Doubles guide
First HYROX: doubles or solo?
It is the question every beginner asks. For most people, doubles is the friendlier first race. Here is why, and what it costs you.
What stays the same
In doubles you still run all eight kilometers, together with your partner. The stations, the order and the loads in your division are the same as in singles. Only the station work is shared between the two of you.
What you gain
- About half the station work: you choose who does what, so each of you arrives at the runs fresher.
- Someone to pace with: it is much harder to start too fast or fade alone when someone runs next to you.
- Less pressure: a first race is about learning the format. Doing that as a pair makes the bad moments shorter and the good ones louder.
- A reason to train: a partner who is counting on you is the best training plan there is.
What you give up
- A time that is only yours: the clock stops for the pair. If you want to know what you can do alone, singles answers that.
- Full control: you run at the pace of the slower partner on the day, and the split has to work for both of you.
- Simplicity: two schedules, two training plans, two people who both have to be fit and healthy on race day.
If your partner drops out
It happens: injury, work, life. Partner changes go through HYROX, not through anyone else. On the HYROX US site, for example, a doubles ticket with the Flex or Lite Flex add-on allows one partner name change, and a ticket without it cannot be changed or refunded. Rules differ by event, so check the FAQ of yours, and decide before you buy whether the add-on is worth it.
Our take
For a first HYROX, doubles is the lower-risk entry: you learn the stations, the transitions and the pacing with half the load. The only real problem is finding the right partner. That is what ROXMATCH is for: athletes racing the same event, in your division, with a goal time close to yours.
Questions athletes ask
Is doubles easier than singles?
Physically, yes: you both run 8 km, but you share the station work. Mentally, it adds a partner you have to plan and race with.
Should my first HYROX be doubles?
For most beginners, yes. It is the friendlier way to learn the format. If you want a time that is only yours, start with singles.
Do both partners run the full 8 km in doubles?
Yes. You run every kilometer together. Only the stations are split.
What if my doubles partner gets injured?
Partner changes go through HYROX. On many events, a ticket with the Flex or Lite Flex add-on allows one partner name change. Check your event's FAQ.