HYROX Season 8 is in full swing — and the data tells a fascinating story about where the sport is heading.
We pulled 12,479 race results from two of the season's major events — Toulouse (10,418 finishers) and Beijing (2,061 finishers) — and crunched the numbers. Here is what we found about finish times, station performance, the running fade, and what it all means for your training.
New to HYROX? Start with our complete beginner's guide to learn the basics before diving into the data.
The Big Picture: Season 8 by the Numbers
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total results analyzed | 12,479 |
| Average finish time | 1:25:27 |
| Median finish time | 1:22:44 |
| Top 10% finish under | 1:07:21 |
| Bottom 10% finish over | 1:46:14 |
| Male athletes | 6,349 (51%) |
| Female athletes | 3,877 (31%) |
| Doubles/Other | 2,253 (18%) |
The median finish time of 1:22:44 tells us that half of all finishers cross the line in under 83 minutes. If you can break 1:15, you are in the top quartile. Break 1:07, and you are in the top 10%.
Toulouse vs Beijing: Two Very Different Races
The two events show a clear performance gap:
| Metric | Toulouse | Beijing |
|---|---|---|
| Finishers | 10,418 | 2,061 |
| Average Finish | 1:23:47 | 1:33:56 |
| Median Finish | 1:21:28 | 1:30:31 |
Toulouse finishers were over 10 minutes faster on average. Several factors likely contribute: Toulouse drew a larger and more experienced European field, HYROX is more established in France, and the Beijing event attracted many first-time racers from a newer HYROX market.
This is a pattern we see across the global circuit — European events tend to produce faster fields, while events in newer markets (Asia, Latin America) show more variation as the community grows.
Division Breakdown: Pro, Open, and Doubles
Season 8 offers four main divisions. Here is how they compare:
| Division | Athletes | Average Time | Median Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pro Doubles | 772 | 1:10:47 | 1:08:53 |
| Doubles | 6,111 | 1:22:26 | 1:20:53 |
| Pro | 880 | 1:26:44 | 1:23:28 |
| Open | 4,716 | 1:31:31 | 1:28:08 |
Doubles is by far the most popular division, accounting for nearly half of all finishers. Pro Doubles athletes are the fastest overall at 1:08:53 median — splitting the workload between two athletes makes a significant difference.
The gap between Pro and Open is smaller than you might expect (about 5 minutes median). This suggests that many strong athletes are racing in the Open division rather than Pro, likely because Pro divisions require qualification or attract a more competitive field that pushes everyone harder.
The Station Story: What Takes the Most Time
Not all stations are equal. Here is how the 8 workout stations rank by average completion time:
| Rank | Station | Avg Time | 10th-90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wall Balls (100 reps) | 5:59 | 3:49 - 9:04 |
| 2 | Sled Pull | 4:53 | 3:18 - 6:56 |
| 3 | Rowing (1,000m) | 4:49 | 4:12 - 5:30 |
| 4 | Sandbag Lunges | 4:43 | 3:13 - 6:36 |
| 5 | Burpee Broad Jump | 4:34 | 2:38 - 7:01 |
| 6 | SkiErg (1,000m) | 4:32 | 3:55 - 5:14 |
| 7 | Sled Push | 2:43 | 1:47 - 3:56 |
| 8 | Farmers Carry | 2:03 | 1:30 - 2:45 |
Three trends stand out:
1. Wall Balls remain the great equalizer. With a 5+ minute spread between fast and slow athletes, Wall Balls create the biggest performance gaps of any station. The average of nearly 6 minutes means most athletes are breaking these into multiple sets. Training unbroken or minimal-break Wall Ball sets would be the single biggest station improvement most athletes can make.
2. Rowing and SkiErg have the tightest spreads. The difference between a good and great SkiErg or Row is about 1 minute. These are "cardio ceiling" stations — your aerobic engine determines your time, and there is less room for technique improvement compared to skill-based stations.
3. Sled Push is faster than you think. At 2:43 average, the Sled Push is the second-fastest station despite being feared by many beginners. Proper technique (low body angle, driving through the legs) makes a big difference. Check our Sled Push improvement guide for specific tips.
The Running Fade Is Real — and Bigger Than Ever
Running accounts for 52% of total race time. But the data reveals a dramatic and consistent slowdown pattern:
| Run | Avg Time | Pace (min/km) |
|---|---|---|
| Run 1 | 4:20 | 4:20 |
| Run 2 | 5:22 | 5:22 |
| Run 3 | 5:41 | 5:41 |
| Run 4 | 5:37 | 5:37 |
| Run 5 | 5:50 | 5:50 |
| Run 6 | 5:41 | 5:41 |
| Run 7 | 5:45 | 5:45 |
| Run 8 | 6:13 | 6:13 |
The average athlete's last kilometer is 1:53 slower than their first. That is a 44% slowdown.
