Entries open24 October 2026
Hong Kong SprintHong Kong Observation Wheel & AIA Vitality Park
Same-sex pairs · Solo invitational
Register nowHybrid racing · Gulf, North Africa, Asia-Pacific
Primal is a hybrid fitness race
8 stations, roughly 3.2km of running, and the same course, the same loads and the same judging in every city we open. A time you set in Riyadh means what it means in Bangkok.
- 2022
- First race
- 7
- Live markets raced
- 250,000+
- Across Primal activations
- 2x
- Capacity on return markets
01 The race
8 stations in a fixed order
Row, burpee box jump over, tyre flip, canister carry, echo bike, sandbag up and over, sandbag carry, sled push. You run 400m between every one of them. The loads change by division, the order does not change at all.
- 01Row400m run
- 02Burpee box jump over400m run
- 03Tyre flip400m run
- 04Canister carry400m run
- 05Echo bike400m run
- 06Sandbag up and over400m run
- 07Sandbag carry400m run
- 08Sled push400m run
Complete the work
No athlete leaves a station until every prescribed rep is done.
Stay together
In team divisions nobody advances until every member has finished the run.
Standardised judging
The same movement standards in every market, judged station by station.
02 Divisions
4 divisions race the same course
All 4 cover the same 8 stations in the same order. What changes is the weight on the tyre, the canister and the sandbag, the reps you owe, and how far you carry. Pathway is where most people start. Every figure is in the table below and is published before entries open.
UltraSoloAdvanced
PeakMixed pairsAdvanced
PathwayMixed pairsAll levels
Primal TeamTeams of threeAll levels
Loads and distances
| Station | UltraMale | UltraFemale | PeakMixed pairs | Primal TeamMale | Primal TeamFemale | PathwayMixed pairs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Row | 1,800m | 1,500m | 2,500m | 3,000m | 2,500m | 2,000m |
| Burpee box jump over | 70 · 24" | 70 · 20" | 80 · 24" | 120 · 24" | 120 · 20" | 80 · 20" |
| Tyre flip | 40m · 190kg | 40m · 130kg | 120m · 130kg | 120m · 190kg | 120m · 115kg | 80m · 115kg |
| Canister carry | 220m · 40kg | 220m · 25kg | 220m · 32kg | 500m · 40kg | 500m · 25kg | 220m · 25kg |
| Echo bike | 3,600m | 3,000m | 5,000m | 6,000m | 5,000m | 4,000m |
| Sandbag up and over | 40 · 55kg | 40 · 30kg | 60 · 45kg | 100 · 45kg | 100 · 25kg | 80 · 25kg |
| Sandbag carry | 180m · 60kg | 180m · 35kg | 200m · 50kg | 400m · 50kg | 400m · 25kg | 200m · 25kg |
| Sled push | 100m | 100m | 200m | 200m | 200m | 200m |
| Run after each | 400m | 400m | 400m | 400m | 400m | 400m |
Relay, teams of 4, is in development and does not race yet.
03 Qualifying
Every Primal race is a qualifier
Race in any division, in any market, and your time puts you on the board. The fastest earn a place at the World Championships.
01
Enter
Any division of the 8 station race, in any market. There is no qualifying time to get in.
02
Set a time
Every finisher is timed across the same 8 stations, so a time from one city sits on the same board as a time from another.
03
World Championships
The fastest earn a place.
2027 season
Where Primal races next year
12 races across the Gulf, North Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe and Africa, after Hong Kong in October and Abu Dhabi in December this year. Entries open city by city, and a card says so where a venue is still being confirmed.
-
Jan01
Egypt
KSA
-
Feb02
-
Mar03
KSA
-
Apr04
Thailand
-
May05
-
Jun06
South Africa
-
Jul07
UK
-
Aug08
Egypt
-
Sep09
UAE
-
Oct10
China
-
Nov11
India
-
Dec12
Australia
Oman
Dates and locations are subject to change. Keep an eye on the Primal notice, the newsletter and our socials for the latest updates.
