Hyrox Requires Incredible Aerobic Capacity! Chris Bayens - Coach to Elite 15 Athletes (#25)

Chris Baynes is one of the most respected coaches in the Hyrox space, working with elite athletes including Josh Van Zeeland and Cole Learn. In this episode, we unpack his training philosophy: why Hyrox is fundamentally an endurance event, the difference between maximal strength and strength endurance, and how heart rate and HRV guide his programming. We explore training density, injury prevention, treadmill and StairMaster work, and what athletes get wrong when chasing volume.

Episode breakdown:

00:00 — Meet coach Chris Baynes & what to expect

00:35 — “Treat Hyrox like endurance”: aerobic engine first

01:52 — Strength in Hyrox: “strong enough” vs strength endurance

04:17 — Quick primer: aerobic vs anaerobic energy (and why it matters)

07:55 — Max strength: develop vs maintain, and how little you need

12:46 — Building the week: 2–3 quality days, batching intensity

15:25 — Quality Day Session 1: threshold run + race-specific intervals + wall balls

21:13 — Training density: why Hyrox volume can’t mimic triathlon volume

26:00 — Why treadmill work: control, safety, reducing injury risk

28:29 — Heart-rate obsession: intensity control + readiness-based training

30:46 — Morpheus & HRV: adjusting training and zones to recovery

41:31 — Life stress and recovery: adapting the plan, not the person

44:14 — Quality Day Session 2: strength maintenance + machine-based strength endurance

50:00 — Easy days: Zone 2/3 builds with stations mixed in

55:42 — The StairMaster: why it’s a staple (and how much they do)

58:25 — Benchmarking: less testing, more steady progression + race data

1:01:23 — Coach curiosity: movement standards, judging, and “faster racing”

1:05:12 — Where to find Chris

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