How a Special Operations veteran and adaptive athlete rebuilt his training around self-powered, low-impact control.
Featuring Andrew May
Andrew is a U.S. Army Special Operations veteran and a below-the-knee amputee who now competes as an adaptive athlete. What he was looking for in equipment was specific and practical: something low impact, something safe, something with sled mode, something that let him train at his own pace without loading his prosthetic or his joints. The Aussie Pro Runner is self-powered with magnetic resistance sled mode, with no motor dictating speed, which are the features he keeps coming back to.
Ten Years in Special Operations, and What Came After
Andrew spent a decade in the U.S. Army Special Operations community before he was seriously injured during a deployment to Syria. He describes that stretch, and what came after, plainly.
"I spent 10 years serving in the U.S. Army Special Operations community, deploying multiple times alongside some incredible teammates. During a deployment to Syria, I was seriously injured, which ultimately led to the amputation of my right leg below the knee, along with multiple TBIs and PTSD. Losing my leg wasn't the hardest part, it was losing the identity I'd built around being a SOF Member. Recovery forced me to rebuild not only physically, but mentally as well. Adaptive sports became that next mission. Competing with Team SOCOM at the Warrior Games gave me purpose again and reminded me that our injuries don't define us. I was honored to earn the Ultimate Champion title for Team SOCOM, and today I continue training, competing, and using my story to encourage other veterans to keep rebuilding their lives after service."
Three injuries in a single breath: the amputation, multiple traumatic brain injuries, and PTSD. Two of the three are invisible. He does not rank them, does not linger on any of them, and moves straight to the thing that actually cost him the most. Which was not the leg. Andrew puts the identity there instead. A decade inside a community like this, the job becomes the measuring stick for everything, and losing it took more than the physical rebuild.
Adaptive sports became the next mission, in his own word. Not a hobby, not therapy. A mission. Same standard, pointed somewhere new.
What Training Means Now
The purpose of training changed with everything else. Andrew frames the before and after without ceremony.
"Before my injury, training was about preparing for the mission and being the best teammate I could be. Today, training is about rebuilding. Every workout reminds me that my injury doesn't define me. It's how I stay healthy, challenge myself, and show others that setbacks don't have to be the end of the story."
That reframe, from preparing for a mission to rebuilding after one, is the through line in how he chooses to train and what he trains on.
Choosing Low-Impact Equipment That Protects a Prosthetic
For a below-the-knee amputee, equipment selection is not about preference. It is about protecting a prosthetic and a set of joints that take on load differently than they used to. Andrew was looking for a narrow set of things, and he found them.
"As a below-the-knee amputee, I needed equipment that was low impact, safe, and allowed me to train at my own pace without putting unnecessary stress on my prosthetic or my joints. The Aussie Pro Runner checked every box. Because it's self-powered, I'm in complete control of the speed, which makes it feel more natural and gives me the confidence to push myself safely. It's become a huge part of my training and recovery because it lets me train hard while protecting my body."
The self-powered curved deck is the mechanism behind that control. There is no motor setting a belt speed the athlete has to match. The Aussie Pro Runner only moves as fast as the person on it drives it, and it slows the moment they ease off. For Andrew, that translated into confidence, which he names as the thing that lets him push safely rather than tentatively.
He returns to the same idea when asked what surprised him most.
"What surprised me the most is how natural it feels. Because it's self-powered, I'm in control, so it moves with me instead of forcing me to keep up with a motor. As an amputee, that gives me a lot more confidence. I can focus on my form, build endurance, and push myself without worrying about the machine dictating my pace."
Rebuilding Through Daily Training as an Adaptive Athlete
Day to day, the Aussie Pro Runner sits at the intersection of rehab and conditioning for Andrew. He uses it to work on the fundamentals an amputee athlete cannot skip: endurance, gait, and staying in shape without paying for it later.
"The Runner has become a key part of both my rehab and my daily training. It allows me to build endurance, improve my gait, and stay in shape without putting unnecessary stress on my prosthetic. Every session helps me become a little stronger and a little more confident, whether I'm training for competition or just working to be better than I was yesterday."
Competition is a real part of that picture. The Warrior Games, a DoD adaptive sports competition for wounded, ill, and injured service members, is where Andrew found out what he still had.
"The Warrior Games showed me what I was still capable of. Competing with Team SOCOM against some of the best wounded, ill, and injured service members in the military pushed me to a new level, and earning the Ultimate Champion title only fueled that drive. To compete at that level, consistency is everything. The Runner allows me to build the endurance and conditioning I need while protecting my body, so I can keep training, keep improving, and continue chasing the next challenge."
His aim now sits beyond the Warrior Games, and he is clear about both the goal and the advice he would give someone standing where he once stood.
"My biggest goal is to compete at the Paralympic level as one of the top adaptive athletes in the world. Beyond that, I want to use my platform to inspire other wounded veterans and show them that a life-changing injury doesn't have to limit what they're capable of. To someone just starting this journey, I'd say this: be patient with yourself. Recovery isn't a straight line, but if you keep showing up and putting in the work, you'll be amazed at what you're capable of rebuilding."
About Andrew May
Andrew May is a 10-year U.S. Army Special Operations veteran who deployed multiple times before being seriously injured during a deployment to Syria, which led to the below-the-knee amputation of his right leg, along with multiple TBIs and PTSD. He rebuilt through adaptive sports and competed with Team SOCOM at the DoD Warrior Games, where he earned the Ultimate Champion title for Team SOCOM. He continues to train and compete as an adaptive athlete with the goal of reaching the Paralympic level, and he uses his platform to encourage other wounded veterans.
