Opening Soon in Carlsbad · Founding Member spots are limited · Reserve your spot
Fitness Services Membership Our Story Contact Reserve a Spot
Our Story · Carlsbad, California

Built by the community, for the community.

Carlsbad Athletic Club was built by a group of friends in Carlsbad who wanted something that didn't exist yet: a facility that combines science-backed performance testing, integrated recovery, and an intentional long-term health community. All under one roof, a few miles from the coast.

Our Story

Carlsbad deserves more than big box fitness.

We believe the dawn of your best health is right around the corner.

Carlsbad Athletic Club was built because nothing like it existed in Carlsbad. Not a budget chain, not a boutique studio, and not five separate memberships stitched together. One club, with performance testing, real recovery amenities, and a community that takes the long view on health.

We tested our own protocols, trained on the coast, and built something we actually wanted to use. Then we opened it up.

Why We Built This

We didn't find what we were looking for. So we built it.

  • 01No gym in Carlsbad combined performance testing with recovery amenities under one roof.
  • 02Existing options were either budget chains or piecemeal services requiring multiple memberships.
  • 03The coastal North County lifestyle deserves a facility that matches its health-forward culture.
  • 04Longevity-focused training was available in San Diego, but not conveniently in Carlsbad.
  • 05The science of training and recovery has advanced significantly. Most gyms haven't caught up.
Placeholder
Coastal training / North County
4:5
Member Experiences

Real results, before we even open.

A small number of North County members have already gone through cardiometabolic testing and personal training with us. Here is what a few of them had to say.

★★★★★
Cardiometabolic Testing
"I've been training for marathons for four years and never actually knew my true VO2 max or training zones. I had a HR monitor but just used my watch for directional improvement. Turns out my first lactic threshold was a bit lower than I would have thought, and that made a big difference."
Jason R. · Carlsbad, CA · Marathon Runner
★★★★★
Personal Training
"I came in having not trained consistently in two years. Mike was thoughtful about how to ease back into it without wrecking my joints. Six months later I'm stronger than I was in my early 30s. The programming actually makes sense, and for the first time I understand why I'm doing what I'm doing."
Sarah M. · Carlsbad, CA · Member
★★★★★
Cardiometabolic Testing
"The resting metabolic test alone was worth it. I had been eating 400 calories a day under my actual resting burn and wondered why my energy was crashing mid-afternoon. Once that was dialed in, everything else improved: sleep, recovery, and my ability to actually hit Zone 2 without blowing up."
David K. · Encinitas, CA · Cyclist

Reviews reflect early testing and training sessions prior to the club's official opening.

Placeholder
Founder headshot: natural light, coastal or gym setting
4:5
Meet the Founder

Mike Griffith

Founder, Carlsbad Athletic Club · CPT

My name is Mike, and I live in Carlsbad with my wife and our growing family: three kids and counting. I started Carlsbad Athletic Club after years of searching for something that didn't quite exist yet in North County.

I've run marathons and a half Ironman, but I've always been more interested in the science behind the training than the training itself. Why do certain protocols work? What does the data actually say about recovery? How do you build a body that performs well not just now, but at 50, 60, and beyond? Those questions drove me to accumulate testing equipment and protocols while building out my home gym and training for races.

The home gym is great. The big box gyms nearby are fine. But I kept feeling like I was missing something: the elevated amenities, the performance testing, the community of people who care about the same things. I had access to pieces of it in past clubs, but never all of it in one place, conveniently in Carlsbad.

So I decided to build it. Carlsbad Athletic Club is my long-term commitment to this community. I want it to be a place my kids train at when they're older. I want it to enhance the coastal Carlsbad lifestyle, not just serve it. You should be able to check in every day, or just a few times a week, and feel like you belong here either way.

Built on Experience

Marathons, a half Ironman, and years of testing performance protocols on myself before asking anyone else to try them.

Science First, Always

Every modality here is grounded in research, not trends. If the data doesn't support it, it doesn't have a place here.

Rooted in Carlsbad

The coastal North County lifestyle is an asset. The club is designed to complement it, not compete with it.

Here for Decades

A long-term investment in the Carlsbad community. The goal is a place that still matters 30 years from now.

What We Believe

Train with purpose. Recover intelligently. Think in decades.

01 · Train with Purpose

Every session should have a reason behind it.

Not just effort, but direction. We give you the testing and programming to make sure your training is actually moving you forward.

02 · Recover Intelligently

Recovery is not an afterthought.

Sauna, compression, red light, and guided protocols are built into the fabric of the club, because adaptation happens in recovery, not during the work.

03 · Think in Decades

The goal is not to peak in your 30s.

It's to still be training hard in your 60s. We program and operate with that horizon in mind, because the members who join here are thinking the same way.

The Team

Coaches and contributors.

Carlsbad Athletic Club is being built with a small, vetted team of specialists. Staff announcements are coming ahead of opening. If you're a coach or trainer in North County who aligns with our approach, reach out.

Photo coming soon
Announcement coming soon
Functional Strength Trainer

Specializing in functional movement, strength programming, and mobility for long-term performance. Programs are built around individual movement assessments and long-horizon goals.

Photo coming soon
Announcement coming soon
Group Fitness Instructor

Leading group fitness programming designed for all ability levels. Classes blend strength, conditioning, and metabolic training in a format accessible to members at every stage.

Photo coming soon
Announcement coming soon
Endurance Programming Coach

Designing structured endurance programs around data from cardiometabolic testing. Specializing in running, cycling, and triathlon programming for athletes from beginners to competitive age-groupers.

Get In Touch

Come say hello.

Location

2808 State Street
Carlsbad, CA 92008
Open in Maps →

Contact

mike@carlsbadathleticclub.com

Speak With Mike Directly

Mike is available to answer questions, schedule facility tours, and talk through membership, testing, or training options before you commit to anything.

Founding Membership

Lock in $159/mo for life with a $59 deposit. Reserve your spot →