About Us - Runevex Hollow Fitness | Vancouver's Premier HIIT & Functional Training Gym

Marcus Chen

Founder & Head Coach

How This Place Came to Be

Look, I'm not gonna feed you some polished origin story. Back in 2018, I was coaching at a big-box gym downtown and honestly? I was burnt out. Same cookie-cutter programs, members treated like membership numbers, zero real community. Just folks showing up, doing their thing alone, leaving.

I'd spent years competing in CrossFit regionals and coaching Olympic lifting on the side. What kept me going wasn't the medals or the PRs - it was watching people discover what their bodies could actually do when pushed the right way. That moment when someone hits a lift they never thought possible? That's the good stuff.

Started Runevex Hollow in a cramped 2,000 sq ft space with maybe 15 members and equipment I'd been collecting for years. The name? My training partner used to joke that our garage gym felt like "training in a hollow" - dark, raw, no frills. The Runevex part comes from an old Norse concept about carving your own path. Seemed fitting.

We've grown since then - bigger space, better equipment, about 200 members now. But the vibe hasn't changed. It's still rough around the edges in the best way. This isn't a spa with dumbbells. It's a place where you're gonna work hard, probably swear a bit, and leave knowing you earned every drop of sweat.

Our coaching team? They're not just certified - though we've got the credentials (CSCS, USAW, CF-L2, PN certs across the board). They've been in the trenches themselves. They know what it's like to fail a lift, hit a plateau, or question if they can finish that last round. That's what makes 'em good at this.

"We built this place for people who want to be challenged, not coddled. If you're looking for easy, you're in the wrong hollow."

- Marcus Chen

What We Actually Believe In

No corporate fluff - just the principles that guide everything we do

Function Over Form

Yeah, you'll look better training here - that's a side effect. But we're focused on making you move better, lift heavier, and perform like an athlete. Aesthetics follow performance, not the other way around. We program for people who want to use their strength in real life, not just pose with it.

Progressive Overload Isn't Negotiable

You can't wing this stuff. Every program we write has a purpose - building strength, power, endurance, or skill. We track your numbers, adjust as you adapt, and keep pushing the needle forward. Random workouts might make you tired, but they won't make you better.

Technique Before Intensity

We'll push you hard, but never at the expense of moving well. Bad reps under fatigue is how you get hurt, not how you get strong. Our coaches will scale the weight or modify the movement until you've earned the right to go heavier. Your ego might not like it, but your joints will thank you.

Community Isn't a Buzzword Here

It's what happens naturally when people suffer through the same brutal workout together. We don't force team-building exercises or mandatory social events. The bonds form on their own when you're cheering someone through their last rep or celebrating a new PR. That's real.

How We Actually Train You

Our methodology isn't rocket science, but it's been refined over thousands of coaching hours. We blend Olympic lifting mechanics, powerlifting principles, and metabolic conditioning in a way that builds complete athletes.

The Weekly Framework

Monday/Thursday hit the heavy compounds - squats, deadlifts, presses. We're talking 75-90% of your max, building raw strength. Tuesday/Friday is where the Olympic lifts come in - snatches, cleans, jerks. Power development and explosive strength. Wednesday's our conditioning day - HIIT circuits that'll test your mental game as much as your conditioning.

Periodization That Makes Sense

We run 8-week training blocks. First 3 weeks build volume, weeks 4-6 ramp up intensity, week 7 peaks, and week 8 is a deload. Your body needs time to adapt and recover - we don't just randomly smash you every day hoping something sticks.

Individual Within the Group

Yeah, we do group classes - but every movement has scaling options. Can't do pull-ups yet? We've got progressions. Shoulder mobility limiting your overhead work? We'll modify it. You're following the same program structure as everyone else, but adjusted to your current abilities.

Our Coaching Team

Experienced, certified, and actually care about your progress

Sarah Mitchell

Lead Strength Coach

Former powerlifting competitor with a 1,200lb total. CSCS certified and has coached everyone from complete beginners to national-level lifters. She's tough but fair - you'll learn to love her coaching cues.

CSCS USAW Level 1 PN-1

Derek Lawson

Olympic Lifting Specialist

Competed at the national level in weightlifting for 6 years. His technical eye for the snatch and clean & jerk is unmatched. If you want to learn the Oly lifts properly, Derek's your guy. He's also got a weird obsession with mobility work.

USAW Level 2 CF-L2 FMS

Jenna Park

Conditioning & Nutrition Coach

Background in kinesiology and sports nutrition. Jenna programs our conditioning work and handles nutrition planning for members who want to dial in their diet. She's got a knack for making brutal workouts somehow feel achievable.

PN-2 CF-L1 CPT

Ready to See What You're Made Of?

Come try a class on us - no pressure, no sales pitch. Just show up, work hard, and see if this is the place for you.

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Our Story