Meet the Rail Stop Fitness team

At Rail Stop Fitness in Falcon, CO, we are dedicated to creating a fitness community where everyone can thrive. Our gym combines expert coaching, cutting-edge facilities, and a supportive environment to help you reach your fitness goals. Discover a place where your fitness journey is guided by passion and professionalism.

The Original Rail Stop

Owners - Jeff & Donovan

Rail Stop Fitness was born out of a desire to provide the CrossFit experience to Falcon and the surrounding communities and has grown to provide a wide range of services beyond group CrossFit classes. 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 CrossFit Rail Stop 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, CrossFit Rail Stop’s planned move occurred just as the COVID-19 Pandemic hit. After several months of businesses being shut down in 2020, CrossFit Rail Stop 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, CrossFit Rail Stop 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, CrossFit Rail Stop added Personal Training and Nutritional Coaching to its available services. In 2023, CrossFit Rail Stop officially changed its name to Rail Stop Fitness acknowledging the expansive services it provides beyond group CrossFit classes. While still a CrossFit Affiliate, Rail Stop Fitness services have expanded to include an official USA Weightlifting Barbell Club focussed on Olympic Weightlifting and Powerlifting, as well as Prime Strength & Conditioning focused strength, conditioning, balance, flexibility and mobility.

With a vision of being Eastern El Paso County’s Premier Fitness Community, Rail Stop Fitness’ 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

Our coaches at Rail Stop Fitness in Falcon, CO, are more than just trainers; they are passionate professionals committed to your success. Each member of our team brings a wealth of experience and a personalized approach to help you achieve your fitness objectives. With diverse specialties ranging from strength training to wellness, our coaches are here to support and inspire you every step of the way.

Coach Donovan

Co-Owner

CROSSFIT LEVEL 2 TRAINER (CF-L2) USAW LEVEL 1 COACH CERTIFIED CROSSFIT KIDS CERTIFICATE CROSSFIT MOBILITY CERTIFICATE CROSSFIT ADAPTIVE ATHLETE CERTIFICATE US SAFESPORT CERTIFICATE

Growing up in the Seattle, Washington area, I played team sports (primarily basketball and football) as a child through high school, which included the typical high school weight room experience where teammates hung around the gym and tried to lift everything as heavy as they could with little focus on form or technique. After high school, I went to Arizona State University and ultimately ended up joining the Air Force, retiring in 2017 after 26 years, including 3 assignments in the Colorado Springs area. I started my CrossFit journey in 2012 at Offutt Air Force Base, in Omaha, Nebraska, where they had a Military Affiliate. I was doing various plyometric classes and routines when an Air Force colleague noticed I was trying to get pull ups and she pestered me for a year to try the base’s CrossFit program. After relenting and going through the program’s month-long foundations program, I fell in love with the community, challenge and doing movements I’d never even seen before. Snatching and overhead squats became some of my favorite movements, despite taking what seemed like months to stop falling on my butt each time I tried. After moving back to the Washington DC area, I decided to get my CrossFit Level I and started shadow coaching at the local affiliate I attended. During my subsequent military moves, I started coaching at the base’s military affiliates and finally ended up back in Falcon and helping coach some classes at CrossFit Rocky. When CrossFit Rocky decided to close in 2017, several of the coaches and I wanted to find a way to keep our small, close-nit CrossFit community together. Coach Jeff and I decided to partner together and took over Jaks Brewery’s lease in a small retail space near Safeway. After 3 years of battling H&R Block on music volume and a year plus of COVID-19, I’m really excited about the future of continuing to expand our CrossFit Community and helping people achieve their fitness goals.

