一个新的运动比赛，最近全世界都在做

Recently, there's a new sports race in the world called HYROX.

H-Y-R-O-X, it's an English name.

This race has been extremely popular lately.

Lots of young people want to do it.

What is HYROX?

Let me first tell you the rules.

You run one kilometer.

After running, you do one movement.

Then, you run another kilometer.

And do another movement.

In total you run eight times.

And do eight movements.

Think about it:

one kilometer plus one movement

is one set.

You do eight sets total.

Sounds tough.

So what are these eight movements?

All common movements you find in a gym.

For example: pushing a very heavy thing called a "sled."

For example: pulling that thing back.

For example: walking while carrying two very heavy things.

For example: throwing a big ball at a wall.

And several other movements.

All not too hard.

Ordinary people can do them all.

So why is this race so popular?

I think there are three reasons.

First, it's simple.

You don't have to learn many new movements.

If you can run and can move, you can join.

Second, every race is the same.

How far you run, what movements you do,

are all fixed.

So you can prepare well.

You can practice for a year,

then see if you've made progress.

Third, the ending is very interesting.

After running,

there's a big "finish line."

Many people are there taking your photo.

You finish, you stand at the finish line, and raise your hands.

Your friends take your photo.

You also post it online.

So, this race isn't just exercise.

It's also socializing, and taking photos.

Now some numbers.

HYROX started in 2017.

The country it started in is Germany.

Now, there are about a hundred races a year worldwide.

In over thirty countries.

And over eighty cities.

The number of people doing this race

is over one million a year.

And growing.

The most interesting part is Asia.

Asia's headcount has been growing the fastest recently.

More than double the past.

The Bangkok race in Thailand,

four thousand five hundred tickets,

ticket sales took only eighteen hours,

and were all sold out.

Very fast.

Singapore also has races.

The first race had three thousand five hundred people.

The US is the same.

US racers last year

were three times the year before.

Yes, three times.

So who are the people doing this race?

There's one number that's very interesting.

Seventy percent of people are first-timers.

That is to say,

most people are newcomers.

They haven't done this kind of race before.

There's also another thing.

The people doing it aren't only young people.

Lots are in their thirties.

Plenty are in their forties too.

More and more women are doing it as well.

So this race really welcomes new people.

You don't have to be very good.

As long as you practice a bit and prepare, you can go.

There's another reason HYROX is so popular.

It has to do with its gyms.

Now, there are about five thousand gyms in the world,

all in partnership with HYROX.

That is to say,

when you go to a gym near your home,

you can probably practice HYROX.

You don't have to go somewhere far.

So, HYROX isn't something hard to find.

It's right near your home.

There's also another story, quite interesting.

HYROX started in 2017.

At the beginning, not many people knew it.

Two Germans started this race.

One was an Olympic field hockey champion.

The other was a veteran of organizing sports events.

Their idea was very simple.

They wanted to make a race that ordinary people could finish.

Not for very strong athletes.

For office workers, for moms, for grandpas, for everyone.

The result: a few years later,

their idea actually came true.

Now over one million people join every year.

So, in the end let's think about it.

Why is HYROX so popular?

Because it's simple.

Because it has rules.

Because it has a finish line.

Because it welcomes newcomers.

Because it has many gyms.

And because, after finishing, you can take photos and tell friends:

"I finished HYROX today."

For many people, this is a new kind of achievement.

A new kind of joy.

So if you've been wanting to find a new sport lately,

and want to meet new friends,

and want to take a special photo,

you should look into HYROX.

Maybe the next person to stand at the finish line

will be you.