Do you feel like your cardio workout is just going in circles? Maybe, you're looking for a little bit more from your half marathon. Fortunately, there's a new kind of race that blends the endurance of running with the thrill of functional, high intensity interval training (HIIT) — an eight-kilometer challenge, where every kilometer ends with a new test of strength and agility. It's as demanding as a half marathon, but far more dynamic — and way more fun.

Unlike the typical outdoor road race, the Hyrox Fitness race takes place entirely indoors, surrounded by cheering crowds, thumping music and energetic MCs. The finish line, marked by the striking of a gong, lends a ceremonial touch — part proof of accomplishment, part celebration of the grueling, yet exhilarating journey.

Since its launch seven years ago, Hyrox has become a global phenomenon, staging hundreds of events across 21 countries and regions, from the United States to Singapore, and drawing tens of thousands of participants eager to test their mettle.

On Saturday, the race made its Chinese mainland debut, transforming Beijing's National Agricultural Exhibition Center into a high-energy arena. Nearly 2,000 competitors from 38 countries and regions, including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Germany, joined the inaugural event.

More than 1,000 spectators cheered them on, fueling a raucous atmosphere that blurred the line between fitness and festival.

The Beijing leg of the event featured categories tailored to individual, doubles and relay races, further divided by gender and age groups. In the doubles competition, competitors could collaborate on each functional workout, emphasizing teamwork. Meanwhile, the relay race divided the challenge among four team members, with each running two kilometers and tackling two functional workouts.

Wang Yixi, 25, who works in the biopharmaceutical industry, traveled from Shanghai to Beijing with her friends from her local gym to compete. After participating in the women's doubles, she also joined the women's relay competition with her teammates.

With several years of fitness experience and a background in marathons, Wang shared that the doubles competition was her favorite part of the event. "It's so much fun running with a friend — we can cheer each other on," she said.

During the first half of the race, when her teammate began to feel fatigued, Wang slowed her pace to offer support. Later, in the second half, Wang suffered from a leg cramp, but her teammate matched her pace, ensuring they finished the race together.

"If I were racing alone, I might have given up, but with a partner, we can push each other to keep going," Wang said.

Xie Yiwei, 42, completed the pro men group competition in one hour, 40 minutes, and four seconds. A businessman in the fitness industry, Xie has considered himself an amateur athlete since 2017, participating in a variety of fitness races across the country, including obstacle courses and cycling events.

"This race really tests a range of skills," Xie said. "It's not just about running; there are various physical challenges that require participants to have balanced abilities."

In the men's pro doubles category, one competitor — Moritz Furste — brought a special story to Beijing as he returned to the city for the first time in 16 years. In 2008, Furste won Olympic gold in men's field hockey with Germany, a career-defining moment in the Chinese capital.

Now 40, Furste has returned not just to compete, but as a co-founder of Hyrox.

"We created Hyrox to be the fitness competition for everybody," Furste said. "We realized something was missing in the world of sports. So many people work out daily, stay fit and look great. But, there was no real race for all of these people out there. So, we created Hyrox."

Furste emphasized the event's accessibility. "All our movements are natural — there's no technical expertise needed. We call them 'baby-learned movements', like pulling, pushing or carrying."

A former field hockey star who thrived on teamwork, Furste has instilled that same spirit into Hyrox by introducing doubles and relay categories.

Furste sees Hyrox not as a fleeting bucket-list event, but as an emerging sport with the potential to grow alongside established competitions like the triathlon.

This is a sport where participants compete, then return to their gyms to improve — that's what you do in sports, he said.

The event in Beijing marks a major step in Hyrox's push into the Chinese market, and Furste has been inspired by the energy and enthusiasm of the local competitors. With the country's fitness community expanding rapidly, he believes fitness racing is beginning to take root.

"I'm convinced that, in 10 years, fitness racing will be as mainstream as running. We'll see a global community growing everywhere," he added.

Looking to the future, Furste revealed that the Hyrox series will return to Beijing next year and debut in Shanghai, continuing its expansion in China.

liyingxue@chinadaily.com.cn