Hyrox is an intense challenge — this 80-year-old cancer survivor conquered it

After recovering from a stroke and cancer diagnosis, Davenport figured sitting on the couch wasn’t the answer.

By Steph Green Published February 28, 2025

hyrox cancer survivor — Heavenlybodies_gym / Instagram

Hyrox is an intense challenge for anyone, especially for those in their 80s who have just battled cancer. The fitness race consists of alternating 1km runs with eight different workout stations. Every time you complete the 1km run, you end up at one of the eight functional workout stations:

1km ski-erg
50m sled push
50m sled pull
80m burpee broad jump
1km row
200m farmer’s carry
100m sandbag lunge
100 wall balls

Running all 8km and finishing all eight workout stations certainly isn’t a walk in the park, and while there’s no finishing time or entry qualification requirements, this race isn’t for the faint of heart.

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Conquering cancer and Hyrox

people running in Hyrox race — Hyrox / Hyrox World Instagram

Two months after getting the all-clear, cancer survivor 80-year-old Roger Davenport conquered the Manchester Hyrox Doubles race on January 25th. Alongside his partner and coach, Matt Scarff, Roger finished the race and was nicknamed ‘Roger the Resilient’ for his efforts.

After recovering from a stroke and cancer diagnosis, Davenport figured sitting on the couch wasn’t the answer. He decided to work with Scarff and enrolled in the doubles division of the Hyrox fitness event to raise funds for cancer.

Reasons to give Hyrox a try

men in Hyrox gym doing rowing machine — Hyrox / Hyrox World Instagram

No matter your age, there are plenty of reasons to give Hyrox a try, and Roger is an inspiration to us all. Hyrox incorporates cardio along with a full-body workout that fine-tunes your overall functional fitness. You’ll feel accomplished and can work at your own pace without worrying about finishing ‘last.’ You’ll improve your strength, endurance, metabolism, and cardiovascular fitness while torching calories.

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Workouts

Steph Green is a content writer specializing in healthcare, wellness, and nutrition. With over ten years of experience, she…

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Hyrox is a real challenge because you have to run 8km and finish all eight workout stations, from the Farmer’s carry to burpee broad jumps and rowing. If the Hyrox race is too long for you and you’re looking for a shorter way to seriously burn those quads and test your power, stamina, and fortitude, the intense ‘Acid Bath’ sprint workout might be the one for you. Some people are swapping Hyrox for the CrossFit Acid Bath; let’s look at what it is and the reasons to try it.
What is the Acid Bath sprint workout?

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The latest trending TikTok fitness challenge

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The idea behind the Winter Arc

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Study finds walking could turn back the clock for your brain by this many years

There are plenty of reasons to put one foot in front of the other and head out the door

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Walking brings a whole host of benefits, from breathing in the fresh air to improving your sleep quality and moving your muscles and joints. Your mood will likely be better after your walk, which could make the day ahead more productive. Research has shown that a brief 10-minute walk can lower your blood pressure, so there are plenty of reasons to put one foot in front of the other and head out the door. A new study reveals that walking could make your brain this many years younger. Let’s take a look at the study.
The study

In the study published in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine, the researchers set out to determine the health impacts of everyday physical activities, including walking regularly and doing chores. The 204 participants answered questions on their phones during a nine-day study. They checked in six times every day, around every 3.5 hours.