How ATHX Games works
ATHX Games is a hybrid fitness competition that tests strength, endurance and conditioning in one session. You move through six zones in about two and a half hours: a warm-up, a 20-minute strength test, a refuel break, a 22-minute run and row, a recovery break and a final circuit called MetCon X. Three of the zones are scored.
- The event
- 6 zones, about 2.5 hours
- Scored
- Strength, Endurance, MetCon X
- Categories
- ATHX, Pro, Lite (pairs)
- Enter as
- Individual or pair
Walk the arena with Rep
Pick any spot on the floor and Rep runs over to show you what happens there.
Warm-up
Warm-up
Thirty minutes to get ready on the warm-up floor before you're called into the first test.
- Not scored, but it's on the schedule, so plan how you'll use it.
ATHX Games step by step
The 2026 format, in race order.
1. Warm-up
30 minThirty minutes to get ready on the warm-up floor before you're called into the first test.
- Not scored, but it's on the schedule, so plan how you'll use it.
2. Strength
20 minScoredThree lifts in three time windows: a 1-rep max strict press (0–6 min), a 3-rep max back squat (6–12 min) and a 5-rep max deadlift (12–20 min).
- Score: the heaviest successful set of each lift, added together.
- Strict press: no dip or leg drive. Back squat: hip crease below the knee; re-racking the bar resets the set.
- Deadlift: conventional stance only, no more than 5 seconds between reps, and letting go of the bar resets the count.
- Belts, sleeves and wrist wraps are allowed; straps, grips and knee wraps are not.
3. Refuel
10 minA short break to drink and eat something before the endurance test.
- Not scored.
4. Endurance
22 minScoredRun and row, swapping between them at a set distance, for 22 minutes. Your score is the total distance covered.
- Individuals start on the run and swap every 750 m (ATHX) or 1 km (Pro).
- Pairs: one partner runs with a baton while the other rows, and they swap each time the runner comes back.
- Letting go of the erg handles can cost a 30-second penalty.
5. Recovery
30 minThirty minutes to recover before the last test, with recovery equipment in the zone.
- Not scored.
6. MetCon X
25 min capScoredThe finale, for time: SkiErg 45/30 cal, 30 single-arm dumbbell ground-to-overheads, a 30 m sandbag carry, 30 box jump-overs, 30 m of dumbbell walking lunges, 30 m of burpee broad jumps, then the SkiErg again.
- Score: your time, with a 25-minute cap.
- Pairs do 60 of everything (60 m on the carries and jumps, 60 cal on the ski) and split it as they like, except the sandbag carry: 30 m each.
- Pro uses two dumbbells for the ground-to-overheads and holds them in the front rack for the lunges.
- Burpee broad jumps run in lanes marked on the floor.
ATHX Games weights by division
| Stop | ATHX women | ATHX men | Pro women | Pro men |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endurance22 min | Swap every 750 m | Swap every 750 m | Swap every 1 km | Swap every 1 km |
| MetCon X25 min cap | DB 12.5 kg (28 lb), sandbag 30 kg (66 lb), 20 in box | DB 20 kg (44 lb), sandbag 50 kg (110 lb), 24 in box | 2 DBs 15 kg (33 lb), sandbag 40 kg (88 lb), 24 in box | 2 DBs 22.5 kg (50 lb), sandbag 70 kg (154 lb), 30 in box |
How scoring works
Only three zones are scored: Strength (total kilos), Endurance (total metres) and MetCon X (time). Warm-up, Refuel and Recovery are part of the schedule but don't change your result.
The leaderboard combines your results from all three, so a strong lifter and a strong engine both have a way to the top. ATHX doesn't publish the exact formula or tiebreak on its site, so check the event rules if you're racing for a place.
Categories and pairs
ATHX is the standard category. Pro uses heavier dumbbells and sandbags, higher boxes and longer endurance legs. Lite is for pairs only and is lighter again: 15/7.5 kg (33/17 lb) dumbbells, a 40/20 kg (88/44 lb) sandbag, box step-overs and bodyweight lunges.
Pairs can be men, women or mixed. Mixed pairs use the women's box height and lunge dumbbells. There are also age groups from 35–39 upward.
Qualifying for the ATHX Finals
Each event sends its top four in every ATHX and Pro category (individual men and women, and men's, women's and mixed pairs) to the season final, with separate places for age groups. Qualifiers have seven days to accept before the place rolls down.
The 2026 ATHX Finals are in Lisbon from 27 to 29 November.
ATHX Games vs HYROX
HYROX is one continuous race: eight 1 km runs, each followed by a station, all for time. ATHX Games splits the day into separate tests with breaks in between, and adds max-effort strength lifting, which HYROX doesn't have.
Questions people ask
What is ATHX Games?
A hybrid fitness competition that tests strength, endurance and conditioning in one session of about two and a half hours, split into six zones. Three of them are scored: Strength, Endurance and MetCon X.
What are the ATHX Games zones?
Warm-up (30 min), Strength (20 min), Refuel (10 min), Endurance (30 min zone, 22-minute workout), Recovery (30 min) and MetCon X (25-minute cap) in the 2026 season.
What lifts are in the ATHX strength test?
A 1-rep max strict press in the first 6 minutes, a 3-rep max back squat from 6 to 12 minutes and a 5-rep max deadlift from 12 to 20 minutes. Your score is the three heaviest successful sets added together.
What is in ATHX MetCon X?
For time with a 25-minute cap: SkiErg 45/30 calories, 30 single-arm dumbbell ground-to-overheads, a 30 m sandbag carry, 30 box jump-overs, 30 m of dumbbell walking lunges, 30 m of burpee broad jumps, then SkiErg 45/30 calories again.
Can I do ATHX Games with a partner?
Yes. Pairs can be men, women or mixed and split the work: in Endurance one runs while the other rows, and in MetCon X the reps are shared, except the sandbag carry, which each partner does.
What is the difference between ATHX Games and HYROX?
HYROX is a single race of runs and stations scored on total time. ATHX Games is three separate scored tests with breaks between them, and it includes heavy strength lifts.
Race your friends before race day
Make a workout from any of these stations, share the link, and everyone posts a time to the same leaderboard. No app needed.
Create a challenge