On 7 March 2026, more than 40 athletes took on Khunpon Martial Arts' first HYROX simulation in Phuket. Setting off in staggered heats, men and women tackled the full sequence as solo athletes and doubles pairs, with Open and Pro weight options. Ahead lay eight kilometres of running, eight workout stations and a finish that had to be earned through 100 wall balls.
For some, it was a rehearsal for HYROX Bangkok later that month. For others, the goal was to experience the entire format for the first time. Our first simulation brought those ambitions together in one day, with a DJ, refreshments and an ice bath adding to the occasion around the gym.
From the opening run to the final station
"Full" mattered. At Khunpon, athletes followed the complete run-and-station sequence, beginning with a 1 km run and continuing through all eight stations. It gave participants the chance to experience how each part affected the next.
The sequence below follows HYROX's official format for the 2025/26 season, which covered March 2026. Each station comes after its own 1 km run:
- 1 km run, then 1,000 m SkiErg
- 1 km run, then 50 m sled push
- 1 km run, then 50 m sled pull
- 1 km run, then 80 m burpee broad jumps
- 1 km run, then 1,000 m row
- 1 km run, then 200 m farmers carry
- 1 km run, then 100 m sandbag lunges
- 1 km run, then 100 wall balls
At the opening SkiErg, most of the day's work was still ahead. After the sled stations came more running; after the lunges, one final kilometre before wall balls. That repeated change of task was central to the experience at Khunpon.
This was a gym simulation, not an official HYROX race. It offered a full-format training test, but any performances from the day were not official HYROX results.
One course, different ways to take it on
Athletes assembled for their respective heats rather than starting together in one mass start. The staggered departures gave the day its structure, with each heat beginning the same progression from the first run towards the final station.
Khunpon welcomed men and women taking part individually and in doubles, with both Open and Pro weight options. In the official format, Open uses the standard division loads; Pro increases the loads at weighted stations. The running distance stays the same.
For anyone weighing up HYROX solo vs doubles, the key distinction is who does the work. Solo athletes complete every run and station themselves. In doubles, both partners run all eight kilometres together and share the station workload, taking turns under the station rules. A pair does not divide the running into four kilometres each.
Those options brought different challenges to the same Khunpon event: managing an individual effort or coordinating it with a teammate.
A rehearsal for Bangkok, or a first full finish
For athletes preparing for HYROX Bangkok, the timing gave the simulation a clear purpose. Bangkok's event took place on 20 to 22 March 2026, roughly two weeks after our simulation.
Khunpon's event offered a chance to test a realistic pace across the whole format. A pace that feels comfortable on an ordinary run may feel different after sled work or burpee broad jumps. HYROX's own preparation guidance recommends practising running after functional exercises and warns against spending too much effort in the opening kilometre and SkiErg.
Other participants came with a different question: could they complete the full challenge? For those athletes, the simulation was an opportunity to move beyond practising separate exercises and experience how the whole event fits together.
Both reasons belonged at Khunpon. A first attempt at the full format and a rehearsal for an upcoming race each gave the day a meaningful target.
What the full sequence can teach you
A simulation can help turn a broad training goal into specific questions. These are useful things to examine, rather than measured findings from our March event.
Can you repeat your effort? Compare how manageable the opening run feels with the later kilometres. The useful question is whether your early choices leave you able to keep working across the entire sequence.
What happens between tasks? Moving from running to equipment, then back into a run, is part of the challenge. A simulation gives you an opportunity to notice hesitation, practise your setup and understand where you need a clearer plan.
Does your station strategy suit you? For doubles, that might mean discussing when to change partners and how to communicate a switch. For a solo athlete, it might mean testing manageable sets instead of committing to an opening effort that is difficult to sustain.
At Khunpon, the final test was 100 wall balls. Reaching them after the preceding runs and stations made their position in the sequence significant. For a future attempt, consider how you will organise your sets and maintain the required technique when the finish is close.
More than the work on the course
The day also had space for the community around the effort. A DJ provided the soundtrack, with refreshments and an ice bath available alongside the simulation. The occasion extended beyond the run-and-station sequence itself.
First-timers and athletes preparing for Bangkok shared the same venue and the same final challenge. Their reasons for starting differed, but the event gave them a common experience at Khunpon.
We saw immediate interest in another simulation, and new members joined Khunpon afterwards. That response gave our first event a lasting value: people wanted to keep training here and take part again. Simulation II followed in August.
Starting your HYROX training in Phuket
Do you need previous HYROX experience? Our first simulation included people attempting the full format for the first time. Previous race experience is therefore not the starting point for everyone, although a full simulation remains a substantial physical challenge. Before a future event, speak to our team about your training background and the available participation options.
How can you prepare? Khunpon is an Official HYROX Training Club in Phuket. Contact us to discuss your goal and the appropriate starting sessions. Preparation should include running, strength work and learning the station movements; HYROX also recommends becoming familiar with movement standards and allowing for rest, food and hydration.
Our first simulation began with more than 40 athletes taking on a new event at Khunpon. It ended with interest in doing it again. Whether your goal is your first full simulation or preparation for a future race, start your HYROX training with us at Khunpon Martial Arts, Phuket, Thailand.
Explore HYROX training at Khunpon, check the class schedule or contact the team about current training options, and follow Khunpon's official channels for future simulation announcements.
A short glossary
- Simulation: a training event that recreates the race format; it does not produce official HYROX race results.
- Heat: a group of participants assigned a particular start time.
- Open: the standard loading option for the relevant division.
- Pro: a division using heavier loads at weighted stations than the corresponding Open division.
- Doubles: a two-person format in which partners run together and share station work.
