REF-1519 · Bouche et al., 2026 · HAL open archive — preprint, version 1, deposited 20 October 2026; the manuscript's first page states peer review and acceptance by Movement & Sport Sciences – Science & Motricité on 16 May 2025; not verified
How much slower are HYROX times with age?
PREPRINT — not peer reviewed: at the 2023 Worlds, top-10 times were about 10% longer at 45-49 and about 30% longer at 55-59 than at 30-34, stations more than runs. One race.
Main caveat: PREPRINT — not peer reviewed by any record we could check. The manuscript's first page says it was accepted on 16 May 2025 and awaits a journal's move to a new…
Bouche, Hue and Lepers analysed the 2023 HYROX World Championships in Manchester: 763 finishers (433 men, 330 women), taking the top 10 in each of eight 5-year age groups from 18-24 to 55-59. Running was about half of time in both sexes, stations about 44% and Roxzone about 5%. The fastest groups were 30-34 (Table 2: men 1:02:34, women 1:08:37).
Total time did not differ significantly from one group to the next up to 45-49 by their first ANOVA, though their ratio analysis puts a 5.3% fall in men at 40-44; there is a marked step at 50-54 in men and women. Compared with 30-34, 55-59 men and women took 29.5% and 30.7% longer overall, 24.0% and 28.1% in running and 34.6% and 34.0% at stations.
SkiErg and row held up best; wall balls fell most. The authors conclude that athletes over 40 should favour strength training over running. Our reading: a useful snapshot and the only set of splits by age group, but one race and top 10 only.
The recommendation does not follow: nothing here tests training, men's station time did not differ significantly from one group to the next until 55-59 (women's stepped at 50-54), and the depth of field differs between age groups, so the top 10 of 13 older women are not as selected as the top 10 of 60 women aged 30-34.
Protocol
Data: public results of the 2023 HYROX World Championships, Manchester, 26 May 2023; no consent needed by the authors' statement. Season 5 results site.
Sample: n = 160 by design (top 10 × 8 age groups × 2 sexes, our arithmetic; the text does not print a total), from 763 finishers, 433 men and 330 women (men by group 43, 63, 87, 76, 58, 45, 35, 26; women 39, 51, 60, 62, 41, 36, 28, 13).
Repeated athletes: one race, so none.
Division: the methods list Pro loads (women 152 kg sled push, 103 kg pull, 2 × 24 kg, 20 kg, 6 kg; men 202, 153, 2 × 32, 30, 9 kg), and the limitations call it the Elite category; the division analysed is not stated plainly.
Course note: the first run is often shortened to about 800 m, by the authors.
Analysis: mean ± SD; ANOVA across age groups; performance as speed or wall-ball frequency; ratio to the best group's mean; two-factor repeated-measures ANOVA; Holm post hoc tests.
