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HYROX: More Than Just a Fitness Race, with Matt Lambert
Why is HYROX becoming so popular, and what can personal trainers and gym owners learn from its success?
In the latest episode of the Storm Fitness Academy Podcast, I caught up with Matt Lambert, owner of Hove Fitness Club, owner and head coach of Hove Hornets Running Club, and an experienced personal trainer who also runs his own private PT studio.
Matt has been working in the fitness industry since 2000 and has seen plenty of training trends come and go. However, one fitness phenomenon that has really captured his attention is HYROX.
We discussed how he first got involved, why it’s become such a huge part of his gym community, and what fitness professionals can learn from its success.
We also talked about Matt’s upcoming HYROX Coaching Workshop on Saturday 12 December at Hove Fitness Club, which he’ll be delivering in partnership with Storm Fitness Academy.
Listen to the Podcast
What Is HYROX and Why Is Everyone Talking About It?
For anyone unfamiliar with HYROX, it’s a fitness race that combines running with functional exercise.
The format is straightforward. Competitors complete eight 1 km runs, with a different functional exercise station between each run.
These include:
- SkiErg
- Sled push
- Sled pull
- Burpee broad jumps
- Rowing
- Farmers carry
- Sandbag lunges
- Wall balls
It’s a combination of endurance, strength and muscular stamina, with the added challenge of performing each exercise while increasingly fatigued.
For Matt, the appeal was immediately obvious.
Earlier in his career, he’d organised gym challenges that combined exercises such as shoulder presses, press-ups and squats with treadmill running.
These challenges proved incredibly popular with members and helped create a fantastic sense of community.
When he discovered HYROX, he recognised something similar.
He initially persuaded a handful of members from his running club to enter an event at London’s ExCeL.
They practised the unfamiliar exercises, including sled pushes and wall balls, and headed off to see what all the fuss was about.
They loved it.
What started with around six people gradually grew into a much bigger community of HYROX enthusiasts.
Matt told me that at one recent London event, almost 100 people from his gym took part.
That’s pretty impressive!
HYROX Gives People a Reason to Train
One of the most interesting parts of our conversation was Matt’s explanation of why HYROX has been so successful with his members.
A lot of people go to the gym because they want to lose weight, build muscle or improve their general health.
These are all perfectly good reasons to exercise, but sometimes they’re not particularly exciting or motivating.
HYROX gives people something specific to work towards.
Suddenly, that rowing session isn’t just about burning calories. It’s about improving your performance at the next race.
You have a time to beat, a particular exercise to improve and potentially a training partner who’s relying on you.
From a sport psychology perspective, I think HYROX taps into two important forms of motivation.
Extrinsic motivation comes from having measurable goals, race times, personal bests and competition against others.
Intrinsic motivation comes from the enjoyment of training, learning new skills, improving your competence and being part of a community.
Combine the two, and you’ve got a pretty powerful reason to keep turning up to the gym.
Matt also made an interesting point about personal achievement.
Other people might not particularly care whether you’ve finished a HYROX race in 70 minutes or 90 minutes, but if you’ve beaten your previous time, that achievement means something to you.
And of course, there’s always a little friendly competition between training partners!
The Importance of Community in Fitness
If there was one theme that kept coming up throughout our conversation, it was community.
Matt explained that one of the biggest selling points of HYROX is the opportunity to compete in doubles.
Instead of simply training for yourself, you’re now working towards a shared goal with someone else.
You’re arranging training sessions together, discussing tactics, encouraging each other and travelling to events.
That creates friendships and strengthens relationships within the gym.
Matt has taken groups of members to HYROX competitions both in the UK and overseas.
These aren’t simply fitness events. They’re weekends away, shared experiences and opportunities to socialise.
And for gym owners, there’s an obvious business benefit.
When members are signed up for an event, they have a reason to attend training regularly.
When they train regularly, they develop relationships with other members.
And when they feel part of a community, they’re more likely to maintain their membership.
It’s a great example of how building a successful fitness business isn’t just about providing equipment and programmes.
It’s about giving people somewhere they genuinely enjoy spending their time.
Is HYROX Really a Running Race?
Something else Matt emphasised was the importance of running performance.
Although HYROX involves eight functional exercise stations, competitors also have to run a total of eight kilometres.
Matt considers running ability one of the biggest priorities when preparing someone for a HYROX event.
It’s easy to get caught up worrying about your sled push or SkiErg technique, but if you’re struggling with the running, that’s going to have a significant impact on your overall performance.
That’s not to say strength training isn’t important.
Exercises such as sled pushes, sled pulls, lunges and wall balls develop qualities that can complement running performance.
For people who don’t particularly enjoy traditional resistance training, HYROX can also provide a more engaging reason to develop their strength.
Rather than simply squatting because someone has told them it’s good for them, they’re developing the physical capabilities needed to perform better in their next competition.
I particularly like this aspect of HYROX.
It’s encouraging people to train for what their bodies can actually do, rather than focusing exclusively on how they look.
