A fitness dream comes true

Evolution GYM

431 W. Villard Street

Dickinson

701-483-9348

Online: www.evolution-dickinson.com www.facebook.com/pages/Evolution-GYM

Hours: Monday through Friday 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Sometimes, dreams to come true.

Evolution GYM in Dickinson opened on Oct. 1 in what used to be the Sax Motor Co. Quick Lube Center before it moved north to its new location in January.

"When they moved then we were like, 'That's a great spot to do it!'" said Randi Walz, one of the co-owners of Evolution.

The fitness center was a 20-year dream between Walz and her husband and partial owner, Shane. Sam Wilson is the third owner.

The fitness center offers the basic cardio equipment -- treadmills, stationary bikes and ellipticals -- but what really makes it unique are the CrossFit classes it offers several times a day.

CrossFit uses functional movements performed at high intensity to improve fitness. Functional movements are things average people do every day.

"We always ask people in class, 'Have you squatted before?'" Walz said. "Of course, when you go to the bathroom, when you sit down at work, when you sit down to pick up a ball."

All of the CrossFit coaches are level one certified, including Walz.

"All of us went to workshops all over the United States to do this," Walz said. "Level one is the base and you can go up from there."

Those that can't make it to class can do the workout of the day that's posted to catch up.

Sax Motor Co. is a long-time family owned company and Walz' brother, Christian Kostelecky, is its general manager.

"It's special because it's been in our family for decades. It's a special spot for me," Walz said. "We've always wanted to do it, we just couldn't find the right spot."

Crews began working this spring to turn a shop formerly used for car tune-ups into a gym for toning up people.

"We kept the old-fashioned windows and the old-fashioned brick and just kind of added to it," Walz said.

The cardio bank is up front and faces Villard while the group fitness and weight section -- what Walz calls the playground -- is in back on an inch-and-a-half thick surface made of old sneakers.

"It's got a lot of cushion," Walz said. "You can slam your bumper plates on it and bounce. It's really good on your joints."

Evolution also offers cycling classes and off-season training for high school and college athletes at least 15 years old. The outdoor training area is near completion.

"We'll be tire flipping, we'll use sledgehammers, we've got a 400-meter dash set up out here," Walz said. "So for our high school athletes, we'll have our benches out here and use it seasonally."

There are two private showers in each restroom so those returning to work after a lunchtime sweatfest will be refreshed.

To help tackle the other half of fitness, there is a registered dietician on staff to help with nutritional needs.

"It's like a one-stop shop," Walz said. "You've got a dietician, personal trainers, crossfit coaches."

There are two different types of memberships. A general membership gives members access to the equipment and cycling classes and a crossfit membership adds the crossfit classes.

There are several discounts available and Evolution has partnered with Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota and Minnesota to provide the reimbursement for members who work out at least 12 times a month.

This week, there is a different sign-up special each day.

"I'm going to have a big dancing wiggly outside and we'll have T-shirts and all sorts of stuff," Walz said.

1/2: The new Evolution GYM is located on West Villard in the former Sax Motor Co. Quick Lube Center building.

2/2: Evolution GYM features new fitness equipment in addition to its CrossFit training.