Next races
Every race and status
Coming soonDecember 2026
Abu DhabiUnited Arab Emirates
Ultra · Peak · Pathway · Primal Team
Register interest for early bird
04 Train
Train where Primal trains
Primal Hubs are certified gyms running Primal sessions and benchmark workouts on the same standards we judge on race day. Find one near you, or put your gym forward.
05 Results
Every race publishes results
Results go up by division after every race. You get a position, a split for each station and a finishing time, and because the course is fixed you can hold it against any other Primal race in the world.
Where you finished
Your position in your division at that race.
Every station
A split for each of the 8, so you can see which one cost you the race.
The full time
Your total, with all 8 of the 400m runs in it.
Against the season
Every Primal result sits on one board, so you can see where your time puts you against the whole season and not just your own race.
06 Race day
What to expect on the day
Registration, the holding pen, the judging and the kit, so nothing on race morning is a surprise. Each race page carries its own timings.
Before you arrive
Bring photo ID and your entry confirmation. Registration times are on your race page.
At the venue
Be in the holding pen 20 minutes before your wave. Bag drop closes 30 minutes before.
On the floor
A judge briefs you at each station. If a rep does not meet the standard you are told at the time and asked to repeat it.
Kit
Trainers you can run and lift in, your race number pinned front, and a change of clothes. Gloves are permitted.
Before you enter
Do I need to be fit
You need to be able to run and to move a load. Pathway, mixed pairs at all levels, is built for first-timers and most of them finish. Every load and distance is in the table above, so you can see what you would be lifting before you enter.
Which division should I pick
Pathway if it is your first race or you want a partner alongside you. Primal Team if there are three of you. Ultra if you want the full course on your own at the advanced loads, and Peak if you want those loads in a pair. The course is the same in all four.
Do I need a partner or a team
Ultra is solo. Peak and Pathway are mixed pairs, and Primal Team is three. You can enter first and add your team members afterwards. The Hong Kong Sprint has a solo category in the afternoon.
What is the difference between the Sprint and the race
The race is 8 stations with a 400m run after each, roughly 3.2km of running, in four divisions. Primal Sprint is 5 stations with a 200m loop between each, 1,000m of running, run inside an arena. The Sprint is the shorter way in. Both are judged to the same standards.
Is there a cut-off
Yes. Every race has a cut-off time and it is on the race page before entries open. Pathway loads are set so that most first-timers finish inside it.
Are spectators allowed
Yes, and we want them there. Bring your family, your friends, your gym, everyone. The course is laid out so they can follow you through every station, and results go up on the board through the day. The more people on the rail, the better the race. Spectator details for each race are on its race page.
Can I transfer my entry or change division
Yes. Transfer your entry to another athlete at no cost, or move to another division subject to space, up to the deadline on your race page. Email support@primal-race.com with your entry number.
Can my partner drop out
Find a replacement and transfer their half to them at no cost. Tell us at least 7 days before race day so the new name is on the start list.
What if I am injured
Tell us at least 7 days before race day. We will move your entry to a later race where we can, and where we cannot you can transfer it to another athlete at no cost. Inside 7 days the entry cannot be moved.
Is there a youth race
At selected races, on scaled loads. The race page says whether yours has one.
How do I qualify for the World Championships
Every Primal race is a qualifier. Race any division in any market and your time goes on the board. The fastest earn a place. There is no qualifying time to enter your first race.
07 Partners
The brands that race with us
Global brands, national tourism boards, investment offices and the kit partners who put athletes on the start line. A category is held by one brand in a market, and 14 races are on the calendar between now and the end of 2027, across five regions. This is a selection.
Global brands
Strategic and key partners
08 Entries
3 steps to the start line
Pick your race, pick your division, and give us a name and an email address. Your confirmation and your start time come back by email. Entries close when a race sells out.
Announcements
Hear the day a race opens
Leave an email address and a region and we will tell you the day entries open there. Nothing else, and no more than that.