Fitness
competitions

A fitness competition is any event where your training is measured against other people and the clock. They come in three broad kinds. Functional fitness competitions, in the CrossFit style, set several unknown workouts over a day or a weekend and reward all-round ability. Hybrid fitness races, such as Deadly Dozen and HYROX, set one known course of running and exercises and time you over it. Gym competitions run the same idea inside a gym, on machines and with weights, for people who would rather not run outside.

Why a race, not a series of workouts

A race has one course, published in advance, and one number at the end. You know exactly what you are training for, you can pace it, and your time means the same as everyone else’s. Deadly Dozen is 12 runs of 400m on an athletics track, each followed by a functional exercise under load: farmer’s carry, sled push, kettlebell swings, weighted lunges, and the rest. That is 4.8km of running woven through 12 loaded stations, in about an hour for most people. The exercises and weights are the same at every race in the world.

Open to every level

You do not qualify to enter. Anyone aged 18 or over on race day can race solo; pairs share the work, and relay teams of four take turns, so a group from one gym can enter together. Divisions by sex and age group mean you are ranked against people like you, and every finisher lands on the global leaderboard with a time to beat next season. Youth races exist for 12 to 15 year olds at selected events.

Fitness competitions near you

Track races run in 18 countries this season, with gym races hosted by affiliate gyms in between. The dates below come straight from the race diary and are always current. If you are choosing between formats, the comparison with HYROX sets out the differences plainly.