ATHX is only three years old and has a unique approach to growth, and to programming. Unlike DEKA, they’re not interested in organic, grass-roots growth. Unlike almost all new fitness races, they’re not interested in using smaller venues at first to gain momentum. And unlike Hyrox, they’re not afraid to completely burn both lifters AND runners. And uniquely also they have a totally set format…which changes every year.
Yesterday they launched their 2027 programming and it hurts just looking at it. For the individuals, you have a 2.5 hour contest with the following elements:
30 minute warmup
- STRENGTH (20 minutes)
- 1RM shoulder to overhead (0-5min)
- 2RM back squat (5-10 min)
- 3RM deadlift, twice (10-15 min)
- Score: total weight of all three components added together, taking the average of the two deadlift weights as a single score
10 minute break
- ENDURANCE (24 minute time cap)
- Score: total ski distance
30 minute break
- METCON-X (25 minute time cap)
- 30DB ground to overhead (M:20kg/F:12.5kg)
- 30DB bench press (M:20kg/F:12.5kg)
- 30 sandbag squats (M:50kg/F:30kg)
- 30m sandbag carry (M:50kg/F:30kg)
- 30 burpees over soft bench
This is hardly a revolutionary departure from this year’s programming, which leads with strict press, back squats and deadlift – the big difference there is going from this year’s 1, 3 and 5RM to 1, 2 and 3 for an even bigger pure strength emphasis. In other areas they’re losing the row and burpee broad jumps, replacing with more ski and burpees over a bench. So they’re variations on a theme, which is to be expected. This isn’t CrossFit, there’s no unpredictability, relatively little skill, and there’s a lot of aerobic work.
It also isn’t Xenom, which is a two day event requiring massive money, time and training commitment in its own right because of the CrossFit-style skill requirements.
But crucially it’s also long way from Hyrox. All those distance runners that saw the success of fellow-athletes in crossing over are unlikely to be tempted by a 1RM shoulder to overhead.
It looks, rather, like the kind of event that will have the less bulky CrossFitters tempted to push themselves aerobically, and the more bulky Hyroxers relieved to find something where pure strength pays off.
Perhaps just as importantly, it’s not going anywhere. The race is co-branded with Adidas and they’ve invested in a serious slate of venues for 2027, such as the Miami Beach Convention Centre, NEC Birmingham, NRG Park Houston and IFEMA in Madrid.
So for those who want the big event buzz, a low skill barrier to entry, and to have their endurance and strength abilities be tested to the max, ATHX may be the place to be.