Funding and interests: none stated in the text read; no conflicts section found.
Key Results
Table 2 of the preprint (top 10 per age group, mean ± SD, min:s and h:min:s):
| Age group | Run time | Run share, % | Station time | Station share, % | Roxzone | Roxzone share, % | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men 18-24 | 33:17 ± 1:15 | 51.2 | 28:21 ± 0:45 | 43.6 | 3:27 ± 0:26 | 5.2 | 1:05:01 ± 01:46 |
| Men 25-29 | 32:59 ± 1:43 | 51.8 | 27:34 ± 1:20 | 43.3 | 3:09 ± 0:26 | 4.8 | 1:03:38 ± 01:39 |
| Men 30-34 | 32:16 ± 1:12 | 51.6 | 27:17 ± 1:40 | 43.6 | 3:06 ± 0:19 | 4.8 | 1:02:34 ± 01:29 |
| Men 35-39 | 32:55 ± 1:35 | 51.6 | 27:46 ± 1:25 | 43.5 | 3:15 ± 0:16 | 5.0 | 1:03:51 ± 01:06 |
| Men 40-44 | 33:50 ± 1:09 | 50.8 | 29:33 ± 0:55 | 44.3 | 3:21 ± 0:18 | 4.9 | 1:06:40 ± 01:25 |
| Men 45-49 | 34:10 ± 1:46 | 49.5 | 31:11 ± 2:19 | 45.1 | 3:46 ± 0:47 | 5.4 | 1:09:03 ± 03:23 |
| Men 50-54 | 36:28 ± 1:46 | 49.8 | 32:52 ± 1:46 | 44.9 | 3:56 ± 0:26 | 5.3 | 1:13:12 ± 02:35 |
| Men 55-59 | 40:00 ± 2:21 | 49.4 | 36:44 ± 2:17 | 45.3 | 4:22 ± 0:41 | 5.3 | 1:21:01 ± 03:50 |
| Women 18-24 | 38:10 ± 1:56 | 51.5 | 31:30 ± 1:40 | 42.5 | 4:31 ± 1:26 | 6.1 | 1:14:07 ± 02:40 |
| Women 25-29 | 37:46 ± 1:43 | 52.1 | 30:53 ± 1:28 | 42.6 | 3:52 ± 0:36 | 5.3 | 1:12:27 ± 02:18 |
| Women 30-34 | 35:31 ± 1:26 | 51.8 | 29:48 ± 1:43 | 43.4 | 3:23 ± 0:14 | 4.9 | 1:08:37 ± 02:30 |
| Women 35-39 | 37:14 ± 1:41 | 51.0 | 31:51 ± 1:21 | 43.7 | 3:54 ± 0:48 | 5.4 | 1:12:55 ± 01:53 |
| Women 40-44 | 36:47 ± 1:18 | 51.3 | 31:29 ± 1:32 | 43.9 | 3:31 ± 0:18 | 4.9 | 1:11:43 ± 02:04 |
| Women 45-49 | 38:31 ± 1:59 | 51.2 | 33:01 ± 1:38 | 43.9 | 3:46 ± 0:29 | 5.0 | 1:15:14 ± 03:09 |
| Women 50-54 | 41:05 ± 1:20 | 49.4 | 37:58 ± 4:10 | 45.4 | 4:26 ± 0:41 | 5.3 | 1:23:24 ± 04:25 |
| Women 55-59 | 45:30 ± 3:35 | 50.8 | 39:56 ± 4:42 | 44.4 | 4:24 ± 0:44 | 4.9 | 1:29:45 ± 07:36 |
Tables 3 and 4 of the preprint, means only (SDs are in the source; run 1 printed as under 1 km):
| Men, mean (min:s) | Run 1 (<1 km) | SkiErg | Run 2 | Sled push | Run 3 | Sled pull | Run 4 | Burpee BJ | Run 5 | Row | Run 6 | Farmers | Run 7 | Lunges | Run 8 | Wall balls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 3:15 | 3:49 | 3:57 | 3:02 | 4:12 | 4:14 | 4:20 | 2:55 | 4:20 | 4:03 | 4:22 | 1:41 | 4:21 | 3:53 | 4:34 | 4:45 |
| 25-29 | 3:12 | 3:49 | 3:56 | 2:44 | 4:12 | 3:59 | 4:15 | 2:54 | 4:19 | 4:03 | 4:14 | 1:38 | 4:19 | 3:40 | 4:36 | 4:46 |
| 30-34 | 3:10 | 3:45 | 3:57 | 2:45 | 4:04 | 4:01 | 4:05 | 2:47 | 4:14 | 4:00 | 4:09 | 1:42 | 4:11 | 3:35 | 4:30 | 4:40 |
| 35-39 | 3:16 | 3:50 | 3:59 | 2:56 | 4:10 | 4:06 | 4:12 | 2:54 | 4:19 | 4:06 | 4:13 | 1:35 | 4:17 | 3:32 | 4:33 | 4:47 |
