cheetah

40+ athletes training at home

16-Week HYROX Training Plan for Over 40s at Home

The 40+ plan with home station swaps. A gentler 16-week race build for 40+ athletes and anyone returning: more recovery, lower run volume.

Download on theApp Store16 weeks · 3 days a week · Home
Length
16 weeks, 63 sessions
Days a week
3
Session length
40–70 min
Level
Beginner
Equipment
Dumbbells or kettlebells, a resistance band, a backpack you can load to 10–25 kg
Race standard
HYROX 2026/27 rulebook, Open division loads

What's in it

  • Three hard days 48 hours apart plus an optional easy day
  • Lower run volume, and station loads capped at 90% of race weight
  • A lighter deload week every 4th week so you recover
  • Every station swapped for dumbbell, band and backpack work

Week 1, in full

Every session of the first week, exactly as it appears in the app.

Mon

Strength · Lower

  • Warm-up8 min easy jog, bike or row, then leg swings, hip openers and 2 × 10 air squats
  • Dumbbell Goblet Squat3 × 12 reps · Light · RPE 6 · 3–4 reps in reserve
  • Dumbbell Romanian Deadlift3 × 12 reps · Light · RPE 6 · 3–4 reps in reserve
  • Rest90 sec
  • Backpack Walking Lunges (each leg)3 × 12 reps · Light · RPE 6 · 3–4 reps in reserve
  • Bulgarian Split Squat (each leg)3 × 10 reps · Light · RPE 6 · 3–4 reps in reserve
  • Plank3 × 20 s
Wed

Tempo Run

  • Warm-up10 min easy jog, bike or row, then leg swings, hip openers and 2 × 10 air squats
  • Tempo Run10 min continuous · Zone 3 · 70–80% max HR · steady, short sentences onlySteady, controlled discomfort. Start slower than you think.
  • Cool-down5–10 min easy walk or jog, then stretch calves, hips and upper back
Thu

Easy Aerobic (optional)

  • Easy Run, Bike or Row21 min, low impact is fine · Zone 2 · 60–70% max HR · conversational paceSkip it if you're still sore from Monday.
  • Mobility10 min: hips, ankles, thoracic spine, calves
Sat

Benchmark Test

  • Warm-up12 min easy jog, bike or row, then leg swings, hip openers and 2 × 10 air squats
  • 1 km Time Trial1 km · Hard but controlled, about 8/10, not a sprint. Record the time · Zone 4 · 80–90% max HR · threshold, comfortably hardWalk for a few seconds if you need to; it's a starting point, not a race.
  • Rest5 min
  • Dumbbell Thrusters (wall ball sub)50 reps · Light dumbbells, 4–8 kgFor time. Record it and your set breaks.
  • Rest5 min
  • 1 km Run1 km · Target pace 6:15–7:00 /km · Zone 4 · 80–90% max HR · threshold, comfortably hardCompare this km with the first, the gap is your compromised-running cost.
  • Cool-down5–10 min easy walk or jog, then stretch calves, hips and upper back

The whole plan, by the numbers

63 sessions over 16 weeks, building to race day. Every session after week 1, with distances, sets, reps, loads and heart-rate zones, is in the Cheetah app.

38
runs
15
strength sessions
3
station sessions
2
compromised runs
2
race simulations
2
benchmark tests
3
lighter recovery weeks

Why 16 weeks

Pick 16 weeks if you are newer to training or want a gentler build. The extra month means more easy running, more technique work before loads go up, and more recovery weeks.

What stands in for each station

This version is built for dumbbells or kettlebells, a resistance band, a backpack you can load to 10–25 kg. Here is what it uses in place of each HYROX station.

StationSwap: home (dumbbells, a band, a backpack)
1. SkiErgBand pull-downs. Band anchored high, hinge at the hips, about 1 rep for every 12 m.
2. Sled PushLoaded push. Push a loaded box or bag across a hard floor, or walk a hill with a 10 to 25 kg backpack.
3. Sled PullBand rows. Heaviest band, fast and continuous, about 6 reps for every 5 m.
4. Burpee Broad JumpsBurpee broad jumps. No swap needed. Short on space? Burpees plus broad jumps in place.
5. RowingKettlebell swings. 12 to 24 kg, about 1 swing for every 16 m of rowing.
6. Farmers CarryFarmers carry with dumbbells or water jugs. Heaviest pair you own. Short on space? Carry for 60 s per 50 m.
7. Sandbag LungesBackpack walking lunges. Backpack loaded to 10 to 20 kg. No space? Alternate in place, 1 rep per metre.
8. Wall BallsDumbbell thrusters. Light dumbbells, 4 to 8 kg, same rep count.

Races you can still make with 16 weeks

Start on the Monday shown and week 16 lands on race week. Later than that, pick a shorter plan.

RaceDatesStart this plan by
HYROX Chicago 2027Feb 11–15, 2027Mon, Oct 26, 2026
HYROX Phoenix 2027Feb 25–28, 2027Mon, Nov 9, 2026
HYROX Glasgow 2027Mar 10–14, 2027Mon, Nov 23, 2026
HYROX Las Vegas 2027Mar 12–14, 2027Mon, Nov 23, 2026
HYROX Miami Beach 2027Mar 26–28, 2027Mon, Dec 7, 2026
HYROX Houston 2027Apr 1–4, 2027Mon, Dec 14, 2026
HYROX Ottawa 2027Apr 21–25, 2027Mon, Jan 4, 2027
HYROX Atlanta 2027Apr 23–25, 2027Mon, Jan 4, 2027

Follow the 16-week plan in Cheetah

Every session written out, logged at race weights, with Apple Watch and heart-rate zones.

HYROX is a trademark of its owner. Cheetah is an independent app and is not affiliated with or endorsed by HYROX.