English / 日本語
September was my first-ever 100K running month. Somewhere along the way I also signed up for something new: HUNTR Games, a hybrid race where all you carry is one sandbag.
When I looked for race reports before my first one, I found almost nothing. So here’s mine, from the debut event in Brunei, written for anyone heading to HUNTR Games KL (9–11 October).
What is HUNTR?
Run 500m, do one sandbag station, repeat eight times. That’s 4 km of running and no sleds, rowers or ski ergs.
- Lateral Burpees × 50
- Walking Lunges 50m
- Sandbag Squat × 50
- Shoulder Press × 50
- Bearcrawl Drag 50m
- Box Stepover × 50
- Seated Twist × 50
- HUNTR Swing (finish)
From the official KL race format, checked 4 Oct 2026. Always re-check before race day.
Sandbag weights
Women: Open 5 kg / Pro 10 kg / Elite 15 kg. Men: Open 10 kg / Pro 15 kg / Elite 20 kg. Doubles and 4-person relays are available too.
I raced women’s 5 kg. Five kilos sounds light, but fifty reps between every run makes it an endurance race, not a strength one.
My result: 49:29, 4th of 9
Close to the podium. My goal for KL is 48:20.
What racing a brand-new event is like
Honest version: the organisers were still figuring things out.
- Judges counted reps on their phones
- You count your own run laps
- Start times were confirmed very late
- A typhoon changed the sandbag weights on race day
It felt less like chaos and more like everyone building the race together. If you race HUNTR now, you’re one of the first-generation hunters.
How to prepare for that
- Track your own laps with your watch’s lap button
- Have two warm-ups ready, including a five-minute one for when the start moves
- Train slightly heavier than race weight so a last-minute change won’t rattle you
- Check HUNTR’s Instagram daily in race week. Updates land there first
HUNTR vs HYROX
| HUNTR | HYROX | |
|---|---|---|
| Running | 8 × 500m (4 km) | 8 × 1 km (8 km) |
| Equipment | One sandbag | Sleds, SkiErg, rower and more |
| Training at home | Very doable | Hard without a gym |
| Event | Brand new (2026) | Global series |
Because it’s just a sandbag, you can train almost anywhere. I train at a regular gym in Japan and, yes, with a 10 kg bag of rice.
Training for HUNTR with a rice bag
6 days to HUNTR Games KLNext stop: Kuala Lumpur
HUNTR Games KL runs 9–11 October 2026 at MAEPS Serdang, south of central KL, so plan your transport before race day. My husband and I also just signed up for CrossFit together. I’ll update this post after KL.
Race details and entries are on the official site.
Follow the training and race days on Instagram.
FAQ
Is HUNTR beginner-friendly?
Yes. Women’s Open is 5 kg. If you can run 4 km and handle bodyweight work, you can finish.
Can I train without a gym?
Almost entirely. A sandbag, or a bag of rice, covers every station.
Can I race solo?
Yes. Singles, Doubles and Team Relay divisions are available.
More from Brunei: Brunei travel guide · Ulu Temburong
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