Never heard of HYROX? Completely understandable.

First developed in Europe about eight years ago, this multi-faceted test of overall fitness is only just making in-roads in Canada.Still, the first ever hosting of the event in Vancouver last month would manage to assemble some 2500 or so participants, with homelands ranging from Australia, Ireland, France, Cuba, Germany, China, North Korea, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Kazakhstan, Colombia, Czechia and a few others, all supplementing the main contingent from Canada and the United States.

And for as much as getting in on the ground floor certainly helps with one’s overall competitiveness in the field, it was nice to see a Sudbury duo excel, both on an individual basis and as a doubles team.

Tim Tindall (solo – 16th of 1427; 4th of 250 in 25-29 age bracket) and Kelly Thompson (solo – 40th; 9th in same age bracket as his partner) combined to hit the podium in the Sunday event, third among the 581 men’s doubles team and second in their age category.

Displaying some similarities with CrossFit competitions, HYROX merges elements of cardio fitness (competitors must complete eight one km laps) as well as core strength (between each lap are challenges that include Sled Push/Pull, Sandbag Lunges, Ski and Rowing Erg and such).

Where every single CrossFit race format and stations differs from the next, HYROX opted to develop one standard consistent approach that is utilized right across the globe.

A 29 year-old graduate of Lockerby Composite who excelled in nordic ski in his youth (a pair of silver medals at Eastern Nationals as a teen) but also flirted consistently with cross-country running and biking and pretty much any athletic test one could throw his way, Tindall latched on to this new offering last year, Vancouver representing his first ever race (with Ottawa set for this May).

“I just got excited about competing again,” said Tindall, who was able to secure a partnership with Thompson because the latter, who has now obtained his pro card in Half-Ironman racing, is in the middle of his off-season training – with plenty of cross-over benefits present in this new undertaking.

In time, increased participation will inevitably raise the bar for the likes of Tindall, though breaking into a new age bracket is always exciting when it comes to any sport competition that extends well into adulthood.

“It’s a new enough sport that I can progress pretty quickly,” acknowledged Tindall. “Getting in on it close to the ground floor is super exciting. The attraction for me is trying to be exceptional at something again – and having a goal that you have to work for.”

Because the Tindall – Thompson pairing came together only two months or so before the December gathering in British Columbia, training was quite condensed, with both young men understanding where a good percentage of their efforts were likely to be directed.

“We’re talking about two different energy systems for the body,” said Tindall. “Eight kilometres of running is on the endurance side – you can’t sprint that – and then you have the muscular endurance events. Two days a week were dedicated to learning to run on fatigued legs, doing the heaviest of the stations and then transitioning to running.”

That would pay dividends.

For as much as Tindall gives way to Thompson when it comes to pure distance running ability, their team recorded the fastest average lap times in the entire field, with a format that requires both teammates to remain within a few metres of one another at every stage of their laps.

“Kelly is an incredible runner but did not have quite as much experience on the strength stations,” said Tindall. “I was able to help out on the heavier stations.”

Hosted at the Vancouver Convention Centre, HYROX 2025 attracted twice as many spectators as participants, unveiling a competitive landscape that allows fans to get quite close to the action, especially by comparison to most endurance races.

(speaking of which and as an aside, part of the pre-event preparation for Tindall included participating in the Sudbury Backyard Ultra for the very first time in October, covering 16 laps / 16 hours and more than 100 kms)

Tindall will race with a different partner in Ottawa, focusing heavily on improving his times in the solo grouping. Time will tell to what extend HYROX will garner mass popularity – or not – but at this point in time anyways, Tim Tindall is all in.

“It’s newer and trendy and people are excited about it.