How to Track HYROX on Apple Watch in 2026: Apps, Setup and Race Day Tips

The Problem With Tracking HYROX on Apple Watch

HYROX is unlike any other fitness event. It is not a straight running race. It is not a CrossFit competition. It is 8 x 1km runs broken up by 8 functional workout stations, with transitions in between. And that creates a real problem for Apple Watch users.

The native Apple Watch Workout app was not built for this. You can track an outdoor run. You can track a strength session. But you cannot track a workout that switches between running, rowing, sled pushes, wall balls, burpee broad jumps, farmers carries, ski erg, and lunges, all in one continuous session, without constantly swiping and tapping your wrist mid-race.

That is why most HYROX athletes turn to third-party apps. But not all apps are created equal. Some only track race day. Some only handle the running portions. And some cover the full training cycle from weekly sessions through to race day tracking.

This guide breaks down every option available in 2026, with honest comparisons so you can pick the right setup for your goals.

Option 1: Apple Watch Native Workout App

The simplest approach is to use what is already on your wrist. Apple's built-in Workout app supports Outdoor Run and Functional Strength Training modes, and you can manually mark segments by double-tapping the screen during your workout.

For training sessions this works reasonably well. Pick Outdoor Run for your 1km repeats, Functional Strength Training for station work, or the HIIT mode for mixed sessions. You can view segments and heart rate data in the Fitness app afterwards.

For race day, it gets messy. You would need to either run the entire race as one long Outdoor Run (losing station-specific data) or constantly switch between activity types mid-race. Neither option gives you clean, usable data broken down by station.

Best for: casual HYROX participants who just want basic calorie and heart rate data without installing anything new.

Limitations: no automatic station transitions, no run vs station split tracking, no pacing guidance, and no structured training plans.

Option 2: Intervals Pro

Intervals Pro is a popular choice in the HYROX community, especially for race day. The app lets you create custom interval workouts with up to 16 distinct segments, which maps neatly onto the HYROX format: Run 1, SkiErg, Run 2, Sled Push, Run 3, Sled Pull, Run 4, Burpee Broad Jump, Run 5, Rowing, Run 6, Farmers Carry, Run 7, Lunges, Run 8, Wall Balls.

You set up these segments in advance on your iPhone, sync them to your watch, then tap through each one during the race. The app records time, heart rate, and distance for each segment separately, giving you clean split data afterwards.

The Apple Watch experience is straightforward. You see your current segment name, elapsed time, and heart rate on screen. Tapping advances to the next segment.

Best for: race day split tracking if you want detailed per-station data.

Limitations: Intervals Pro is a general-purpose interval timer, not a HYROX training tool. It does not provide training plans, progressive programming, or any guidance on how to actually prepare for race day. You set up the segments manually and it times them. That is the extent of it.

Option 3: TrainRox

TrainRox is a HYROX-specific app that has grown quickly since adding Apple Watch support. It offers daily training sessions, custom workout creation, a race timer with split tracking, and access to official HYROX race results for analysis.

The app includes an AI assistant for generating workouts and lets you set custom heart rate zones. The Apple Watch interface shows workout progress in real time with voice alerts to guide you through sessions. On race day, TrainRox tracks your splits across all 16 segments and syncs the data back to your phone for post-race analysis. You can compare results across multiple events and see strengths and weaknesses by station.

Best for: dedicated HYROX competitors who want race analysis, result comparisons, and HYROX-specific daily workouts in one place.

Limitations: TrainRox is built exclusively around HYROX. It does not handle general running training, strength programming, or hybrid periodisation. If HYROX is one part of your broader training, you will need additional apps alongside it.

Option 4: HyRhythm

HyRhythm is a newer entry to the market, launched in late 2025. It is a dedicated HYROX race tracker that focuses on clean, simple race day timing. The app is free throughout the early launch period, with subscription plans expected later in 2026.

