our team
Kim day
Kim created "Kim Day Training" when the pandemic hit in 2020, but she's been training and teaching group fitness for 15 years. She knew when everyone went into lock-down that people needed a healthy outlet, more than ever. So she created virtual workouts and also led workouts in parks as things started letting up. Her following was strong, which led her to pursue a big dream of opening her own gym. Kim wanted to create a safe space for people to not only workout together, but to feel empowered by the special community that she has created. Kim has a passion for people and for connecting them to one another. She teaches a wide variety of classes from Pound to Kettlebell AMPD to Barre to heavy weight lifting. Kim takes pride in the fact that there is truly something for EVERYONE at Kim Day Training. When she's not in the gym, she's spending time with her husband, Shane, and her nine year old, Kaden--most-likely at Fountain City Ballpark!
katy hammac
Katy is the Lead Trainer at Kim Day Training. Her passion is to help people change their lives in a positive, simple way. Katy believes everyone deserves to be happy and healthy, as these go hand in hand. Katy has been a group fitness trainer for five years. Katy loves all things fitness, but her focus is on various circuit training, weight training and now Strong Nation. Training and fitness are near to her heart, because she, too, is on her own fitness journey. Katy struggled most of her life with being overweight and other health related obstacles. But Katy is here to tell you that you can absolutely do anything you put your mind to! When Katy is not training or helping women as an OBGYN nurse, she's spending time with her husband, Russ, and Boxer girls, Piper and Pearl!
Daidre Mendenhall
Originally from Washington State, Daidre has found her home in Knoxville. A life-long athlete and Division 1 college volleyball player, she has a true passion for all things health and fitness. As a class instructor for KDT, Daidre guides members along their personal fitness journey. She provides safe instruction, helps others find their happiness in exercise and celebrates all progress, big or small. She has a focus on high intensity movement, EMOM circuits, body weight exercises and weight lifting. Daidre is an ER nurse and loves to travel, paddle board, exercise and spend quiet days at home with her two pups!
Allyse Connor
Allyse has been working out since she was young and she understands the struggles women put on themselves. She was overweight as a child and had to learn what health was for herself. She wants to make fitness and health something attainable for ANYONE. Allyse is an ACE certified personal trainer and a CrossFit Level 1 (CF-L1) coach. She loves how physical activity enhances all the good things in her life and makes her feel capable of taking on anything life throws at her. She loves helping people have fun with exercise. Her goal is to live past 100! If she isn't in the gym, working, or training, you will most likely find her and her fiance surrounded by their 4 animals at home - 2 perfect dogs and 2 perfect cats!
sam hurst
Sam is a native Knoxvillian who spent the first part of her life overweight, out of shape, and afraid of doing anything too strenuous. After hitting an all-time high weight that had her shopping in the plus section in her twenties, she started studying nutrition and fitness the same way she studied to become a Technical Writer--like it was her job. After losing 50+ pounds, she joined a local non-profit workout group, started building muscle and strength, then sought her personal trainer certification to share what she has learned with others. Now she is a document control specialist at ORNL to support her lifestyle and her fur-baby Doris, but hopes to use her group training and nutritionist certs to help others find therapy and joy in fitness just like she has. She fully believes workouts should be FUN, not feared!
misty kirby
Misty Kirby has always loved movement, especially dance, the application of strength, speed, and flexibility. You will very rarely find her sitting, as she prefers to be in motion, and she will eagerly take any chance to stretch out her body. Misty first fell in love with yoga in college while searching for cross-training methods to repair a running injury, and then again after the birth of her second child, when she desperately needed to find emotional and physical peace within her soul. She loves how the flow of Yoga and exertion of Pilates satisfy a need to move her body in a dance-like state while incorporating restful poses. Misty also loves going on adventures with her husband and two girls, cooking healthy meals and baking yummy goodies, riding her bike in her spare time, and singing in her “best” voice while riding in the car!