Element 26 Wellness, a group fitness center located on state Route 64 in Lamar Township, has been a behind the scenes presence at several local events over the past few years, manning aid stations for multiple races and trail runs.

The gym’s owner, Karen Dicello, of Lock Haven, says that Element 26’s membership and staff take pride in helping the community that they’re part of, with many of the estimated 120 members living in the Lock Haven and Mill Hall area.

According to Dicello, in 2025 alone, gym members supported aid stations for the Boulder Beast in Castanea; the Hyner Challenge near North Bend; and the Bridge-to-Bridge Race in Lock Haven. Dicello added that several members supported and participated in the 5K Walk/Run for Mental Health Awareness in Porter Township last April, with some members even manning traffic posts to keep race participants safe.

“Working at the aid stations can be time consuming, but can also be rewarding,” Dicello said, indicating that volunteers from her staff and membership would hand out water, snacks and energy drinks to participants along the race routes.

PHOTO PROVIDED Element 26 gym members participate in an unofficial Murph Challenge on Memorial Day in 2025.

Dicello added that many of the gym’s members participate in the various events, with some being avid runners, while others are just getting started.

“We plan on a repeat of last year and more,” Dicello said, saying that the gym plans on assisting with many of the same events in 2026.

Aside from their work with the various races and runs, gym members and staff have given back to members and friends in need.

This past holiday season, Element 26 “adopted” a local family who had lost everything in a house fire. The effort, led by Element 26 member/coach Lindsay Reese, was able to provide gifts and financial support for the family of four whose lives were devastated by the fire.

A Different Kind of Gym

BRAD REIDER/FOR THE EXPRESS Element 26 Wellness owner Karen Dicello is pictured next to the business’s logo.

Element 26 has often been described as a “boot camp style” gym, and while some military drill instructors might take issue with that term being used, workout sessions are coach led, regimented and challenging, with each session starting precisely at its scheduled time, and lasting for 30 minutes. Each session is immediately followed by a group huddle and cooldown period consisting of stretching and breathing exercises.

Dicello, who holds a certification as a Group Fitness Instructor, designs all the sessions and tries to not repeat workout routines in order for the members to always have a different experience.

Workouts focus on various muscle groups as well as cardio and core exercises throughout the week, with the gym offering several morning and evening classes.

“E26” as it’s known by its members, is situated in a 5,000 square foot facility, which at one time housed a Honda dealership.

Besides the group led workouts, the members can use cardio equipment, free weights and weight machines common at most gyms.

Chip Aikens turned 65 this past December and credits Dicello and her coaches for helping him to shed a few pounds and improve his overall health.

“It’s the hardest I’ve worked out since Parris Island,” said Aikens, referring to his Marine Corps recruit training in 1984. Aikens, a flight instructor from the Bellefonte area, makes the half hour trip to the gym as many as five days a week.

Vickie Duck also attends the gym several times a week, usually in the evening.

Duck, of Lock Haven, says that her fellow members have “become family” to her, and that she is grateful for the encouragement and support she receives at E26.

Dicello said that the gym also offers “Fit for Life” sessions three times a week which are suited for older members wishing to improve their health and remain active.

Those classes take place on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings.

Iron Sharpens Iron

Dicello thought long and hard about the name of the gym when she purchased the business in 2023, deciding on the name “Element 26 Wellness” for its Biblical significance and meaning, with iron being the 26th element.

Proverbs 27:17 states, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another,” and Dicello said that the membership is always there to support one another in meeting their fitness goals. “They push each other, especially during some of the tougher workouts,” Dicello said. “It might be cliche to say, but we truly are like a family here.”

As far as those “tougher” workouts go, Dicello said she didn’t want to “scare anyone off,” but stated that they can be challenging.

“The members really seem to love burpees,” Dicello said with a wry grin on her face, referring to one of the harder exercises often featured during the thirty-minute workout sessions.

To Learn More

Dicello suggested that anyone considering an Element 26 membership should visit the gym’s website, www.element26wellness.com, for class times and staff information.

Dicello said that one of the things that sets E26 apart from most gyms is a two-week free trial period. During that time, potential members can attend as many days as they’d like during that period with no commitment to join.

“You really have nothing to lose, and you’ll definitely meet some very nice people,” Dicello said, referring to the free trial period.

Dicello also encourages anyone interested to stop by between classes during the morning and evening hours to take a tour of the facility and to speak with her or one of the coaches about what E26 has to offer.