Elite results through race-specific programming with the Aussie Pro Runner, a curved treadmill with resistance
Featuring Sarahbeth Calvin, Owner of Leander Athletic Club (Leander, TX)
Leander Athletic Club (LAC) in Leander, Texas develops high-performing HYROX and DEKA athletes with a simple principle: train the way you race. Their system blends 1km run intervals, heavy sled work, strength training, engine development, and full race simulations with a focus on performing under fatigue. To run this at group-class scale, LAC utilizes the Aussie Pro Runner, a curved treadmill with sled-mode resistance so athletes can practice the run-to-station transitions that define hybrid racing.
What Is HYROX? (Quick Definition)
HYROX is a fitness race format built around repeated transitions: 8 x 1km runs, each immediately followed by a functional station. It rewards athletes who can hold a strong run pace while repeatedly hitting high-output work under cumulative fatigue.
Common HYROX stations include: SkiErg, sled push, sled pull, burpee broad jumps, rowing, farmers carry, sandbag lunges, and wall balls.
What Is DEKA? (Quick Definition)
DEKA is a hybrid race with 10 "zones" that combine running and functional fitness. Athletes can compete in:
- DEKA FIT (500m runs between zones)
- DEKA MILE (shorter runs between zones)
- DEKA STRONG (no running; strength focus)
It's a different structure than HYROX, but the same core challenge: repeatable output under fatigue.
Why People Pay Attention to Leander Athletic Club
When a teen athlete is climbing DEKA leaderboards and a parent is qualifying for high-level HYROX events, people start asking the same questions:
- What's the programming approach?
- How do they build speed and power without breaking athletes down?
- How do they run race-specific training at group scale?
We spoke with Sarahbeth Calvin, owner of Leander Athletic Club, to understand what's working and why.
About Sarahbeth Calvin
Sarahbeth Calvin is the owner of Leander Athletic Club, an official HYROX Training Club in Leander, Texas. LAC runs hybrid-race programming alongside group fitness, personal training, and wellness services. Her focus is building a training system that produces race-ready performance while remaining scalable for group classes.
The Core Philosophy: Race-Specific, Always
"At Leander Athletic Club, everything is built around race-specific training done at scale," Sarahbeth explains. "We don't just train fitness, we train athletes to perform under fatigue, in competition-style environments."
That philosophy shows up in two ways:
- The workouts look like the race
- The training stress matches the race (especially transitions)
Hybrid racing isn't just about being strong or fast. It's about staying strong and fast after you're already tired.
Why Curved Treadmills Became a Daily Tool at LAC
For a hybrid-race gym, equipment isn't about aesthetics. It's about flow, transitions, and race specificity.
"Curved treadmills changed how we train endurance for HYROX and DEKA," Sarahbeth says. "The self-powered feel encourages athletes to own their pace, and it's easier to practice realistic transitions, especially when you're combining runs with sled work, lunges, or wall balls."
Why self-powered running matters for hybrid racing
A big part of HYROX/DEKA success is pacing without external help. Self-powered running forces athletes to:
- Manage output rep-to-rep
- Re-find rhythm after heavy work
- Practice accelerating into a run when legs feel "loaded"
That's exactly what happens in races.
Why LAC Chose the Aussie Pro Runner
LAC's choice came down to practical reality: what supports performance and lets a growing program scale.
"Speed and service," Sarahbeth explains. "We can't wait months for equipment when classes are growing. Aussie Fitness Pros shipped faster and communicated better. Those things matter when you're running a high-volume gym."
She adds: "Customer service matters as much as the product. And the combination of sled function plus self-powered design fits HYROX and DEKA training better than anything else we've used."
Sled Mode: The Feature That Helps Group Training Scale
In group classes, the biggest enemy is downtime. If athletes are waiting for a lane, swapping equipment, or resetting stations, training quality drops.
"My favorite feature is sled mode combined with being fully self-powered," Sarahbeth says. "We can move athletes from running to sled-style pushing instantly, without changing the floor layout or slowing down class flow."
Why this matters operationally
This kind of setup:
- Increases total work completed in class
- Keeps transitions tight (race specificity)
- Lets coaches run clean station rotations
- Creates consistent training quality across different ability levels
Daily Integration: From Intervals to Full Race Simulations
At LAC, curved treadmills aren't occasional tools. They're baked into the week.
"We use them every single day," Sarahbeth says. "Race simulations, interval work, run-sled combos, engine days. We pair them with sled pushes, lunges, farmers carry, and wall balls so athletes learn how to run hard while under fatigue, exactly how races are structured."
