Reviews of The Endurance Factory (Gym)

Andres Carriedo

This gym is family owned and operated and the family vibe resonates through the building's pores (yes, cinder blocks and drywall have pores). When you come in, you are welcomed not by a sales pitch, but by coaches who genuinely want to help you get stronger and more confident. Like many of the people who joined The Endurance Factory, I was looking for a place to train for Obstacle Course Races. If that's your thing, this place is perfect. I had a goal to do the Spartan Trifecta in 2018, but I also wanted to do fewer burpees in races. Both Ken Peluso and Tiffany Palmer are world class obstacle course racers who love to coach and pass their knowledge on. The Boot Camp classes are varied and challenging for all levels. I started out pretty out of shape and have worked my way into being pretty fit over the course of the year. Even with the loss of 25 lbs. I describe the classes the same way. They're challenging, but doable. Ken and Tiffany don't let you dog it or fail. They get the most out of everyone. There are tons of gyms in the area. Many of them have great coaches who will help you get stronger and give you personal attention. However, for me, four things set The Endurance Factory apart from most of those gyms. First, the owner, Ken Peluso, is my coach. He knows my race schedule, my injury history, my targets and goals. He knows how to get me where I want to go. All I need to do is show up and put in the work. Second, the gym is welcoming and family oriented. Everyone is welcome. Kids can train with their parents or hangout with the other children while their parents workout. Experienced racers workout beside and encourage first timers and non racers. The regulars are friendly and everyone is welcomed their first few classes. Third, we all work hard, but we also have fun. Tiffany Palmer is an elite obstacle course racer and one of the coaches. She pushes us hard in class, but she incorporates games to make the workouts more fun. Fourth, the gym also hosts potluck cookouts and has added perks to the membership package like Sunday morning Yoga classes and meal plan options. These are things that members want and ask for. They aren't just read or heard and "taken into consideration." They get done. I'd never been one for strength training before joining The Endurance Factory. Lifting weights is a new thing for me. I joined on Opening Day because Ken didn't get pushy with his sales pitch. He told me what he planned to deliver to members and showed me how I could benefit from the facilities. That was good enough for me to give it a try. It's now 10 months later and Ken has delivered on everything that he said that the gym would be. He's also been a great coach who has helped me through injuries and in the process helped me build confidence in my abilities. And I'm not the lucky, special one. Everyone at The Endurance Factory gets "the lucky special one" treatment.

James McHugh

Great people, great workouts, and a great facility. Definitely recommend anyone interested to check it out.

Jenny I.

Joining The Endurance Factory (TEF) was one of the best decisions I ever made. A few months ago, I tried out several gyms in the area in hopes that I would find the perfect facility. I was looking for a gym that would not only challenge me mentally and physically but also align with my values. My hope was also to become a little beast. After trying out several gyms, I came across TEF. I had wanted to challenge myself for a few years with Obstacle Course Racing and was so excited to come across this amazing gym. I contacted Coach Ken, the owner, and signed up for a free class. Coach Ken welcomed me on my first day, showed me around the facility, had a genuine interest in my goals, and helped me get through my first workout which was exactly what I was hoping for - physically tough with a healthy dose of mental toughness. I am now a few months in and I am so happy that I made the decision to join. So, why join The Endurance Factory? What sets them apart? 1. You will be working with AMAZING coaches who genuinely care about you and your progress. Coach Ken and Coach Tiffany are kind and intelligent and will motivate you to move forward towards your goals even on those days where you feel like you can't. They are positive, empowering, and authentic. You can tell that helping others reach their goals and overcome their obstacles (physically, emotionally, and mentally) are truly their passion. 2. The community is awesome and supportive. You will be working side by side with people who celebrate your successes and encourage you through your areas of opportunity. The environment is positive, encouraging, and just a happy and fun place to be! 3. The workouts are TOUGH but worth it. You will see results! Just DFQ! 4. TEF is affordable and you definitely get way more than you pay for and there is no sales pressure whatsoever. 5. You will get ripped. Keep up the great work team TEF! You're making a difference. -Jenny I.

Adam Wood

The Endurance Factory is an OCR/Ninja Warrior style gym that offers personal training and boot camp classes! The owner, Ken, had participated in numerous Tough Muders, Spartan Races, Terrain Races, Warrior Dash, Savage Race, OCR World championships, etc. He lends that knowledge and expertise to all gym members!

