How a 1905 garage became a purpose-built training space for CrossFit and HYROX with the Aussie Pro Runner
Featuring Abhishek Venkata & Chethana Dilip (Rochester, NY)
Abhishek and Chethana train out of their garage in Rochester, New York. What started as a COVID-era barbell-and-dumbbell setup in a 1905 garage has turned into a purpose-built training space designed around one goal: intentional training without wasted time. With CrossFit as their base and HYROX NYC as their next target, the Aussie Pro Runner sits at the center of their programming, handling everything from speed work to sled-push simulation in a space where every piece of equipment has to earn its spot.
The Build: From 1905 Garage to Modern Training Space
Rochester winters make outdoor running unreliable for months at a time. That was the original spark. Why not put a runner in the garage?
The problem was the garage itself. Built in 1905, it had the charm of the house but none of the function a training space needs. So Abhishek and Chethana started planning a full renovation. They used ChatGPT to model out layouts, then contacted Garage Makeover Company, a local Rochester business, to handle the build.
The vision was simple: a space that looks clean and modern, feels motivating to walk into, and fits equipment that takes up minimal space but delivers maximum return. They already had barbells, plates, and dumbbells from COVID. The renovation gave them a proper home for all of it, plus room for the Aussie Pro Runner, a ski erg, and wall ball targets.
Why a Garage Gym Made Sense
Abhishek and Chethana also hold memberships at Midtown Athletic, a fitness facility in Rochester. But the garage gym solves a specific problem that no commercial gym can: time.
"When we go to a gym, by the time you touch that first piece of equipment to begin your workout, a lot of time passes by," Abhishek explains. The garage eliminates travel, eliminates waiting, and eliminates distractions. Wake up, walk to the garage, train with intention.
That matters even more now that they're running doubles at HYROX NYC, their first HYROX event. Training volume is high. They're doing two-a-days, with an early morning aerobic or anaerobic session at home and CrossFit or strength later in the day. A garage gym makes that schedule possible without burning hours on logistics.
CrossFit Base, HYROX Goal
CrossFit has always been their foundation. The community, the programming structure, the competitive element. But HYROX gave them a measurable target to train toward, especially on the running side.
"We are always striving to get better with fitness and are really goal driven," Abhishek says. "HYROX feels like that good measure of fitness for ourselves. Once we get a baseline we would want to keep improving."
Running is a core part of HYROX (8 x 1km runs between stations), and they wanted to train it with intention instead of just logging miles. That's where the Aussie Pro Runner fits. Every session on the runner is intentional because it's non-motorized. The athlete drives the effort and intensity. Whether it's a speed run or an easy run, a manual treadmill demands engagement that a motorized one doesn't.
Their Typical Training Week
With HYROX NYC on the horizon, Abhishek and Chethana are balancing strength, running, aerobic capacity, and race-specific work. Both are competing in doubles (men's doubles and women's doubles) with friends.
A typical week looks like:
- 2 to 3 runs per week
- 3 to 4 days of CrossFit
- 2 HYROX-specific sessions
- A couple of zone 2 sessions
- 2 strength days
Early mornings are for aerobic or anaerobic work at home: a run on the Aussie Pro Runner, a HYROX simulation, or zone 2 conditioning. Later in the day they hit CrossFit or strength at the gym.
"Nothing beats the community aspect of CrossFit," Abhishek says. "Then our garage gym now gives us that necessary intentional training sessions for HYROX and strength."
Why the Aussie Pro Runner Over Other Options
The couple was introduced to curved treadmills through CrossFit, where Assault Runners are a staple. They liked how a curved deck is more challenging than a regular treadmill. But when it came to their garage gym, the Aussie Pro Runner had something the Assault Runner didn't.
"With HYROX and a tight garage space, having the option to increase resistance on the curved runner is a game changer," Abhishek explains. "Being able to switch between a run then straight into a sled push/pull simulation then back to a run is something that puts the Aussie runner in its own league."
In a garage where every piece of equipment needs to justify its footprint, one machine that handles both running and sled work is a practical win. No turf lane needed, no separate sled, no extra floor space.
The decision was also reinforced by what they found online. "The positive reviews on customer service and shipping times sealed the deal for us."
The Space Challenge: Maximum Return, Minimum Footprint
A garage gym in a 1905 house doesn't come with unlimited square footage. Every equipment decision is a tradeoff. That constraint has shaped how Abhishek and Chethana think about their setup.
"The challenge is to make sure we have equipment that will take less space but give us the most return," Abhishek says.
The Aussie Pro Runner checks that box twice: it replaces both a treadmill and a sled setup. Add a ski erg, wall ball targets, barbells, and dumbbells, and they have a training space that covers CrossFit conditioning, HYROX race simulation, strength work, and zone 2 aerobic development, all in a single-car garage.
Who Should Consider an Aussie Pro Runner for Their Home Gym?
"I'd recommend the runner to someone who's intermediate at least and trying to bump up their running ability to the next level," Abhishek says. "Also anyone who's training for HYROX and wants to increase their leg endurance capacity."
