05/04/2026
TBG Member Spotlight: Efren Pelayo
Efren Pelayo has been part of The Basement Gym since 2019, bringing nearly seven years of consistency and grit to the community. His fitness journey started at 19 with a clear goal—becoming a police officer. At the time, he described himself as “skinny fat,” struggling to run a mile or bench 100 pounds. Through daily training and discipline, he transformed his fitness to pass the POWER test and successfully enter law enforcement, building strength, endurance, and confidence along the way.
Today, Efren serves as a Police Sergeant, with eight years of prior experience on a SWAT team. Fitness remains a non-negotiable for him—not only to meet the physical demands of his job, but also to manage the mental stress that comes with it. For Efren, there’s no better reset than a hard lift or a solid run.
Outside the gym, his biggest pride is his role as a father. He’s leading by example, raising two active boys who are already developing their own love for fitness—from pull-up routines at home to training sessions at the gym and even completing an 11-mile hike in the Smoky Mountains together. That influence and shared experience clearly mean everything to him.
In the gym, Efren doesn’t point to a single standout accomplishment—instead, he takes pride in making fitness a lifelong habit. Nearly two decades into his career, he’s still wearing the same pant size he did when he started, and he’s in even better shape now at 42 than he was in his early 20s.
He’s a fan of dumbbell chest press (no surprise), avoids overhead work when he can, and keeps his mindset grounded in patience and consistency. His advice is simple but powerful: focus on small wins, stay consistent, and chase how it feels—not just how it looks.
Right now, Efren is setting his sights on a new challenge: completing a 20-mile race this fall.
Strong, steady, and leading by example—Efren is exactly what the TBG community is about.
