The Rail Stop Fitness Story

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Jeff and Donovan owners of Rail Stop Fitness
Our founders

Jeff and Donovan

Rail Stop Fitness was born out of a desire to provide the CrossFit experience to Falcon and the surrounding communities. Coaches Jeff, Donovan and Marissa were coaching at a local affiliate that decided to close its doors in 2017. In an effort to keep CrossFit a part of the community, Jeff and Donovan partnered to form Rail Stop Fitness in a small, retail space near Safeway in Falcon. The original plan was to call the affiliate CrossFit Rock Island due to the nearby Rock Island Trail. Having to provide CrossFit HQ multiple name options, HQ settled on Rail Stop, which comes from Falcon’s history as an 1800’s water stop for trains traveling along the Rock Island Railway. After 3 years, it was clear that the gym needed more space. When the former Peak Gymnastics space (current location) became available, the partners decided to take the leap and double the gym’s training space. As fate would have it, Rail Stop Fitness’s planned move occurred just as the COVID-19 Pandemic hit. After several months of businesses being shut down in 2020, Rail Stop Fitness reopened to social distancing and limited class sizes. With amazing coaches and resilient member athletes, the gym persevered through the pandemic and continued to grow in membership. In 2021, Rail Stop Fitness elevated Coach Mel to the position of Client Success Manager responsible for regular communication with existing and new athletes. In addition to overhauling its onboarding process, Rail Stop Fitness added Personal Training and Nutritional Coaching to its available services. With a vision of being Eastern El Paso County’s Premier Fitness Community, Rail Stop Fitness’s mission is to empower athletes to meet their fitness goals through an amazing community and world-class coaching. Results are at the pinnacle of the mission, with athletes performing regular goal setting sessions and receiving prescribed actions to help them in meeting those goals. A vibrant, positive and strong community where athletes feel welcome and encouraged is also a critical component to helping athletes progress along their fitness journey. All of this is made possible by amazing, professional coaches who personally care about each and every athlete and their successes.

Our coaches

Donovan coach at Rail Stop Fitness

Coach Donovan

CO-OWNER, CROSSFIT LEVEL 2 TRAINER (CF-L2), USAW LEVEL 1 CERTIFICATE, CROSSFIT KIDS CERTIFICATE, CROSSFIT MOBILITY CERTIFICATE, CROSSFIT ADAPTIVE ATHLETE CERTIFICATE
US SAFESPORT TRAINED

A Seattle native, Donovan played team sports (primarily basketball and football) as a child through high school before joining the Air Force where he found CrossFit while stationed in Nebraska. His love of CrossFit grew throughout his career and he ultimately became a trainer and started coaching at military affiliates before retiring in 2017 after 26 years of service. After returning to Falcon, CO, he, along with fellow Coach Jeff, decided to open their own CrossFit affiliate in a small Falcon retail space. After 3 years, in 2020, they moved the gym to a larger space and expanded the gym’s services to include personal training and nutrition coaching. “I’m excited about the opportunity to provide our Athletes a goal-based, results-focused training community!”

Jeff coach at Rail Stop Fitness

Coach Jeff

CO-OWNER, CROSSFIT LEVEL 3 TRAINER (CF-L3), USAW LEVEL 1 COACH
US SAFESPORT TRAINED

Coach Jeff grew up primarily a runner and was introduced to weightlifting when he joined the military, but didn’t really have a good plan or direction. After finding a CrossFit flier on his door, he decided to give it a try with the intent of learning the skills and returning to his garage gym. That plan quickly waned as he realized the motivation that the CrossFit Community provides is priceless. After 10 years of doing CrossFit near daily, and becoming a trainer and gym owner, Jeff has “seen firsthand how CrossFit can transform people’s lives by introducing fitness and challenging athletes to better themselves. Additionally, as an international Olympic Weightlifting competitor, Jeff has found it helps him become more proficient at CrossFit while improving his overall strength.

Mel coach at Rail Stop Fitness

Coach Mel

CLIENT SUCCESS MANAGER, CROSSFIT LEVEL 2 TRAINER (CF-L2), USAW LEVEL 1 CERTIFICATE, CROSSFIT ADAPTIVE ATHLETE CERTIFICATE, CROSSFIT MASTERS CERTIFICATE, CROSSFIT NUTRITION I CERTIFICATE, PRECISION NUTRITION LEVEL 1 CERTIFIED, FUNCTIONAL GYMNASTICS TRAINER, CROSSFIT WEIGHTLIFTING COURSE
US SAFESPORT TRAINED

Coach Mel is a a kid from Maine and could run before she could walk. She spent most of her youth running, biking, climbing trees, swimming, skiing, doing gymnastics and doing parkour at the playground. She started CrossFit in Newmarket, England before moving to Falcon and finding Rail Stop Fitness in 2017, where she ultimately became a coach and the gym’s Client Success Manager responsible for overseeing the gym’s client journey. “I’m always looking for ways I can help our athletes and the community find a love of fitness and nutrition.”

David coach at Rail Stop Fitness

Coach David

CROSSFIT LEVEL 1 TRAINER (CF-L1)

Originally from Madison, Wisconsin, Coach David grew up playing football and baseball. In 2013, he started doing CrossFit recalling his first CrossFit Open in 2014 and attempting his first “Rx” workout where he was able to get one (his first) overhead squat at 95 pounds. The coaching staff and fellow athletes’ support helped him to continue to excel. Later he became a Rail Stop Fitness Athlete and, in 2021, he became a trainer where he enjoys helping to build the gym’s fitness community.

Larry coach at Rail Stop Fitness

Coach Larry

CROSSFIT LEVEL 1 TRAINER (CF-L1), FUNCTIONAL GYMNASTICS TRAINER

Coach Larry is a Colorado Native who’s played team sports starting at a very young age. After serving in the military, Larry found he’d lost his fitness and nutritional discipline. He found Rail Stop Fitness in 2020, has lost over 50 pounds and renewed his passion for fitness. He particularly enjoys belonging to a community of like-minded people, the fun competition and incredible feeling you get from daily exercise. Giving back to the community is what led Larry to become a trainer, “anything I can do to help any person meet any goal to improve their life would only be starting to repay my debt.”

Marissa coach at Rail Stop Fitness

Coach Marissa

HEAD COACH, YOUTH TRAINING AND WEIGHTLIFTING CROSSFIT LEVEL 2 TRAINER (CF-L2), USAW LEVEL 1 COACH, PRECISION NUTRITION LEVEL 1 CERTIFIED, CROSSFIT NUTRITION I CERTIFICATE, CROSSFIT KIDS CERTIFICATE
US SAFESPORT TRAINED

Born and raised in South Texas, Coach Marissa started CrossFit in 2013 and has been addicted to it ever since. After moving to Colorado, Marissa became one of Rail Stop Fitness’s original trainers. As the gym’s Head Coach for Youth Fitness and Barbell Club, she is passionate about helping Falcon Kids bring fitness into their lives and bring the passion of Olympic Weightlifting and Powerlifting to the community. As a coach, she says, “the best rewarding feeling is to see someone come in the same door and as a coach, get to be a part of their successes and gains. Always fight for what you believe in and never give up.”

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