| 40-44 | 3:22 | 4:00 | 4:04 | 3:17 | 4:17 | 4:03 | 4:19 | 2:54 | 4:23 | 4:16 | 4:24 | 1:47 | 4:26 | 4:00 | 4:40 | 5:17 |
| 45-49 | 3:18 | 3:55 | 4:04 | 3:11 | 4:19 | 4:40 | 4:19 | 3:07 | 4:27 | 4:11 | 4:25 | 1:50 | 4:32 | 4:18 | 4:51 | 5:58 |
| 50-54 | 3:33 | 4:03 | 4:21 | 3:18 | 4:40 | 4:58 | 4:37 | 3:35 | 4:47 | 4:13 | 4:43 | 2:00 | 4:46 | 4:19 | 5:04 | 6:27 |
| 55-59 | 3:59 | 4:05 | 4:43 | 3:37 | 5:02 | 5:42 | 5:00 | 4:15 | 5:14 | 4:22 | 5:09 | 1:56 | 5:17 | 5:04 | 5:38 | 7:43 |
| Women, mean (min:s) | Run 1 (<1 km) | SkiErg | Run 2 | Sled push | Run 3 | Sled pull | Run 4 | Burpee BJ | Run 5 | Row | Run 6 | Farmers | Run 7 | Lunges | Run 8 | Wall balls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 3:44 | 4:21 | 4:33 | 3:13 | 4:58 | 4:55 | 4:53 | 4:07 | 5:01 | 4:32 | 4:56 | 2:25 | 4:59 | 3:54 | 5:09 | 4:29 |
| 25-29 | 3:42 | 4:27 | 4:33 | 3:12 | 4:51 | 4:25 | 4:50 | 4:00 | 4:56 | 4:31 | 4:53 | 1:54 | 4:55 | 3:53 | 5:09 | 4:30 |
| 30-34 | 3:32 | 4:24 | 4:17 | 3:00 | 4:33 | 4:20 | 4:33 | 3:27 | 4:39 | 4:33 | 4:35 | 1:58 | 4:37 | 3:46 | 4:49 | 4:20 |
| 35-39 | 3:40 | 4:28 | 4:29 | 3:27 | 4:47 | 4:31 | 4:46 | 3:45 | 4:54 | 4:40 | 4:46 | 2:08 | 4:51 | 3:54 | 5:06 | 4:59 |
| 40-44 | 3:46 | 4:27 | 4:25 | 3:04 | 4:41 | 4:37 | 4:40 | 3:47 | 4:46 | 4:39 | 4:46 | 2:06 | 4:48 | 4:01 | 4:59 | 4:47 |
| 45-49 | 4:04 | 4:30 | 4:40 | 3:04 | 4:55 | 4:47 | 4:52 | 4:04 | 5:00 | 4:40 | 4:56 | 2:02 | 4:59 | 4:26 | 5:11 | 5:30 |
| 50-54 | 4:04 | 4:46 | 5:02 | 3:55 | 5:11 | 5:37 | 5:16 | 4:35 | 5:22 | 5:00 | 5:18 | 2:38 | 5:21 | 4:58 | 5:35 | 6:29 |
| 55-59 | 4:36 | 4:55 | 5:24 | 3:57 | 5:41 | 5:56 | 5:55 | 4:55 | 5:49 | 5:06 | 5:50 | 2:43 | 6:01 | 5:14 | 6:16 | 7:09 |
Run time within the race: running slowed through the race in both sexes (run 3 > run 2, run 5 > run 4, run 8 > run 7; men also run 6 > run 5, run 7 > run 6).
Age steps, men: 50-54 vs 45-49 total +6.0% (p = 0.002), running speed −6.4% (p = 0.039); 50-54 vs 55-59 total −9.7% (p < 0.001); 55-59 vs 50-54 running speed −8.6% (p = 0.003), station time +11.7% (p < 0.001). In the ratio analysis 40-44, 50-54 and 55-59 fell 5.3% (p = 0.009), 4.8% (p = 0.02) and 6.8% (p < 0.001) from the group before.
Age steps, women: 45-49 vs 50-54 total −9.8% (p < 0.001); 55-59 vs 50-54 total +7.6% (p = 0.005), running speed −9.2% (p = 0.002); 55-59 vs 45-49 station time +20.9% (p < 0.001); the discussion gives station time +13.0% at 50.
By station at 55-59: SkiErg and row held up better than sled pull, burpee broad jumps, lunges and wall balls in men, and better than farmers carry, burpees and wall balls in women. Wall balls fell by 39% in men.
Sex at the same race: women took 11.6% longer overall, 12.5% in running, 10.4% at stations, on lighter loads.
