Agree who starts, how you communicate and what changes if the first plan stops working. A percentage split does not answer all three questions.
For a Doubles pair, a useful practice plan needs two separate parts: the rules that apply to the station and the choices you make together. Write them down separately. A coaching preference must not become an invented race rule.
Start with the current rulebook
The official UK rulebook page currently links to the Season 26/27 Doubles rulebook, reviewed on 25 October 2026.
For this article's farmer-carry example, the relevant requirements are that partners run together; the working racer carries both kettlebells; kettlebells must not be passed forwards during transitions; and the resting partner follows behind without obstructing other racers. Read sections 7.3 and 8.6 for the complete requirements, including the correct equipment for your division.
There is an unresolved rowing wording conflict. Section 7.2 gives an alternating-partner example, while section 8.5 says the athlete must remain seated until 1,000 metres are complete and a judge confirms completion. This article excludes rowing changeover instructions. Check the current official documents and seek clarification from the event officials before using a rowing strategy.
Make an agreement, not just a split
“You do more because you are stronger” leaves important questions unanswered. Who starts? How does the other person know a change is coming? What happens if the planned segment is no longer manageable?
Use the following card for a farmer-carry practice. The choices are hypothetical. They are not instructions to use a particular race load or complete a fixed distance.
Scope: this card's worked example is for farmer carry. Do not use it to resolve rowing changeovers or transfer one station's rules to another.
| Agreement | Example entry |
|---|---|
| Station and applicable source | Farmer carry; current Doubles rulebook, section 8.6; division to be confirmed |
| Who starts? | Partner A |
| What signals a change? | A says “change”; B answers “ready” |
| What must the transition respect? | The station-specific rules checked above; no forward transfer |
| What if the cue is missed? | Do not assume the partner heard it; communicate again before attempting the transition |
| What will we review? | Whether both people understood the cue and the same plan |
Starting with A and using those words are coaching choices. The official rulebook does not require that script. Choose language both people can hear and understand in practice.
A practice example: one cue, two interpretations
Imagine a pair, A and B, practising with equipment appropriate to their current capacity. A says “change” and expects an immediate response. B thinks it means “get ready for a change shortly”. Both believe they know the plan, but they do not mean the same thing.
The first useful adjustment is to define the cue. In the next attempt, they agree that “change” requests a transition and “ready” confirms that the other partner has heard it. They practise the communication within the station's movement requirements.
Afterwards, they record whether the exchange was understood. They do not claim that the new cue saved a certain number of seconds or proves the ideal work split. That would require different evidence.
The point is to make one uncertain part of the partnership clear before adding more complexity.
Review the plan together
After practice, each partner answers independently:
- What did you expect to happen?
- Which part was clear?
- Where did your expectations differ?
- What one agreement needs changing next time?
Compare the answers before changing several parts of the plan. If one person describes a different cue or contingency, resolve that difference first.
There is no universal 50:50 recommendation here. Nor is there a claim that giving more work to one partner is always faster. The article is a framework for agreeing and reviewing a plan, not evidence that a particular allocation wins races.
Running performance is a separate question. If you are reviewing how your runs change after stations, use the post-station running-pace guide rather than turning the communication card into a second pacing spreadsheet.
Bring a shared plan to your preparation
Complete one station card together. Mark any rule you have not confirmed as unresolved instead of filling the gap with a guess. Recheck the current rulebook, your division and the applicable event briefing before racing.
If you want help organising your preparation, explore HYROX personal training at Tempo in Fitzrovia. Bring the plan both partners agreed, plus the questions practice has exposed.
Evidence note: The agreement card and fictional example are original coaching analysis, not a tested performance intervention. The rule summary is deliberately limited. It does not replace the complete official rules or imply an affiliation with HYROX.