Marvin Brown, a former football standout from Chesapeake and soon-to-be inductee into James Madison University's Athletic Hall of Fame, has opened a new D1 Training location at 1011 Eden Way North in East Chesapeake. The facility, which debuted on July 14, offers group fitness programs based on the five core tenets of athletic-based training: dynamic warm-up, performance, strength program, core and conditioning, and cool down. D1 Training employs a sports-science backed regimen led by certified trainers to help people of all ages achieve their sport and fitness goals.
Brown attended Hickory High School before playing tight end at James Madison University from 2003 to 2008, where he was part of the 2004 national championship team. Athletics run in his family: his father is a former professional baseball player with World Series appearances for the New York Yankees and San Diego Padres, and his sister Bonita is an Atlantic City High School Hall of Famer in basketball, softball, and tennis. Brown has been coaching alongside his brother Donnell Brown, head football coach at Hickory High School. Donnell and his twin brother Ronnell, who played at JMU and went on to the NFL (Denver Broncos) and CFL (Hamilton Tiger-Cats), have long shared a passion for sports.
After a 15-year career in healthcare leadership, Brown sought to pursue his passions for athletics and family, which led him to D1 Training. He and his wife Ardaith have three children who are eager to help build a strong community around D1 Training East Chesapeake. Brown is partnering with longtime friend and Hickory High teammate Leland Cleland, who will open a second location in West Chesapeake in late 2025 or early 2026. Together, they'll operate under one brand: 'D1 Chesapeake'.
“D1 stands out because it’s more than just a gym, it’s a training ground that builds character, discipline, and confidence,” said Brown. “D1 Training is known as 'The Place of Athlete' but we want D1 Chesapeake to be known as the Home of the Athlete where they can grow physically, mentally, and spiritually.”
D1 Training offers four age-based programs: Rookie (ages 7-11), Developmental (ages 12-14), Prep (ages 15-18) and D1 Adult. Each fitness program is based on the five athletic-based tenets. Outside of group workouts, D1 Training offers group, semi-private, and one-on-one training with world-class coaches. The goal is to train athletes dedicated to their sport or fitness goals, regardless of age or athletic background.
“The Browns and Clelland are the ideal candidates to bring the D1 Training experience to Chesapeake,” said Dan Murphy, the brand’s Chief Operating Officer. “We’re thrilled to welcome them to the D1 family and are confident in their ability to show the East Chesapeake area what they’ve been missing out on. D1 is a one-of-a-kind fitness experience that’s built around the individual and meant to help people meet their athletic goals.”
Strategically expanding across the nation through franchising, D1 Training has more than 150 facilities open with over 100 additional locations in various stages of development. For more information on D1 Training East Chesapeake, visit https://www.d1training.com/east-chesapeake/.
