Every great adventure has an origin story - here's ours
Look, I'm not gonna tell you some polished corporate story about market research and business plans. Truth is, Runevorn started in my garage back in 2019 with some beat-up weights, foam swords, and a crazy idea.
I'd been a personal trainer for years, watching people drag themselves through boring workouts they hated. Meanwhile, these same folks would spend hours raiding dungeons in games or binging fantasy shows. Something clicked - why couldn't training feel like THAT?
Started small. Just me and a handful of friends who were into D&D and lifting. We'd do strength circuits but frame 'em as quests. Deadlifts became "dragon slaying." Battle ropes turned into actual battle training. Sounds cheesy, right? But here's the thing - people showed up. They actually WANTED to train.
By 2021, we'd outgrown three spaces. The community kept growing - not just gamers and fantasy nerds (though we love you), but regular people who were sick of soul-crushing gym culture. Parents, office workers, students... folks who needed something more than just "do three sets of ten."
Now we're here on Dragon's Gate Boulevard with 8,000 square feet of what I'd call organized chaos. Medieval weapons hanging next to Olympic barbells. Quest boards instead of workout sheets. A bunch of coaches who genuinely give a damn about your progress.
We're not perfect. Sometimes the foam swords break, our medieval-themed playlists get old, and yeah, the whole fantasy thing isn't for everyone. But if you're tired of treadmills and mirrors and judgmental gym culture? You might've just found your people.
- Marcus "The Ironbound" Chen, Founder
Started in a cramped garage with 6 members who thought mixing RPGs with fitness sounded fun. Spoiler: it was.
Moved to a real facility (barely 2000 sq ft). Added Combat Conditioning classes. Had to turn people away - wild feeling.
Launched Guild programs. Members started organizing their own groups. Community really took off - this is when it became more than just a gym.
Found our forever home. 8000 sq ft of epic space. Added medieval weapon training, recovery zones, the whole nine yards.
Over 300 active members. Team of 12 coaches. Still figuring things out daily, but that's part of the adventure.
Our coaches aren't just trainers - they're your party members in this fitness journey
Founder & Head Coach
Ex-powerlifter who realized yelling "add more weight" wasn't everyone's idea of fun. Now specializes in making heavy things less scary.
Combat Conditioning Specialist
Former kickboxing champ with a medieval weapons obsession. Her classes will kick your butt while making you feel like a warrior monk.
Warrior Strength Lead
Strongman competitor who's surprisingly gentle. Specializes in teaching proper form without making you feel like an idiot.
Recovery & Mobility Master
Physical therapist turned mobility wizard. She's the reason you can move the day after Devon's classes without crying.
Quest-Based Training Guide
Former drama teacher who got really into CrossFit. Designs our quest programs and yes, he's actually wearing a cape sometimes.
Guild Programs Coordinator
Masters in sports psych, black belt in judo, and the glue holding our guild system together. She genuinely remembers everyone's names.
Let's be real - the fantasy theme is fun, but it's not why people stick around. They stay because we've built something different here.
No judgment. Seriously. Whether you're benching 300 or struggling with a broomstick, nobody's gonna make you feel small. We've all been beginners.
The medieval stuff? It's just our way of making training less boring. Turns out people work harder when they're "defending the realm" instead of just doing burpees. Go figure.
We're big on community. Not in a forced "we're family" way that gyms love to push. More like... you'll probably end up grabbing beers with people after class. Or joining someone's D&D campaign. It happens.
Bottom line - we're here to help you get stronger, move better, and actually enjoy the process. If that sounds good, come check us out. First class is free, and we promise not to make you swing a foam sword unless you're into it.