind of endurance.

Yet somehow, I enjoyed every minute of it. The biggest reason is how refreshing it feels.

After finishing, I was exhausted, but I also felt energised in a way I rarely do after a normal gym session. Instead of simply working one muscle, the workout leaves you feeling like your entire body has been challenged.

Also Read: Is Breakfast Dying in Kenya?

It's also an incredible calorie burner. That specific Sunday morning, I burned 600 calories, almost double what I loose in the gym.

Another thing I quickly appreciated was that you don't need to be super fit to start. Everyone in the group worked at their own pace.

Some finished the runs faster than others. Some modified certain exercises. The emphasis wasn't on competing against each other but on improving week after week.

That progress is made easier by how the group is organised.

Throughout the workout, there was constant motivation from the group, whether someone was struggling through lunges or trying to finish the final run.

It's the kind of encouragement that's difficult to find when you're working out alone. Given that the group are all friends, there us no membership fee and that make me like it more.

Of course, it wasn't all perfect. If there's one exercise I hope I never have to love, it's bear crawls.

Also Read: Why Air Fryers Are Becoming a Must-Have Appliance in Kenyan Homes

Crawling several metres using both your hands and feet on rough ground quickly teaches you the value of a good pair of training gloves. By the end, my palms were definitely feeling it.

It's also the sort of workout that's far more enjoyable in a group than alone. I honestly don't think I would have pushed myself through every station without everyone else doing the same beside me.

The experience impressed me enough that I went back the following Friday. Now I've officially joined the group.

I can also see why HYROX has developed such a large following here in Kenya, with a tournament slated for September in Parklands. Everyone in our group has already paid Ksh4,000 for the season 3 challenge.

If there's one lesson I'd give anyone thinking about trying HYROX, it's this: don't underestimate the endurance element. You don't need to be a fast runner, but getting comfortable with regular runs will make every other exercise far more manageable.