Full Q&A With Andrew May
Tell us about your background, your time in Special Operations, and the road to becoming an adaptive athlete.
"I spent 10 years serving in the U.S. Army Special Operations community, deploying multiple times alongside some incredible teammates. During a deployment to Syria, I was seriously injured, which ultimately led to the amputation of my right leg below the knee, along with multiple TBIs and PTSD. Losing my leg wasn't the hardest part, it was losing the identity I'd built around being a SOF Member. Recovery forced me to rebuild not only physically, but mentally as well. Adaptive sports became that next mission. Competing with Team SOCOM at the Warrior Games gave me purpose again and reminded me that our injuries don't define us. I was honored to earn the Ultimate Champion title for Team SOCOM, and today I continue training, competing, and using my story to encourage other veterans to keep rebuilding their lives after service."
What does training mean to you now, after the injury, compared to before?
"Before my injury, training was about preparing for the mission and being the best teammate I could be. Today, training is about rebuilding. Every workout reminds me that my injury doesn't define me. It's how I stay healthy, challenge myself, and show others that setbacks don't have to be the end of the story."
As a below-the-knee amputee, what were you looking for in equipment, and why was the Aussie Pro Runner the right fit?
"As a below-the-knee amputee, I needed equipment that was low impact, safe, and allowed me to train at my own pace without putting unnecessary stress on my prosthetic or my joints. The Aussie Pro Runner checked every box. Because it's self-powered, I'm in complete control of the speed, which makes it feel more natural and gives me the confidence to push myself safely. It's become a huge part of my training and recovery because it lets me train hard while protecting my body."
How does the Runner fit into your rehab and your day-to-day progress?
"The Runner has become a key part of both my rehab and my daily training. It allows me to build endurance, improve my gait, and stay in shape without putting unnecessary stress on my prosthetic. Every session helps me become a little stronger and a little more confident, whether I'm training for competition or just working to be better than I was yesterday."
Tell us about the Warrior Games, competing with Team SOCOM, and training for that level.
"The Warrior Games showed me what I was still capable of. Competing with Team SOCOM against some of the best wounded, ill, and injured service members in the military pushed me to a new level, and earning the Ultimate Champion title only fueled that drive. To compete at that level, consistency is everything. The Runner allows me to build the endurance and conditioning I need while protecting my body, so I can keep training, keep improving, and continue chasing the next challenge."
What surprised you most, or what is your favorite thing about training on it?
"What surprised me the most is how natural it feels. Because it's self-powered, I'm in control, so it moves with me instead of forcing me to keep up with a motor. As an amputee, that gives me a lot more confidence. I can focus on my form, build endurance, and push myself without worrying about the machine dictating my pace."
What is your bigger goal, and what would you tell someone at the start of this journey?
"My biggest goal is to compete at the Paralympic level as one of the top adaptive athletes in the world. Beyond that, I want to use my platform to inspire other wounded veterans and show them that a life-changing injury doesn't have to limit what they're capable of. To someone just starting this journey, I'd say this: be patient with yourself. Recovery isn't a straight line, but if you keep showing up and putting in the work, you'll be amazed at what you're capable of rebuilding."
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a curved treadmill good for below-the-knee amputees and prosthetic users?
The appeal of a self-powered curved treadmill for prosthetic users is that the athlete, not a motor, sets the speed. On the Aussie Pro Runner, the belt only moves as you drive it and slows the instant you ease off, so you are never forced to match a fixed motor pace. As Andrew describes it, that control lets him work on form, gait, and endurance while staying in charge of every step. Every athlete and prosthesis is different, so we always recommend working with your prosthetist or physical therapist to confirm what is appropriate for your situation.
Is the Aussie Pro Runner good for adaptive athletes?
The Aussie Pro Runner is used by adaptive athletes such as Andrew, a Team SOCOM Warrior Games Ultimate Champion. The reason is the same one that makes it useful in rehab: the self-powered design keeps the athlete in control of speed, and the curved, shock-absorbing slat belt supports endurance and conditioning work without the hard, fixed impact of a motorized belt. It is a training tool, not a substitute for a clinician's guidance, so pair it with the advice of your care team.
Is it low impact for joints and prosthetics?
The Runner uses a curved, shock-absorbing slat belt rather than a hard motorized platform, which is generally lower impact underfoot. Because it is self-powered, you also control how much load you take on and how fast, which is exactly what Andrew was looking for when he wanted to train hard without adding unnecessary stress to his prosthetic or his joints. This is a description of how the design works, not a medical claim. Your prosthetist or physical therapist is the right person to advise on your specific joints and prosthesis.
What is the self-powered design, and how does it help amputees train safely?
Self-powered means there is no motor. The curved deck responds only to your stride, so the machine moves with you instead of setting a pace you have to keep up with. For an amputee, there is no motor that can pull you along faster than you choose, so you set every step of the pace yourself, which lets you build confidence, focus on gait, and push yourself on your own terms. It is the feature Andrew names most often as the reason the Runner fits his training.
Is there a veteran or military discount?
Yes. AFP offers a GovX price of $2,795 for verified active military, veterans, and first responders, with verification handled through GovX at checkout.
How much does the Aussie Pro Runner cost?
The retail price is $3,195. It is currently available through the Reserve & Save promotion at $2,995, which is $200 off with free shipping in the continental US. Verified military, veterans, and first responders qualify for the GovX price of $2,795. Sales tax applies only in California. The Aussie Pro Runner is built on a welded steel frame with sealed bearings, a 19 inch shock-absorbing slat belt, and a 350 lb user weight capacity, and it is backed by a 5 year frame, 3 year parts, and 1 year service warranty.
