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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Huckleberries Online

Ex-addict preaches salvation of intense physical training

K.Jay Davis poses on the Devil’s ladder at SCE Fitness, a gym he started with his wife, Heather. The owners are having equipment built for the site that are obstacles similar to those used by people training for “American Ninja Warrior” and Spartan Race. (Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review)
K.Jay Davis poses on the Devil’s ladder at SCE Fitness, a gym he started with his wife, Heather. The owners are having equipment built for the site that are obstacles similar to those used by people training for “American Ninja Warrior” and Spartan Race. (Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review)

Ten years ago, K.Jay Davis carried 210 pounds on his 5-foot-6-inch frame. He also carried the burden of drug and alcohol addiction.

He grew up in North Carolina and was an active kid, playing soccer, but when he turned 16, his parents split up.

“Everything went south in my family,” he said. “I didn’t know how to handle it, so I went into drugs – heavily into cocaine – then crack.”

Today, slim and ultra-fit, Davis, 38, owns SCE Fitness in downtown Spokane, and works with people training for Spartan races and those hoping to compete on “American Ninja Warrior.”

“By God’s grace I made it out,” he said/Cindy Hval/SR. More here.



D.F. Oliveria
D.F. (Dave) Oliveria joined The Spokesman-Review in 1984. He currently is a columnist and compiles the Huckleberries Online blog and writes about North Idaho in his Huckleberries column.

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