08/24/2026
This one means a little more to me.
I've known Cory for over 10 years. We used to train together at another gym, and when that gym closed and I eventually opened Wake The Dead out of my garage, somehow he found me again. 😂 He came looking for somewhere quiet to train, and from there, I guess we made a little history together.
Cory was there during the early garage days and has watched this place grow into what it is today. And somewhere along the way, he grew with it too.
He's been through some incredibly hard things. There was a point when I honestly didn't know if I would see him training with us again. But he came back. He trusted us enough to start again, let us guide him, and slowly built himself back up.
After knowing this man for more than a decade, I can confidently say this is the best shape I've ever seen him in. He's strong as hell, his nutrition is probably better than mine 😂, and physically you can see the work he's put in.
But hearing him talk about his confidence, clarity, and what this place has done for him outside of the gym means more to me than any physical transformation.
Because Cory **earned** where he is today.
He listened, became patient, stayed consistent, trusted the process and did the work. I want him to give himself credit for that.
When Cory talks about the people here and how he feels when he walks through our doors, that's exactly why we created Wake The Dead.
Hearing him say these things reminds me that we're doing something right.
Not everyone will understand the value of what we've built here, and that's okay.
Cory does. And he's living proof to me that we're doing something right. 💀❤️
And Cory... after all these years, you're pretty much stuck with us now. We'll make room for the wheelchair when the time comes. 😂💪
