Race first, holiday after: Why Hyrox fans are turning competitions into vacations

For many, a trip to Bangkok conjures images of vibrant street food, bustling nightlife, and perhaps a relaxing massage. However, for 90 members of Hong Kong's DOP Training Club, the Thai capital in March offered a different kind of adventure: Hyrox.

The fitness club, co-founded by personal trainer Dan Yeung, has a history of organizing similar trips to cities like Taipei, Kobe, and Beijing. The Bangkok event saw the largest turnout yet, with about 70 percent of the club's members participating, even leading Yeung to close the gym for the week.

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I love travelling and fitness, and it’s a great opportunity to combine the two.

These "race-cations" are becoming a significant trend as events like Hyrox expand. The Bangkok race alone attracted over 17,500 athletes, with Singapore following suit with more than 14,000 competitors. As new locations like Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur join the regional circuit, the race-cation culture shows no signs of slowing down.

For participants like Singapore-based orthopaedic surgeon Alan Cheung, these overseas races are more than just a competition. Having completed nine Hyrox races, six of them internationally, Cheung sees it as a perfect blend of his love for travel and fitness. These events also provide a valuable opportunity to reconnect with friends and family living abroad, transforming a race weekend into a multi-faceted travel experience.

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I also have friends and relatives who live abroad and are into fitness whom I race with.