About Abhishek & Chethana
Abhishek Venkata and Chethana Dilip train out of their home gym in Rochester, New York. Their backgrounds are in CrossFit, and they're preparing for their first HYROX event at HYROX NYC, competing in men's doubles and women's doubles.
Full Q&A With Abhishek Venkata
1) Tell us about your home gym setup. What was your guys' vision when you started building it out, and how has it evolved?
Living in Rochester, NY it's hard to get runs in during the winter months. So we just had an idea of why not have a runner in our garage. We already had some equipment we bought during COVID like barbells, plates and dumbbells. But our garage wasn't in great shape to begin with as our house was built in 1905. The house itself has a real nice charm but the garage lacked it. So we started envisioning a renovation that would make the garage look more modern and clean. We needed a space we'd want to spend time in and feel motivated to go and train. We have CrossFit as our base but also have an additional membership at a fitness facility called Midtown Athletic. It's nice but we wanted to cut down on travel time and all the noise around training. A garage gym just helps us focus on training without the bells and whistles. So we used ChatGPT to give us some models for the garage and then started enquiring about the cost and the build. Rochester is all about local businesses and we contacted Garage Makeover Company which is a local business to help us with this build. The challenge is to make sure we have equipment that will take less space but give us the most return.
2) You're training for HYROX and doing CrossFit. How does the Aussie Pro Runner fit into your programming for both?
We are always striving to get better with fitness and are really goal driven even though that sounds cliche. CrossFit has always been our base and HYROX feels like that good measure of fitness for ourselves. Once we get a baseline we would want to keep improving. Specially running being a core part of HYROX we wanted to make sure we're training with intention instead of just getting miles in. That's where the Aussie runner helps where any session on the runner will be intentional because it's non-motorized and we are driving the effort and intensity. Be it a speed run or an easy run, a manual treadmill will always help us get better towards running.
3) What made you guys go with the Aussie Pro Runner over other options for your home gym? Was there a specific feature that sealed it?
As we've done CrossFit for a while now, Assault Runners were a staple at CrossFit. So we were introduced to curved treadmills through that and we like how it is challenging compared to a regular treadmill. Assault Runners are good but with HYROX and a tight garage space, having the option to increase resistance on the curved runner is a game changer. Being able to switch between a run then straight into a sled push/pull simulation then back to a run is something that puts the Aussie runner in its own league. The positive reviews online on customer service and shipping times sealed the deal for us.
4) What does a typical training week look like for you? How do you balance HYROX prep with your CrossFit work?
With HYROX NYC coming up which is our first HYROX ever, we are constantly trying to find a balance between strength, running, aerobic and anaerobic training. Both of us are doing doubles with our friends (men's doubles and women's doubles). Typical training split: 2 to 3 runs a week, 3 to 4 days of CrossFit, 2 HYROX sessions, possibly a couple of zone 2 sessions, and 2 strength days. We've started experimenting with waking up early and getting an aerobic or anaerobic session in. This is where our garage will be a game changer as we'll skip travel time to a regular gym. When we go to a gym, by the time you touch that first piece of equipment to begin your workout, a lot of time passes by. Then later in the day we do either CrossFit or strength. Nothing beats the community aspect of CrossFit. Then our garage gym now gives us that necessary intentional training sessions for HYROX and strength.
5) Who would you recommend the Aussie Pro Runner to, and what would you tell someone who's on the fence about adding one to their home gym?
I'd recommend the runner to someone who's intermediate at least and is trying to bump up their running ability to the next level. Also anyone who's training for HYROX and wants to increase their leg endurance capacity.
FAQ
Is the Aussie Pro Runner good for a garage gym?
Yes. It requires zero electricity, so placement is flexible. The combined run and sled-push functionality means one machine replaces two pieces of equipment, which is critical when space is limited.
Can you train for HYROX on a curved treadmill?
Curved treadmills are well suited for HYROX training. The self-powered design forces intentional effort on every run, and sled mode lets you practice run-to-push transitions without needing a separate sled or turf lane.
How does the Aussie Pro Runner compare to the Assault Runner?
Both are curved, self-powered treadmills. The key difference is the Aussie Pro Runner has built-in sled mode with adjustable magnetic resistance, which the Assault Runner does not offer. For HYROX training or anyone who wants both run and sled work from one machine, that's a significant advantage.
Does the Aussie Pro Runner work for CrossFit training?
Yes. It fits into CrossFit programming the same way any curved treadmill does, for sprint intervals, conditioning pieces, and running workouts. Sled mode adds an extra training option that most CrossFit boxes would otherwise need separate equipment for.
What equipment pairs well with the Aussie Pro Runner in a home gym?
Common pairings include a ski erg, wall ball targets, barbells and plates, and dumbbells. Together with the Pro Runner's sled mode, this covers the majority of HYROX race stations and CrossFit conditioning demands in a compact footprint.