Improved body composition may well be a welcome side effect, but the primary goal becomes performance.
There’s More to HYROX Than Being Fit
Another interesting aspect of HYROX is the tactical element, particularly when competing in doubles.
Matt explained that simply dividing every exercise equally between two competitors isn’t necessarily the most effective approach.
You need to consider the strengths and weaknesses of each person.
For example, if one competitor is a stronger runner, it might make sense for them to finish a particular exercise station, allowing their partner some additional recovery before the next run.
Similarly, you might decide to divide the wall balls or sled work differently depending on each person’s capabilities.
The goal isn’t necessarily to share the workload equally.
It’s to achieve the fastest possible combined time.
This adds another dimension to training, as athletes need to develop their fitness, practise their technique and learn how to pace themselves effectively.
And when the race doesn’t quite go according to plan, there’s always something to learn for next time.
What Can Personal Trainers and Gym Owners Learn From HYROX?
Matt has successfully integrated HYROX into his gym, but he was also keen to point out that it isn’t necessarily something every fitness business should jump into.
Firstly, he believes coaches need to be genuinely passionate about what they’re delivering.
If you don’t enjoy HYROX yourself, it’s going to be difficult to communicate that enthusiasm to your members.
Secondly, you need the appropriate facilities.
HYROX training requires a considerable amount of space and specialist equipment, particularly when it comes to sled tracks, SkiErgs and rowing machines.
However, where the facilities and enthusiasm are there, the benefits can be significant.
Matt now delivers regular HYROX classes and provides strength and conditioning support to people preparing for events.
He has also created a community that extends well beyond the gym walls.
For me, the biggest lesson is that successful fitness businesses give people more than just a workout.
They provide coaching, encouragement, relationships, shared experiences and something meaningful to work towards.
Being a Great Coach Is About More Than Writing Great Workouts
Towards the end of our conversation, we discussed something I’m particularly passionate about at Storm Fitness Academy.
The difference between delivering a workout and actually coaching someone.
Matt made the point that almost anyone can put a workout on a screen, turn up the music and tell people to work harder.
But that doesn’t necessarily make them a good coach.
A good coach needs to understand exercise technique, communicate clearly, manage intensity and help individuals get the most from their training.
For example, rather than simply telling someone to complete 200 metres on a rowing machine, a coach might provide guidance on stroke rate, pacing, technique and breathing.
They should also explain why a particular pace is appropriate, especially when another demanding exercise is coming up.
That way, members aren’t just completing exercises. They’re learning how to perform them more effectively.
Matt also highlighted the importance of making new members feel welcome.
Walking into an unfamiliar fitness class can be intimidating, even for someone with plenty of gym experience.
A good coach recognises this, introduces newcomers to other members and makes sure they feel comfortable and included.
It’s these little things that make a massive difference to someone’s experience.
And ultimately, they’re often the difference between someone coming back the following week or never returning.
Join Us for Matt Lambert’s HYROX Coaching Workshop
If you’re a personal trainer, fitness instructor, strength and conditioning coach or simply someone interested in HYROX, we’ve got a fantastic opportunity coming up.
On Saturday 12 December, Matt will be delivering a practical HYROX Coaching Workshop at Hove Fitness Club in partnership with Storm Fitness Academy.
During the workshop, Matt will share his experience of coaching HYROX and helping people prepare for competition.
We’ll cover:
- An introduction to HYROX and its eight functional exercise stations.
- Effective techniques and coaching points for each exercise.
- How to coach exercises such as rowing, SkiErg and sled work.
- Understanding pacing, intensity and exercise performance.
- Planning and delivering effective HYROX training sessions.
- How to communicate and motivate participants during group workouts.
- Creating an inclusive, supportive and enjoyable class environment.
There will also be plenty of opportunities to get involved practically.
And Matt has kindly offered anyone who books onto the workshop the opportunity to attend one of his HYROX classes for free beforehand.
A fantastic opportunity to experience what his sessions are all about!
Workshop details
Date: Saturday 12 December 2026
Venue: Hove Fitness Club
Coach: Matt Lambert
Suitable for: Fitness professionals, Storm Fitness Academy students and HYROX enthusiasts
Find out more and book your place here
Final Thoughts
Having spoken to Matt, I can certainly understand why HYROX has become so popular.
It combines the physical challenge of endurance and strength training with competition, personal achievement and a fantastic sense of community.
But perhaps the biggest takeaway from our conversation is that people are much more likely to stick with exercise when they enjoy it, feel connected to others and have something meaningful to work towards.
That’s something every fitness professional can learn from, whether they coach HYROX or not.
A massive thank you to Matt for joining me on the podcast and sharing his experiences.
I’m looking forward to getting stuck into the workshop myself!
Interested in becoming a personal trainer or developing your coaching skills?
At Storm Fitness Academy, we provide nationally recognised personal training and fitness qualifications, along with practical workshops designed to help you become a more knowledgeable, confident and effective coach.
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