Heather Jaffey

I absolutely could not recommend this place enough! Ken and Tiffany are amazing, they meet you where you're at in every workout. I have learned so much about the mechanics of good form, and after taking Ken's 28 day challenge in January, I learned about the best nutrition to fuel my body and achieve my fitness goals. The environment at TEF is welcoming and supportive, everyone is so friendly and cheering you on in class. I have not only gotten physically stronger from working out here for the past 10 months, but mentally as well. I took Tiffany's OCR prep course prior to my first Spartan race and loved it! All the work I had put in at TEF prepared me well and the Spartan Sprint I did felt easy. :) The workouts are tough but you will be glad you did them! A great place with great people!

M H

Over the past 10 years I’ve been to multiple gyms including Crossfit \ HIIT \ Boxing \ OrangeTheory. This type of workout is just my preference as you get a coach for every class, you never have to program, and you get a great mix of cardio \ strength across the programs. This is the exact type of workout the endurance factory (TEF) offers. I break down my ‘rating’ into 3 categories 1) Do they incorporate barbells – Yes/No. The Endurance Factory does, and for me it’s critical. Places that have strength w/o barbells I found lacking in delivering results. And personally not as much fun. 2) Coaching – Personally I entered the ‘Crossfit’ world at a gym in howard county that was being run by recent college grads. Not to disqualify any coaches based on age, but when you are using barbells technique is critical, or you can be seriously injured. I left that place b/c I knew the coaching was severely lacking. That said I’d trust Ken \ Tiffany to teach one of my friends around this type of training. I’d certainly recommend an intro \ 1:1 program to get comfortable with the movements. They pay attention to everyone in the class, and more importantly classes are capped! This is critical b/c a coach can only pay attention to so many people in a class. If you have 35 people and 1 coach you won’t get much ‘coaching’. I’ve been to places that allow far more people in classes with a single coach. That should be a warning sign. 3) Cost \ Flexibility – For me this is a very important component. Many of these types of gyms tend to combine services \ programs where you are paying a high fee for special classes you may never use. Or they have tiered programs where the affordable levels don’t give you access to the classes as often as you would like to go. TEF keeps it simple with the unlimited plan, and has special classes you can choose to purchase if you think they would help. Finding a place with great coaches at a fair price is why I gave my rating. I think this gym is the perfect mix. Downsides – I’ve been to places with included technology tracking (tools like wodify), or nice locker rooms \ showers. Even to a couple of places that have A\C for the summer. These features are nice, however I’ll take the quality coaching \ fair price over the extras. Other considerations – TEF is a gym that does have the majority of the members (50+ %) enter into obstacle races. There’s still plenty of people that go just to work out, but if spartan races interest you there’s plenty of like minded people to help strategize. Best of luck with your search!

Clint

The Endurance Factory is awesome, it offers a unique training experience that you can't really get anywhere else. Ken & Tiffany are fantastic trainers, they're knowledgeable, tough, but very nice & encouraging. You can tell they love what they do and are very passionate. I can't recommend The Endurance Factory enough!

Jennifer G

I joined TEF in December 2018, having never been a fan of working out in a gym. I immediately loved the place. Ken and Tiffany are fantastic, and it feels like I am getting a personal training session at every class. Their equipment is fantastic for obstacle course race training, and they incorporate exercises that I had previously not thought to do on my own. They have created an atmosphere in which you want to push yourself to the next level and encourage you to do that every day. The community atmosphere they foster is fantastic. I highly recommend this gym.

mawuena n

This is one of the best decisions i made in my life, great trainers and team members, positive energy. I thought i made a mistake the first time i walked in, due to my weight, thinking i would be judged, but i was wrong. I always stepped aside during runs and most obstacles, you need to see me now, and my energy. I love this place and i will recommend to anyone who wants to change their lives.

Stacey B

The Endurance Factory has been a very fortuitous find for me. In a moment of insanity, I registered for a Spartan race. I've described myself as more of a Squishy Arts Nerd...not an athlete. Not a couch potato, but SO not an athlete. I met Ken shortly before he opened his gym. He gave me a tour and hope that maybe, with 7 weeks to spare, I could pull off this race. I, a staunch anti-morning person, am up & in the gym for bootcamp with Ken or Tiffany by 6 am. They push me hard enough to be really challenged, but not so far that it becomes disheartening. They cheer me on for my accomplishments & I've never felt judged if my weights are a little lighter or if I'm a little slower than more seasoned athletes...and those seasoned athletes cheer me on as well. I leave feeling accomplished & still having plenty of energy to take on my day. I joined because I did not want to fail miserably at the race I still cannot explain why I signed up for. However, I've fallen in love with this & the race has become secondary. As of this writing, I'm nearly 40 & have had incapacitating back issues over the last 20 years. I thought "athlete" was solidly out of my reach. It's not. I'm both lucky & grateful to have found such genuinely caring & supportive coaches to bring out the Athletic Arts Nerd. Oh, and those seasoned athletes? They get challenged, too ;)

