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By Niah Durost
This is the gym from the road.
This is the gym from the road.
The back room of the gym stores all of the extra equipment.
The back room of the gym stores all of the extra equipment.
The main room, where people work out and where most of the weights are.
The main room, where people work out and where most of the weights are.
Too Far North is an encouraging atmosphere for gym members to go to and support each other. The sound of weights dropping and people laughing is a welcoming environment to walk into in the morning.
There wasn’t a gym that held regular classes in Fort Kent, or a community gym, so Cassie and Rick Daigle decided to open one in 2017 on 226 W Main St, Fort Kent, Maine. They created the gym to support people in their fitness journeys by providing a motivating and supportive atmosphere. In the beginning of 2020, the gym shifted owners to Sarah Soucy, Leslie Marquis, Sam Gagnon, Marissa Albert, Andrea Voisine, and Shane Durost.
The new owners thought they could use more space, so they moved locations in the summer of 2020. Now the gym is less than half a mile from downtown Fort Kent, situated at 481 West Main Street.
This is where the main weights are stored.
The members are the biggest part of the gym because if there were no members, there would be no gym. In order to grow the business, the owners and existing members recruited new members. Even with Covid, the members were still a huge part of the gym. Covid was a big issue due to the fact that the owners had to shut down the gym. Because they couldn’t have any in person classes, they lent out their equipment to the members and had home workouts for them to do. The home workouts were videos that the coaches made.
Owner and coach Shane Durost said, “People can feel good about themselves and feel a sense of accomplishment. The smile on their faces when they reach a new personal record, the ability to give people the chance to escape everyday problems and better themselves while having fun in the process are my favorite parts of being a coach. ”
Too Far North Fitness offers weight lifting classes at specific times, and there will always be a coach/trainer there to help. Gym member Raven Freeman explains, “There’s always a trainer to show you how to properly complete the workouts, and how to modify things so it better fits your limitations. It’s nice to have someone there to help me until I can learn more about fitness.”
Owner: Shane Durost
There is a great group of members. Everyone is very friendly, welcoming and supportive, and they all want each other to succeed. Working out in a positive gym environment can make a huge difference. A supportive atmosphere reduces stress and improves the quality of workouts. Being surrounded by motivated people can inspire greater effort, and the sense of community helps maintain focus. When the space feels comfortable and safe, sticking to a routine and making progress becomes much more likely. According to Freeman, “I like the vibe, the music, the positivity, and the group atmosphere. We’re all suffering, but we’re suffering together.”
The owners want to keep growing and offer different types of classes to attract new people. The owners are from the area and want to make this small town gym the best it can be. Durost said, “We should do kids classes again, maybe an older adult workout class, and possibly a high intensity interval training class as well."
The gym offers flexible pricing options to fit different needs. An unlimited monthly membership is available for $95 per month, while families from the same household can join together for $85 per person each month. The gym also provides discounted rates of $80 per month for students, as well as for military, fire, and police personnel. Freeman said; “It is a bit pricey, but all gym memberships are, and I’d rather go somewhere and be uplifted by other people and have that support.”
If staying consistent on your fitness journey feels challenging, consider trying a gym membership at Too Far North. Trained coaches can support you and help you feel confident every step of the way.
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