D1 Training’s latest location is more than a franchise milestone, it’s the result of one family’s mission to bring youth training to their community
D1 Training is powering through a high-growth year, marking the opening of its 150th location as demand for its athlete-style workouts for all ages continues to grow.
The latest site, which opened this month at 1279 NW Maynard Rd. in Cary, North Carolina, follows a record-setting May, new strategic partnerships, 26 openings, and 32 territories awarded year-to-date.
The Cary location is owned by local entrepreneurs Darren and Mariann Mock, a husband-and-wife team who have backgrounds in technology and insurance. The duo said they discovered a gap in youth and adult athletic training and chose D1 as the platform to fill it.
Their experience reflects a broader trend: while adult fitness consumers are increasingly invested in health and longevity, demand is also rising on the youth side, with parents seeking structured, long-term development pathways for their young athletes.
“We searched for a training facility where our three children could prepare for the next level of athletics – and came up short,” Darren said. “Bringing D1 to Cary wasn’t just a business decision; it was personal. We’re building something this community truly needs – and it’s incredibly rewarding to be part of D1’s nationwide growth at such a pivotal moment in the brand’s journey. D1 supported us every step of the way – during the buildout, grand opening preparation, and beyond – and now, we’re already seeing superfans walk through the door. To reach this 150th location milestone as a family and as a brand is incredibly special. We believe in the integrity of this team and the vision for the future, and we’re excited to be part of shaping where D1 goes from here.”
Pro athletes have also gone all in on the brand. NFL brothers Sammy and Jaylen Watkins each own a D1 Training location, as does former New Orleans Saints tight end Josh Hill.
While May marked D1’s highest monthly sales in company history, the fitness franchise says June is already on pace to break even more records. D1 credits its momentum in part to new tech-enabled tools, including dynamic promotional calendars, turnkey marketing campaigns and integrations with ClassPass and Wellhub. The brand is also piloting dayparting strategies through partnerships, such as 2 Hour Learning, meant to maximize facility utilization throughout the day.
“We’re not just growing for growth’s sake – we’re building smarter,” D1 Training CEO Will Bartholomew said. “We’ve brought construction project management and equipment sourcing in-house, with cost-savings in mind. At the same time, we’ve nearly doubled our home office team year-over-year and introduced performance-based regional workshops to ensure every owner gets the hands-on support they need.”