The biggest single drop is from Run 1 to Run 2 — over a minute — which happens after the SkiErg. This strongly suggests that athletes start Run 1 too fast, then hit reality after the first station drains their legs and lungs.
Runs 3 through 7 are remarkably stable (all within a 13-second range), suggesting that athletes find a sustainable pace in the middle of the race. Then Run 8 drops off again as fatigue peaks after Sandbag Lunges.
What this means for your training: Practice running under fatigue. The ability to maintain pace after stations is what separates fast finishers from the rest. For specific running strategies, read our HYROX running strategy guide.
If you want a training plan built around run-station-run intervals, our 12-Week HYROX Training Program includes these sessions three times per week. Our 10-Week Running Program ($19.99) also targets this with dedicated run-station-run combos and zone-based pacing.
Age Group Trends: 30-Somethings Dominate
Season 8 data shows clear age-related performance patterns:
| Age Group | Athletes | Avg Time | Median Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-29 | 3,373 | 1:23:38 | 1:21:11 |
| 30-34 | 3,097 | 1:23:46 | 1:20:56 |
| 35-39 | 2,264 | 1:25:37 | 1:23:05 |
| 16-24 | 1,646 | 1:25:56 | 1:23:10 |
| 40-44 | 1,162 | 1:28:12 | 1:24:47 |
| 45-49 | 527 | 1:30:58 | 1:27:20 |
| 50-54 | 262 | 1:33:52 | 1:30:22 |
| 55-59 | 90 | 1:34:41 | 1:33:15 |
| 60-64 | 37 | 1:43:50 | 1:42:04 |
The 25-34 bracket is peak HYROX performance, with the fastest median times. But the 30-34 group edges out the 25-29 group by 15 seconds at the median — experience and strength maturity likely outweigh any slight aerobic decline.
Interestingly, the 16-24 group is slower than the 35-39 group at the median. Younger athletes tend to have strong cardio but lack the strength endurance that HYROX demands. This is a hybrid sport, and pure running fitness is not enough.
The 40+ age groups show a gradual slowdown of about 3-4 minutes per decade, which is remarkably consistent and demonstrates that HYROX is an excellent competitive sport for masters athletes.
For detailed age group benchmarks, see our complete age group analysis.
The Gender Split: Closing or Widening?
Season 8 data shows a consistent gender gap, but the details are telling:
| Metric | Men | Women | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Finish | 1:22:02 | 1:32:14 | 10:12 |
| Running Time | 41:17 | 48:15 | 6:58 |
| Station Time | 34:14 | 36:42 | 2:28 |
| RoxZone Time | 6:31 | 7:22 | 0:51 |
The station gap (2:28) is remarkably small compared to the running gap (6:58). Women are nearly as fast as men at the workout stations, where technique and muscular endurance matter more than raw power. The running gap — driven by physiological differences in VO2max and stride length — is harder to close but responds well to structured training.
The Sled Push shows the smallest gender gap of any station (average 2:54 men vs 2:37 women — only 17 seconds). Farmers Carry is similarly close at 11 seconds apart.
What This Means for Your Training
The Season 8 data points to five clear priorities:
-
Train Wall Balls. The biggest time variance of any station. If you can do 100 unbroken or in 2 sets, you will gain minutes on most of the field.
-
Run under fatigue. The 1:53 fade from Run 1 to Run 8 is where minutes are lost. Build run-station-run intervals into your weekly training.
-
Do not neglect transitions. At nearly 8% of total race time, RoxZone efficiency is free speed. Our RoxZone analysis breaks down exactly how.
-
Start conservatively. The data is clear — athletes who go out fast on Run 1 pay for it later. Use our pacing calculator to set realistic targets.
-
Train your weaknesses, not your strengths. If you are a runner, prioritize stations. If you are a CrossFitter, add more running volume. HYROX rewards the complete hybrid athlete.
For a structured approach to all of these priorities, our 12-Week HYROX Training Program combines running, station work, and race simulation into a complete plan. If running is your primary focus, the 10-Week Running Program ($19.99) targets exactly that with polarized training and HYROX-specific drills.
Looking Ahead
Season 8 is shaping up to be the biggest HYROX season yet, with 68 events worldwide and growing participation in Asia and the Americas. As the sport matures, we expect average times to continue dropping as athletes train more specifically for the HYROX format.
We will continue analyzing results as more Season 8 events are completed. Follow our newsletter for updated data and analysis throughout the season.
Related Articles:
- What is a Good HYROX Time? — Benchmark your finish time
- How to Improve Your HYROX Time — Actionable tips from the same data
- Target Split Times by Finish Goal — Plan your splits
- HYROX Doubles Strategy Guide — Strategy for the most popular division
Try It Yourself: Interactive Race Analyzer — Compare your splits against 700,000+ real race results