From the softball diamond to the fire ground, this Utah firefighter trains for the moments that matter most.
Featuring Grace Fleming (Utah)
There is a certain kind of athlete who never really stops competing. They just keep finding harder arenas. Grace Fleming went from college softball to CrossFit to the fire service, and at every step she chased the same thing: becoming stronger, more capable, and ready when it counts. Based in Utah, she is a firefighter and a CrossFit athlete who trains with a clear purpose behind every session.
That purpose is exactly why a machine like the Aussie Pro Runner fits her so well. It is a self-powered curved treadmill, which means every step is driven by her own effort, with no motor doing the work for her. Flip the magnetic resistance lever and it becomes a sled-push station with seven levels of magnetic resistance, the kind of gritty leg-drive and conditioning work that carries over to the loaded, stair-and-fatigue demands of the job.
We hit up Grace to chat how two demanding worlds, firefighting and CrossFit, feed each other, and how she uses the Aussie Pro Runner to train for the job that asks the most of her.
From College Softball to the Fire Ground
Grace did not arrive at firefighting through a straight line. She came to it the same way she came to CrossFit, by chasing something hard and meaningful. Her training history started on the softball field, where she wanted an edge, and it grew into something far bigger than sport.
In her words: "I got into CrossFit because I wanted to be stronger, fitter, and more capable for my sport softball which I played in college. Over time it became something that completely changed my life. Firefighting came from that same place, wanting to do something hard, meaningful, and bigger than myself. They feed into each other a lot. CrossFit helps me build the strength, endurance, and mental toughness I need for the fire service. And firefighting reminds me why I train so hard. It gives my training a purpose beyond the gym."
That last line is the throughline of her whole approach. The gym is not the goal. The gym is the preparation. The job is where the work shows up, and that is what keeps her honest about how hard she trains.
How the Aussie Pro Runner Carries Over to Firefighter Conditioning
The fire service does not hand out perfect conditions. Crews move in heavy gear, haul equipment up stairwells, drag charged hose lines, and keep working long after their legs and lungs start to protest. Training has to account for that reality, not just for a clean gym PR. This is where a self-powered curved deck earns its place, because there is no motor setting the pace and no coasting through the hard part.
Grace put the carryover plainly: "The Aussie Pro Runner carries over really well because it builds that gritty leg drive and conditioning you need on scene. In the fire service, you're rarely moving under perfect conditions. You're wearing gear, carrying weight, climbing stairs, dragging hose, or pushing through fatigue. Training on it feels very similar mentally and physically because it forces you to keep moving when your legs and lungs are burning. I definitely train with that carryover in mind. I want my fitness to show up when it matters most."
That instinct, training so your conditioning holds up under the worst conditions, is the entire philosophy of job-specific work. The sled-push mode, driven by the magnetic resistance lever, lets her load that leg drive heavily, while the curved running deck keeps the conditioning honest and self-paced. Both halves of the machine map onto the demands she meets on scene.
How the Aussie Pro Runner Fits CrossFit and WOD Training
For a CrossFit athlete, a conditioning tool only stays in the program if it is versatile. It has to handle short sprints, longer engine work, and full mixed workouts without eating up the whole floor. The Aussie Pro Runner earns its footprint by doing all of it, and Grace uses it across the board.
Asked how it slots into her training, she did not hesitate: "Honestly, all of it. I use it for conditioning, intervals, and workouts where I want that extra push without needing a ton of space. It's great for building power and stamina, especially when I want something that hits different than your basic treadmill running or other cardio machines. It fits really well into CrossFit because it can be used for short hard sprints, longer conditioning pieces, or mixed into a WOD with other movements. It's simple, but it's brutal in the best way."
Simple but brutal is a fair summary of the machine. Just a curved deck and a magnetic resistance lever to punish exactly as hard as you push. For an athlete who programs short hard sprints one day and longer conditioning pieces the next, that range matters.
Chasing #FullSend2026
Grace does not train for maintenance. Her bio carries the tag #FullSend2026, and it reads less like a hashtag than a standard she holds herself to. This year she is chasing goals on two fronts at once, the competition floor and the fire ground, and she is betting on herself to reach both.
Here is how she frames it: "#FullSend2026 means chasing big goals with everything I have, no excuses and no half effort. For me, that's qualifying for CrossFit Semifinals, becoming a better firefighter, and proving to myself that I'm capable of more than I thought possible. The Aussie Pro Runner fits into that because it helps me build the engine, grit, and power I need for Firefighting and CrossFit. It's one of those tools that forces you to get comfortable being uncomfortable."