Best for: a free, lightweight race day timer if you just want basic HYROX split tracking.

Limitations: very new, limited feature set compared to more established options, and no training component.

Option 5: Edge

Edge takes a fundamentally different approach. Rather than being a HYROX race timer or a workout generator, Edge is a full hybrid training app that covers running, strength, and conditioning from your Apple Watch in one integrated system.

Here is why that matters for HYROX athletes: HYROX performance is built in training, not on race day. Your 1km repeat pace improves through structured run training. Your station endurance improves through programmed strength and conditioning work. Your transitions improve by training in a system that understands how running and lifting interact in the same week.

On Apple Watch, Edge lets you train runs (with pace targets, intervals, and distance tracking), conditioning sessions (with timers, rep tracking, and station-style work), and strength sessions (with set and rep guidance), all from your wrist. The watch app syncs automatically with the iOS app, so every session is logged and feeds into your overall programme.

Edge builds personalised training plans that combine all three modalities based on your goals, your schedule, and your experience level. If you are training for HYROX, the programming accounts for the specific demands of the event: 1km repeat pacing, functional station endurance, and the ability to maintain output across mixed-modality efforts.

Best for: athletes who want a complete HYROX training system on Apple Watch, not just race day tracking. Especially strong if you train hybrid (running + strength + conditioning) and want everything in one app.

Limitations: Edge is a training app rather than a race day split timer. If your sole priority is tracking individual station splits during a HYROX event, a dedicated race timer like Intervals Pro may be more suited for that specific task.

Which Approach Should You Use?

The answer depends on what you actually need from your Apple Watch during HYROX.

If you only care about race day split tracking and want detailed per-station data, Intervals Pro or TrainRox are your best options. Intervals Pro gives you flexibility to customise segments for any event format. TrainRox adds HYROX-specific workouts and race analysis on top.

If you want a complete training system that prepares you for HYROX through structured running, strength, and conditioning, all from your Apple Watch, Edge is the most comprehensive option available. It is the only app that handles all three training modalities on-wrist in a single personalised programme.

Many athletes actually use a combination: Edge for daily training throughout the week, then Intervals Pro or TrainRox layered on for race day split tracking. That way you get the best of both worlds.

How to Set Up Your Apple Watch for HYROX Race Day

Whichever app you choose, here are some practical tips for getting your Apple Watch ready for a HYROX event.

The night before: charge your watch to 100%. A HYROX race can take anywhere from 60 to 120+ minutes, and GPS plus heart rate monitoring drains battery quickly. Disable unnecessary notifications and close background apps to conserve power.

Pre-race setup: if you are using Intervals Pro, create and sync your 16-segment workout before leaving for the venue. If you are using TrainRox, make sure your race workout is synced to your watch. Do not rely on venue WiFi for last-minute syncing.

Wrist placement: wear your watch snug but not tight, about one finger width above your wrist bone. This gives the most accurate heart rate readings during both running and station work. If you are serious about heart rate accuracy during sled pushes and ski erg (where wrist-based readings can be unreliable), consider pairing a Bluetooth chest strap.

During the race: keep interactions minimal. The fewer times you need to look at or tap your watch, the better. Set up your app so transitions between segments require just a single tap. Practise this flow in training before race day so it becomes automatic.

After the race: let the workout finish syncing before closing the app. Most apps need a few minutes to upload full session data including GPS tracks and heart rate curves. Open the companion iPhone app to review your splits and identify where you gained or lost time.

Start Training for HYROX on Your Apple Watch Today

Race day tracking is important, but it only captures one session. The weeks and months of training beforehand are what actually determine your HYROX result.

Edge builds you a personalised hybrid training plan that covers running, strength, and conditioning in one app, all accessible from your Apple Watch. Tell us your goals, your schedule, and your experience, and we will build your programme in about 2 minutes.

Download Edge free for 7 days at findyouredge.app and start training smarter for your next HYROX.