Does not add up:
The abstract gives the best group as men 1h04min ± 2min; Table 2 gives 1:02:34 ± 1:29.
Women's wall-ball fall is printed as 25.8%, 36% and 34% in different places; Table 4 means give about 39% as speed (4:20 vs 7:09, our arithmetic).
One sentence says the 55-59 men's station times were longer than the 50-54 group's, and the next that no difference was observed between the same two groups.
The first ANOVA finds no significant change in total time between neighbours up to 45-49 (men all p ≥ 0.083, women all p ≥ 0.057; 10 athletes a group), while the ratio analysis finds a 5.3% fall in men at 40-44 (p = 0.009) and a lower ratio in women at 35-39 than at 30-34 (p = 0.010).
The headline percentages are longer times, not lost speed: 81:01 / 62:34 = 1.295 (our arithmetic).
Mechanisms
Measured: finish and split times by age group at one race.
Authors' interpretation: ergometers are supported, mainly concentric and largely aerobic, so age cuts them least; running's stretch-shortening cycle and wall balls' power demands track loss of fast fibres; wall balls come last, under fatigue; earlier decline in women's strength stations may relate to menopause. None was measured.
Inference: the depth of field shrinks with age (87 men aged 30-34 and 26 aged 55-59; 60 women and 13), so a top 10 is less selected in older groups and the cross-sectional decline may be overstated.
Practical Application
How much slower are HYROX times with age? PREPRINT — not peer reviewed: at the 2023 Worlds, top-10 times were about 10% longer at 45-49 and about 30% longer at 55-59 than at 30-34, stations more than runs. One race.
Reference for a masters athlete: the tables place a split against the top 10 of that age group at one World Championship, with run 1 short. They are not a norm for a typical masters athlete.
Do not take "after 40, favour strength over running": it is the authors' advice and nothing here tests it. By their own tables the significant station-time step comes at 55-59 in men and 50-54 in women, not 40. It conflicts with the SYNTH-71 Masters row ("Same structure"). Not from this paper; the base's own practice stays there.
Share of time: running about half at every age, with the share only slightly lower in older groups. A share is not what to train.
Limitations
PREPRINT — not peer reviewed by any record we could check. The manuscript's first page says it was accepted on 16 May 2025 and awaits a journal's move to a new platform; the HAL record, read by identifier, lists no journal and no DOI. Treated as a preprint at C until a record appears. No Crossref DOI exists for kb-watch to monitor; check the HAL id by hand.
One race, top 10. The authors say so, and that this reaches the Elite category, not Open. Not a sample of masters.
Cross-sectional. Age groups differ in selection and in depth; no individual was followed.
Fixed order. The authors note the difficulty of judging exercise order; wall balls' fall mixes age, fatigue and being last.
Run 1 short, about 800 m as stated by the authors; run 1 and the total of runs are not exactly 8 km.
Internal inconsistencies, listed above. Figures were not read for values.
Funding and interests: not found in the text read.
How this entry was checked and changed
Why this level
read from the full text (HAL, CC BY 4.0). A cross-sectional measurement of this size would earn B+ by design; the preprint rule sets one step below and caps at C. Treated as a preprint because the stated acceptance could not be verified by identifier
Full text (checked 2026-10-30)
763 finishers at the 2023 World Championships, 433 men and 330 women; top 10 per age group analysed (full text)
Running 50.7 ± 2.0% and 51.1 ± 2.1%, stations 44.2 ± 2.0% and 43.7 ± 2.0%, Roxzone 5.1 ± 0.7% and 5.2 ± 1.0%, men and women (full text)
55-59 vs 30-34: total −29.5% and −30.7%, running −24.0% and −28.1%, stations −34.6% and −34.0%, men and women (full text)
First run often shortened to about 800 m (full text)
Wall ball decline 39% in men; for women 25.8%, 36% and 34% in different passages (full text)
Authors' recommendation that athletes after 40 favour strength training over running, and masters favour wall balls over SkiErg and row (full text)
First page states acceptance by Movement & Sport Sciences – Science & Motricité on May 16th 2025; HAL record shows no journal (full text)