Programming at a Glance (How LAC Structures the Week)
LAC's weekly framework for HYROX/DEKA athletes typically includes:
- 2x/week: Run-focused interval days (race-pace intervals + negative split practice)
- 2x/week: Heavy sled work + posterior chain development
- ~1x/quarter: Full race simulation event (run-to-station sequencing at competition intensity)
- 1x/week: Engine building / threshold work
- Daily: Station technique touches (skills + pacing strategy)
Why this works: it builds repeatability, the ability to keep producing quality reps when fatigue is accumulating.
HYROX Stations: How LAC Preps Each Demand
HYROX has a predictable structure, so LAC trains each station both in isolation and as part of race combos.
Here's how the station prep typically maps:
- SkiErg: Pace intervals + run pairing
- Sled Push: Heavy pushes + run-to-push transitions
- Sled Pull: Posterior chain + grip endurance + fatigue management
- Burpee Broad Jumps: Elastic power under fatigue (controlled breathing strategy)
- Row: Pacing discipline (avoid redlining early)
- Farmers Carry: Bracing + gait efficiency while loaded
- Sandbag Lunges: Leg endurance + hip stability + mental grind
- Wall Balls: High-rep finishers + heart-rate control + efficiency
The key: athletes don't just "get good" at stations. They train how stations feel after running.
The Results: Performance + Scale
The most interesting part of LAC's story isn't just individual athletes doing well. It's that the system is designed to create high-level performance inside a group format.
"When you pair a race-specific system with the right tools," Sarahbeth says, "you can train at a higher level, more consistently, with more athletes at once."
That's the model: repeatable performance under fatigue, at scale.
About Leander Athletic Club
Leander Athletic Club is an official HYROX Training Club located in Leander, Texas, specializing in HYROX and DEKA programming alongside group fitness, personal training, and wellness services.
Full Q&A With Sarahbeth Calvin
1) How has curved treadmill training changed your approach for HYROX/DEKA?
Curved treadmills changed how we train endurance because the self-powered feel teaches athletes to own their pace and transition well under fatigue. We use them for race-pace intervals, sprint work, recovery runs, and run-to-station combos so athletes learn to keep run quality high after sleds, lunges, and wall balls.
2) What's your favorite Aussie Pro Runner feature for group training?
Sled mode plus self-powered is huge. We can instantly switch athletes from running to pushing without unplugging or changing class flow. And since it doesn't require power, we can place units wherever they fit best for rotations.
3) How do you use curved treadmills in daily programming?
Every day. They're used in race simulations, interval sessions, run-sled combos, and engine work. We pair them with sled pushes, lunges, farmers carry, and wall balls so athletes practice running hard while fatigued, exactly how the races are structured.
4) Why choose Aussie over other curved treadmills?
Speed and service. Our programs are growing and we can't wait months for equipment. Aussie communicated better and shipped faster. Customer service matters when you're scaling, and the sled-mode function plus self-powered design fits HYROX/DEKA training extremely well.
5) What's the training approach that produces elite results?
Race-specific training done at scale. We combine structured running, heavy sled work, strength, engine intervals, and race simulations. The goal is athletes who can hold speed and power even when exhausted, because that's what HYROX and DEKA demand.
FAQ
Is the Aussie Pro Runner good for HYROX 1km runs?
They can be. Curved treadmills help athletes practice pacing and rhythm without relying on a motor, which is useful in HYROX where you repeatedly transition from stations into 1km runs.
How do you program run-to-sled transitions?
LAC pairs run intervals directly with sled work and uses tight station sequencing so athletes practice the "run, station, run" rhythm and fatigue pattern they'll experience in competition.
What resistance level should I use for sled-style pushing?
Start moderate and prioritize posture, consistent steps, and force through the hips. Increase resistance only when athletes can keep form and output consistent across repeats.
How many curved treadmills does a HYROX class need?
It depends on class size and programming. For 10 to 15 athletes, 2 to 4 units can support efficient rotation when combined with other stations.
HYROX vs DEKA: what's the difference?
HYROX is 8 x 1km runs plus stations. DEKA is 10 zones with different formats (FIT, MILE, STRONG). Both are hybrid races, but they emphasize pacing and fatigue differently.
Can curved treadmill work replace outdoor running?
It's a strong tool for race-pace intervals and transitions, but most athletes still benefit from some outdoor running for variety and specificity.