Erik Arena

I am extremely excited to be a part of The Endurance Factory (TEF) gym. I was just beat with the daily grind of work, commuting to/from work, home, and family routine every week and needed to make a change to take care of myself. I walked in to the TEF In April of 2018, met with Ken Peluso and literally said “l need your help” and he turned me over to Tiffany Palmer. In 2018 I completed 6 Spartan Sprints and immediately got hooked on being fit again. Both Tiffany and Ken are tremendous athletes that will coach you to a being a better human no matter what fitness level your at. What I love the most about the TEF is the fun family of people I work out with and the variety of WODs that the coaches prepare. Everyone one is super supportive and always encouraging you during the workouts.

Brittany Urso

I discovered The Endurance Factory through Groupon last May and thought it would be something different to try to get in shape and improve my health. I was nervous because I am not very athletic and I didn't know if I would be able to keep up. It has been 6 months and I am so glad I have stuck with it! Ken and Tiffany are both fantastic trainers who will support you and help you reach your goals no matter what they are. I am usually intimidated when working out in group settings because I am worried about being judged by others who are more fit than me. I have never once felt that way at TEF. Everyone has been so welcoming and encouraging since day one. If you have tried traditional gyms and have been unsuccessful I would definitely recommend The Endurance Factory. They will help you get the results you are looking for in a supportive, positive environment!

Ashley Smith

The Endurance Factory is a community of incredible human beings. My husband and I originally joined to prepare for a Spartan Trifecta, but it didn’t take us long to realize we would be here for much longer. Ken and Tiffany are incredible coaches who genuinely care for their athletes. It is a welcoming atmosphere where all are pushed to succeed. They work with people at levels and points of their fitness journey. If you have a goal and are willing to work hard they will be behind you 200%.

Vanessa Santiago

LOVE the gym!!! TEF is an amazing place to work out!! GREAT ambience, clean place, positive attitude, good hours, wide range of programs available, friendly and family oriented. Just try out, you will love it too. My husband and I discovered the place a year ago after my sister started working out with them. Ken Peluso and Tiffany Palmer are excellent coaches and they are always aware on how to do the workout and checking on you if you don’t have a good form, that’s really important for me and my husband because that decrease the chances of getting injured. TEF have created a strong and motivational community that allows every individual to achieve their maximum potential within their physical capabilities. With that said “TEF is the place for everyone: from beginner athletes to elite athletes and more than a community is a FAMILY!”

Breanna Appleby

When I first learned about The Endurance Factory I honestly didn’t believe it was a gym for me. I don’t run. And I definitely have never done an obstacle course race. But then Ken started promoting the Strength In Numbers program and I figured I would give it a shot. Best. Decision. Ever. Not only did I learn about the importance of strength training from a coach who is so invested in the success of his students but also developed friendships with women of all fitness levels. Since joining The Endurance Factory, I have more confidence not only in what I can do at each class but when I can accomplish in my daily tasks. Things I never thought I could accomplish I now have goals to sore past. The classes are designed to encourage success in everyone. The coaches are supportive and enthusiastic about what they do. They have truly created a family out of everyone to comes into the gym!

Ama P

Love the Endurance Factory! What makes it special are Ken and Tiffany. I have never seen people more committed to helping their people succeed. They have a can do attitude, and so do all the athletes who train here. I've never been part of an actual community, and it's so lovely to be with others who are also supportive. Ken and Tiffany are excellent coaches, showing you exactly what to do and how to refine your skills, no matter how complicated the movement. I used to work out at another HIIT/ocr focused gym in DC, and dumped them when I realized TEF had really great functional fitness workouts where I could do serious strength training. I also tried a bunch of crossfit type gyms that were way too screamy or would push people into dangerous situations. TEF has really challenging workouts, but they take the time to show you how to do what you need to know, and coaches Ken, Tiffany, and your fellow athletes really are fantastic motivators while you're doing them.

Miranda Riley

Whether you’re looking to spice up your usual workout routine or train for your next big OCR race, The Endurance Factory is a place that you should check out. The owner, Ken, and his family are so kind and passionate about what they do. Ken is an expert on endurance sports and injury prevention so you will be in good hands. There is everything you need here- clean workout area, top notch equipment, crazy fun obstacles, and one of those water bottle machines where the water magically comes out without having to push any buttons!! Everyone is so friendly, you’ll definitely find yourself in some good company.

Rick Williams

Great workout, excellent facility.