FITNESS FANATICS: A MINIMALIST FITNESS PROGRAM HAS GROWN TO ONE OF THE LARGEST COMMERCIAL CHAINS IN THE WORLD.

• Author: Miller, Harrison

It's called "The Seven." Seven rounds of seven handstand pushups, seven thrusters, seven knees-to-elbows, seven deadlifts, seven burpees, seven kettlebell swings and seven pull-ups. It's one of CrossFit's many WODs, or workouts of the day. Thousands of CrossFitters show up to nearly bare gyms, decorated with chalk, sweat, a few pullup bars, dumbbells, tires, medicine balls, ropes and other minimalist equipment, to rush through the intense circuits of weightlifting, body movements and cardio sets. A beginning CrossFitter is expected to take up to 50 minutes to run through The Seven, while elite athletes can knock it out in less than half an hour.

"The ideology behind it is total fitness," says Daniel Blackwell, owner of CrossFit Simplicity, one of two CrossFit affiliates in Burlington. "A really good mixture of cardio, weightlifting and body movements for well-rounded fitness. We specialize in not specializing."

Former gymnast Greg Classman created and popularized the workout in California in 2000, opening the first CrossFit gym a year later. In 2005, CrossFit One44 opened in Raleigh. It was the first affiliate in the state and 13th in the country. Today, there are 200 CrossFit locations across North Carolina, including 14 in Asheville, 53 in the Charlotte area, 20 in the Triad, 57 in the Triangle, 13 in Fayetteville, 11 in Wilmington and one in Kill Devil Hills. Some affiliates partner with law enforcement agencies and first responders or hold classes at universities. Teachers at Salisbury's C.C. Erwin Middle School who are certified CrossFit coaches are bringing the program to Rowan County schools through the Eagle Nation Cross-Fit affiliate.

CrossFit's expansion peaked between 2012 and 2015 when it added 8,500 net locations. The chain's growth has slowed to 2% to 5% annually and is mostly overseas now, according to Morning Chalk Up, a CrossFit newsletter.

Still, its 15,000 locations worldwide dwarf competitors such as Planet Fitness, which has about 1,800 gyms, Gold's Gym with 700 locations, Snap Fitness' 2,500 gyms and Anytime Fitness' 3,000 sites. Each gym, or "box" in CrossFit lingo, is unique based on size and workout intensity level.

The fitness program has gained a major following from weekend warriors to the likes of former NBA stars Charles Barkley and Jason Terry, the NFL's Greg Jennings, and professional soccer player Christie Rampone. Celebrities such as Jessica Biel and Tom Hardy have relied on CrossFit to get in shape for...