15 Milestone Moments in Defined’s 15-Year History

‍

Happy New Year! January is not just the start of a new chapter—it’s our birthday. On January 3, 2026, Defined Training officially celebrated 15 years. We wouldn’t be here without you, and we’re so grateful for the community you’ve helped create. Thank you for making us stronger.

‍

To commemorate such a special occasion, we’re taking a trip down memory lane: Read on for 15 milestone moments that make up Defined’s 15-year history.

—

1. Defined opened its first location on the Southport Corridor in what is now Corridor Brewery—tucked away with an alley entrance. Only the strongest could find our door. (January 3, 2011)
   
   

2. Thirty members in thirty days—our first glimpse that we were building something special. (February 1, 2011)

3. Laura Murphy joined as our first full-time coach, the beginning of a dream team that would shape countless lives. (June 2011)

4. One hundred members in ten months—we'd outgrown our hidden home, bursting at the seams with possibility. (October 2011)

5. Our community carried us to Belmont—literally. Together, we moved every piece of equipment half a mile to our new space, including our pull-up rig. (February 2012)

6. The Defined Barbell Clubs were born—Olympic Lifting and Powerlifting found their home with us. (March 2012)

7. Regional Glory Days—our athletes competed at three CrossFit Regionals, placing in the top 12, proving that strength is built together. (2012, 2013, 2014)
   

8. Lincoln Square welcomed us—10,000 square feet of possibility, where an incredible community took root. (2013)
   

9. Innovation from necessity—Noal and David created and sold the Pound Pad, solving our noise challenges and helping gyms around the world, with warehouses in Europe and the Middle East (2015)

10. We made history—becoming the first CrossFit gym in the country to host "Working OUT!", an LGBTQ+ competition and fundraiser we've proudly continued for a decade. (2015)

11. Lakeview became home—the space where so many of our stories continue to unfold. (July 2016)

12. We weathered the storm together—a global pandemic couldn't break what we'd built. (2020)

13. The 1,000lb Club tradition began—celebrating strength in all its forms. (2024)

14. Recovery Club opened—our Traditional Finnish Sauna and Cold Plunge Therapy Space, a mini-sanctuary for healing. (2025)

15. Love multiplied—fifty people met at Defined and married, twenty-five children from that, and hundreds of lifelong friendships forged through shared struggle and celebration. A community that lifts each other up, in the gym and far beyond. This is the legacy we're proudest of.

‍

‍