Engine, grit, and power are the three things that show up whether she is deep in a Semifinals workout or deep in a call. That idea of getting comfortable being uncomfortable is the whole reason a self-powered deck like the Aussie Pro Runner belongs in a program like hers. There is no setting that makes it easier. There is only the work, and how much of it she is willing to do.
About Grace Fleming
Grace Fleming is a firefighter and CrossFit athlete based in Utah. A former college softball player, she carried that competitive drive into CrossFit and then into the fire service, where she trains with the specific demands of the job in mind. You can follow her on Instagram at @thegrace_07.
Full Q&A With Grace Fleming
You're a firefighter and a CrossFitter, two worlds that demand a lot from your body. How did you get into each, and how do they feed into each other?
"I got into CrossFit because I wanted to be stronger, fitter, and more capable for my sport softball which I played in college. Over time it became something that completely changed my life. Firefighting came from that same place, wanting to do something hard, meaningful, and bigger than myself. They feed into each other a lot. CrossFit helps me build the strength, endurance, and mental toughness I need for the fire service. And firefighting reminds me why I train so hard. It gives my training a purpose beyond the gym."
The fire service has real physical demands, dragging hose, hauling gear, stairs in full kit. How does training on the Aussie Pro Runner carry over to the job, and do you train with that carryover in mind?
"The Aussie Pro Runner carries over really well because it builds that gritty leg drive and conditioning you need on scene. In the fire service, you're rarely moving under perfect conditions. You're wearing gear, carrying weight, climbing stairs, dragging hose, or pushing through fatigue. Training on it feels very similar mentally and physically because it forces you to keep moving when your legs and lungs are burning. I definitely train with that carryover in mind. I want my fitness to show up when it matters most."
How does the Aussie Pro Runner fit into your CrossFit training, WOD conditioning, intervals, sled work, or all of it?
"Honestly, all of it. I use it for conditioning, intervals, and workouts where I want that extra push without needing a ton of space. It's great for building power and stamina, especially when I want something that hits different than your basic treadmill running or other cardio machines. It fits really well into CrossFit because it can be used for short hard sprints, longer conditioning pieces, or mixed into a WOD with other movements. It's simple, but it's brutal in the best way."
Your bio says #FullSend2026. What are you chasing this year, and where does the Aussie Pro Runner fit into getting there?
"#FullSend2026 means chasing big goals with everything I have, no excuses and no half effort. For me, that's qualifying for CrossFit Semifinals, becoming a better firefighter, and proving to myself that I'm capable of more than I thought possible. The Aussie Pro Runner fits into that because it helps me build the engine, grit, and power I need for Firefighting and CrossFit. It's one of those tools that forces you to get comfortable being uncomfortable."
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is a curved manual treadmill good for firefighter conditioning?
A self-powered curved treadmill has no motor, so the belt only moves when you drive it. That forces the same continuous leg drive you need on scene when you are wearing gear, hauling equipment, and climbing stairs through fatigue. The Aussie Pro Runner adds a sled-push mode through its magnetic resistance lever, which lets first responders build the heavy lower-body power and conditioning that fire-ground work demands, all on one machine.
How does the Aussie Pro Runner work for CrossFit and WOD conditioning?
It is built for exactly the kind of versatility CrossFit programming needs. The curved deck handles short hard sprints and longer conditioning pieces, and because it is self-paced there are no preset intervals fighting your effort. The magnetic resistance lever turns it into a sled-push station with seven levels of magnetic resistance, so it drops cleanly into a WOD alongside other movements without taking up a large footprint.
Is the Aussie Pro Runner a good fit for women in the fire service?
Absolutely. Women in the fire service train for and meet the same physical demands as everyone on the crew: gear weight, stair climbs, hose drags, and long efforts under fatigue. The Aussie Pro Runner is self-powered and the sled-push lever offers seven levels of magnetic resistance, so every athlete drives the pace and the load through their own effort, building real leg drive and conditioning for the job. Grace is one of a growing number of women bringing that work to the fire ground, and the machine meets her exactly where she trains.
Is there a first responder, military, or educator discount?
Yes. Through GovX, verified first responders, military members, and educators can purchase the Aussie Pro Runner for $2,795. Because Grace is a firefighter, that GovX first responder price is the most relevant option for her and for others on the job. Verification is handled through GovX at checkout.
How much does the Aussie Pro Runner cost?
The retail price is $3,195. Our current Reserve and Save promotion brings it down to $2,995, which is $200 off, and it includes free shipping in the continental US. Verified first responders, military, and educators can buy it for $2,795 through GovX. Tax is only charged in California. Every unit is backed by a warranty of 5 years on the frame, 3 years on parts, and 1 year of service.
