About Us

-As of 2026

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My name is Dennis Darroch, and I’ve been part of the sports nutrition and fitness industry for over 20 years. I am  46 years old. I went to Southern High School and then on to Elon University.

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In 2001, I helped open Unlimited Nutrition, a locally owned supplement store that became a staple in the community. Over the years, I worked with a wide range of nutrition businesses, supplement lines, and fitness-focused websites. I also ran a Nutritional Keto30 Challenge endorsed by Tim Tebow, gaining hands-on experience helping people improve their health and performance.  I even brought some of that Keto diet instruction into classes for my store, which became more popular then I ever would have thought.  I was doing a Keto class every few months and having about 50-60 people in some classes.  It really helped my store branch out and allowed me to mingle with the community more.

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I started working out at 16 years old and, over the past 30+ years, trained at nearly every gym in the Burlington and Graham area. No matter where I trained, one place always stood out to me—Block’s Gym. It was the gym I enjoyed the most, the one that always felt right.  I competed in two bodybuilding shows just to say that I did them.  Which if nothing else was great experience

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In 2024, I sold Unlimited Nutrition, as owning anything in retail is nearly impossible. Owning and operating a gym had always been a dream of mine, and when the opportunity came up to purchase Block’s Gym, everything aligned in 2026. I was able to buy the gym I had always loved and commit to keeping the atmosphere and culture that made it special.

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Today, my goal is simple: preserve the old-school vibe of Block’s Gym, respect its history, and provide and share a serious training environment for the community—just as it has done since 1980.  

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I’m married to Mary Darroch, a photographer and part-time substitute teacher, who has been my rock for over 20 years. She has supported me through every chapter and every decision, and I truly wouldn’t be where I am today without her. I’m grateful that we’re able to share this life together.

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We have two great kids, Myles and Jayce, and family is at the center of everything I do.

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​​​Same iron. Same work ethic. Same gym—just the next chapter.

 

Family, Legacy, and Why Blocks Matters to Me-

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My son Myles Darroch is now 19 years old and was a three-sport athlete at Southern Alamance High School, competing in football, basketball, and track all four years. Some of his high school photos can be seen here on the left.

During his junior year, Myles and I really went all-in at Block’s Gym. Sundays became our thing — hard leg days followed by track training on top of it. That time together changed how I viewed the gym. Blocks became more than just a place to train; it became something we shared. Week after week, I got to watch him grow stronger, faster, and more confident.

The gains he made from the summer of his junior year to his senior year were insane.

As a senior at Southern Alamance, Myles went on to dominate the track:

• School record holder at SHS in the

  • 100m – 10.50

  • 400m – 47.56

  • 4x100 Relay

• 3A State Champion in the 400m

• 3rd place in the 200m at the state meet

 

Myles earned a full track scholarship to High Point University (HPU). His freshman year was unreal — setting school records in both the 4x100 and 4x400 relays, with the 4x400 advancing to Nationals and being featured on ESPN as a top-30 team in the country.  They also won Big South Conference championship rings his Freshman year.

 

His athletic career was built at Block’s Gym and sharpened by his work ethic on the track.

 

I could talk about Myles and how proud I am of him all day — but more than anything, that experience showed me what a gym can be. That’s what I want Block’s Gym to represent for other dads and their sons:
a place to bond, to work, and to grow together.

 

I’ll always be grateful for that time we spent side by side — and for what Blocks made possible.

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Passing the Torch

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Now, with Myles’ help, I’m excited to begin the next chapter with my 12-year-old son, Jayce, who attends Southern Middle School.

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Jayce spent a few years racing BMX, which he loved, before eventually picking up a basketball. He played basketball as a 6th grader and is now continuing as a 7th grader. He also had an outstanding 7th-grade football season, part of Southern Middle School’s first undefeated season ever, which went on to win their conference.

 

This time, the journey starts sooner than it did with Myles.

 

During the summers, Jayce will have me training him in the gym and Myles training him on the track. It’s something special to watch generations come together — passing down work ethic, discipline, and love for the process.

 

That’s what Block’s Gym is about to me. Not just lifting weights, but building confidence, habits, and character over time.

 

We’re just getting started — and big things are ahead.