When I set out to complete a HYROX with just four months of training and no prior running experience, I encountered a significant challenge.

Coming from a hypertrophy and strength-focused background, Hyrox flipped the script on my non-existent cardio training. But even now, when I talk to people interested in giving it a shot, one of the first things I hear is, “I’m not strong enough to do Hyrox,” – a notion that needs to be dispelled.

Just in case you’re not familiar with what Hyrox entails, it’s eight one-kilometre runs combined with a strength/functional fitness station, so 16 stations in total. Don’t get me wrong, strength is an important piece to the Hyrox puzzle, but it doesn’t make up the entire thing. In fact, there are only really three stations that require a decent level of strength: the sled push, sled pull, and wall balls.

So, why do people keep assuming you need to be ridiculously strong to take on the race? Perhaps it’s because its top athletes have impressive physiques. Or maybe it’s because of the notoriously stiff carpet that makes the sleds feel like trying to move a baby elephant. Although, I don’t think smashing through these at top speeds guarantees an advantage.

The most important aspect of Hyrox, in my opinion, is running. Being a decent runner will carry you further than strength will. And when I asked Hyrox World Champion, Jake Dearden, about his views on the subject, he seemed to agree.

“Running is going to be your most important thing. It’s over 50% of the race, and a couple of the Hyrox exercises don’t require strength, so running is more important. You can ski, row, and burpee broad jump without any strength. If you’re not strong enough, you can’t push or pull that sled – but it’s a fine balance.”

You also only have to look at the background of some of the sports’ top athletes to see how much of an edge being a good runner gives you. Before even discovering Hyrox, Jake was running ultramarathons, Lauren Weeks swam and did CrossFit (and told Concept2 she kept running in her training), while upcoming younger athletes, like Lucy Proctor, loved cross-country running. Ex-bodybuilder, Graham Halliday, is probably the exception here, but even he’s admitted to having to work hard at his running.

This article highlights the athletes’ backgrounds, and what stands out is that running – more specifically endurance – seems to be the key to success.

Does that mean if you’re not a strong runner, that you shouldn’t give Hyrox a go either? Absolutely not. I most definitely wasn’t. But, I really do wish people would stop putting strength on such a high pedestal and instantly assume they’re not cut out for it.