CROSS-TRAINING
PUMA Seals Global Partnership with HYROX
Footwear is the most important part of your HYROX gear , as you need a pair of shoes that are great for running , grippy for the sleds , and stable enough for the sandbag lunges and wallballs . For this reason , PUMA recently announced a worldwide partnership with HYROX , signing on as the official apparel and footwear partner for all HYROX races from 2024 to 2027 .
PUMA has been a local partner to HYROX since the first ever race Hamburg in 2018 , and the global partnership will see PUMA develop a full range of HYROX apparel , utilising its innovative Cloudspun technology that features dryCELL moisture-wicking properties . PUMA will also release bespoke HYROX colourways of existing footwear models , including the award-winning Velocity NITRO 3 , Deviate NITRO 3 and Deviate NITRO Elite 3 . This gear is designed to enhance HYROX competitor performance throughout one of the most wellrounded tests of fitness on earth .
Commenting on the announcement , PUMA CEO Arne Freundt says , “ Fitness has found a new dimension in HYROX , and we are delighted to start the next chapter
From Running to HYROX
With running comprising 50 % of the race stations , the sport of HYROX is accessible to runners with an addition of functional training , which would aid their running in terms of speed , endurance and strength . This means that it is actually easier for runners to make the transition into HYROX , compared to non-runners , and the sport is attracting a significant number of runners looking for new fitness and competition goals . HYROX is perfect for the runner that wants to try fitness racing , with the most accessibility , least barriers to entry , and strongest bias towards a strong runner .
Of course , pacing of the race is critical , as is the ability to run on compromised legs , and athletes need to build an ‘ engine ’ that can handle both the running and functional fitness elements of HYROX . To help you achieve this , Modern Athlete magazine will be running a monthly feature , starting in our July edition , with HYROX-specific training programmes developed by HYROX athlete and brand ambassador Cameron Cleaver . in the PUMA and HYROX story , bringing the exciting sport of fitness racing to an even broader audience . As the HYROX community grows , we will continue to work in collaboration to identify innovative ways to engage consumers and revolutionise the fitness experience for competitors across the globe .“
HYROX Founder and CEO , Christian Toetzke , adds , “ This is the natural partnership for HYROX . PUMA has been on this journey with us since the start , and we are delighted that a brand with performance at its heart , across multiple sporting disciplines , will continue to innovate and support us as we build the global sport of fitness racing . We believe this style of training and competition is the optimal solution for the global training community , and PUMA will be a fantastic partner to help us continue to spread and amplify that message over the coming years .”
PUMA will also support key athletes in the HYROX Elite 15 – the top tier of HYROX fitness racing – who will exclusively wear PUMA ’ s new Deviate NITRO 3 running shoe throughout the season .
HYROX Stats and Facts
• The current World Record-holders in HYROX are Hunter McIntyre from the USA , with a blistering time of 53 minutes 22 seconds for the Men ’ s Pro Division , and Lauren Weeks , also from the USA , with the Woman ’ s Pro Division best time of 58:03 .
• 58 % of global participants are men , 42 % are women .
• 40 % of global participants are parents .
• The average age of participants is 34 .
• There are now more than 70 races in more than 20 countries – and that number is growing each year .
• Each race has an average competitor count of approximately 2100 , with spectators numbering on average 1500 per event .
• Global partners of HYROX are PUMA for merchandise and footwear , Red Bull as energy drink partner , and the equipment used is from Centr Fitness .
For more info on HYROX in South Africa , go to www . hyroxsa . com , or check out the global HYROX website at www . hyrox . com .
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