Formerly Courage Fitness, Durham CrossFit is on a mission "to help people reclaim, maintain, and enhance their physical freedom so they can live the active life they want and deserve." With over 50 years of combined experience between trainers, this gym has the knowledge necessary to give each individual a unique fitness plan that fits them.
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Hours:
Monday: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM Tuesday: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM Wednesday: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM Thursday: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM Friday: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM Saturday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM Sunday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
This review is a tough one to write because I’ve been a loyal member of Courage Gym for 1.5 years and truly loved working with the personal training staff — especially Nick and Amer. Both are phenomenal coaches. Nick, you are truly amazing at what you do. I was able to drop 45 pounds and gain a ton of muscle, and I couldn’t have done it without your guidance and expertise. You have a rare talent, and I hope you never stop doing what you do best.
Now, while my experience with the trainers was exceptional, this review is directed toward the management and ownership of Courage Gym.
When I first looked into the gym, I used the chatbot on the website. It actually impressed me at first — the responses were professional and informative. But after that, it took weeks to get a class or consultation scheduled. That delay nearly pushed me away, and in the end, I just walked in out of frustration. To the owners: this is a major red flag. You’re potentially losing serious clients due to this breakdown in communication.
Once I finally got in, things went smoother. Erica helped pair me with a trainer who specialized in bodybuilding, and that kicked off what would be a very productive 1.5 years.
That said, there were some ongoing facility issues. The cable machine was broken for five months, which is way too long for a key piece of equipment to be out of commission. Additionally, there were multiple times when all the prime workout areas were filled with PT sessions, forcing us to train in awkward, cramped spots. Not a dealbreaker — but definitely not ideal.
My biggest issue, and ultimately the reason I left, was that despite paying $900/month for personal training, I was not given full, independent access to the gym outside of training sessions to practice between sessions. After 1.5 years of loyalty, that restriction felt unreasonable. I would have happily stayed longer if that small request had been granted.
In conclusion:
The personal training staff deserves 5 stars — they are the glue holding this place together.
The gym as a whole gets 3 stars — due to management issues, broken equipment, and poor communication.
If those issues get addressed, this gym has the potential to be truly great. Until then, the amazing trainers are the best part of Courage Gym — and Nick, I’ll always be grateful for your support and expertise.
Kirk Roy
Jun 12, 2025
5
Great vibe. Well structured class and stimulus. Coaching was on point! Will return next time I am in town.
Philip Borden
Apr 24, 2025
5
I’ve been going to CFD for ~6 years now and have loved it! The coaches are friendly, attentive, and effective in their methods, and for me the workout program works to help keep me in shape. I’d definitely recommend this gym!
Sabel Magdalene
Oct 15, 2024
5
While I love a good multifunctional open space to workout in, what I value most about Courage Fitness in Durham, NC is the energy of the people who show up everyday to run it, facilitate empowering workouts, and express genuine kindness beyond cultural barriers. It’s why I keep coming back…✨😘