Coach Jeff

Co-Owner

CROSSFIT LEVEL 2 TRAINER (CF-L2) USAW LEVEL 2 COACH US SAFESPORT CERTIFICATE

Growing up, I was definitely not the athletic type and spent probably too much time doing homework and playing video games (and other decidedly non-athletic activities). When I was in high school, I decided I needed to expand my horizons and joined the cross country and track teams, which unfortunately didn’t require many skills other than running. Once I joined the military, I was thankfully exposed to the world of weightlifting (and actually put on some muscle) and it has been a part of my life ever since. However, I didn’t really have a good plan or direction whenever I went to the gym, and would just roam all over and do as many of the weight machines as I could, trying to get stronger. In comes my introduction to CrossFit – a flier left on my door, and then sliding open a barn door in the cold and dark, and being introduced to power cleans and burpees. I told myself I would just learn all of the exercises and then go do them in my garage, but I quickly learned I really enjoy the motivation that the community provides – and now I have been coming to and doing CrossFit nearly every day (with rest days of course) for the last 10 years! Within the first 6 months of starting, I decided I wanted to learn more and got my Level I coaching certificate and I’ve been coaching for nearly 9 years now. I’ve seen firsthand how CrossFit can transform people’s lives by introducing fitness and challenging athletes to better themselves. I have also picked up Olympic Weightlifting as a (daily) hobby, which I have found helps get me stronger and more proficient in CrossFit WODs – if you drop by the box in the afternoon, you will probably see me training if I’m not coaching. OLYMPIC WEIGHTLIFTING ACCOLADES (IN WEIGHT CLASS) 2024:  1st – USAW Masters National Championship 1st – Pan American Masters Championships 2023: 4th – National Masters Weightlifting Championships 2022: 6th – IWF World Masters Championship 1st – Pan American Masters Championships 6th – National Masters Championships 2021: 4th – Pan American Masters Championship 7th – National Masters Championships

Coach Mel

Client Success Manager

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

Coach Mel is a a kid from Maine I’m just a kid from Maine and could run before I could walk. I’ve always enjoyed athletics and being active. I spent most of my growing up years outside running, biking, climbing trees, swimming, skiing and doing parkour at the playground before it was cool. I was a gymnast, a tap dancer and break dancer! Needless to say…I’m still doing (most) of these things as an adult. I’ve been a fan of CrossFit since its early years. In 2013, I mustered up some courage and stepped into my first CrossFit box in Newmarket, England. I’d met the box owner the week before on market day in the square. We had a lovely chat and he handed me a leaflet inviting me to his Grand Opening the following week. I loved it! The energy, the intensity and learning to push myself in new ways! I wasn’t there long as the military sent my family back to America…Falcon, Colorado to be exact. It took a bit to adjust to being back on American soil but I found my way into a CrossFit box in Colorado Springs. After a few months there my schedule changed (again) and I knew there was a local box just 3 miles from my house… My first day dropping in at CrossFit Rail Stop in October of 2017, I knew I was home. I was welcomed by the coaches and members with big smiles and open arms. As much as I love working out I found that I loved helping others as well. I “shadow coached” for at least a year then…thanks to the support and encouragement from my Rail Stop family in 2019 I obtained my CrossFit Level 1! I’m always looking for ways I can help our athletes and the community find a love of fitness and nutrition. Since completing my CrossFit Level 2, I’ve continuously looked to grow through specialty courses to expand my coaching breadth and knowledge.

Coach Marissa

Barbell Club Head Coach

CROSSFIT LEVEL 2 TRAINER (CF-L2) USAW LEVEL 2 COACH PRECISION NUTRITION LEVEL 1 CERTIFIED CROSSFIT NUTRITION I CERTIFICATE CROSSFIT KIDS CERTIFICATE US SAFESPORT CERTIFICATE

Born and raised in south Texas. From all over. Ended up in Colorado. Started CF back in central Texas in 2013. Fell in love with the sport and have been addicted ever since. Had been an athlete since I was a kid so after undergrad, I needed more than just “the gym,” spin classes and running 5ks. So glad I found CrossFit. One of the “OG” railstopper. We were basically CrossFit gypsies trynna find a place to wod. From garages to sheds and barns, railstop was born and we finally had a closet space next to the sonic. I love railstop, it’s like family… the good the bad and the ugly. I am Grateful for railstop and the athletes make everyday fulfilling. The best rewarding feeling is to see someone come in the door and as a coach, get to be apart of their successes and gains. Always fight for what you believe in and never give up. OLYMPIC WEIGHTLIFTING ACCOLADES (IN WEIGHT CLASS) 2024: 1st – Pan American Masters Championships 2nd – USAW Masters National Championship 2023: 8th – National Masters Weightlifting Championships 2022: 7th – IWF World Masters 3rd – Pan American Masters Championships 3rd – National Masters Championships 2021: 8th -IWF World Masters Championships 4th – National Masters Championships

Coach Scott

Coach

CROSSFIT LEVEL 1 TRAINER (CF-L1)

Coach Scott grew up playing a number of community sports as a kid in Maryland up until high school. His enjoyment in playing sports and being outdoors led him to join the Army in 1998. He spent close to 8 years in the military and really came to enjoy running and going to the local gyms. Scott ended up having to medically retire from the military and took a long break from fitness. He focused on getting his college degree and building a career in the government as a civilian. In 2019 Scott had to address his lack of a diet and exercise plan due to impacts to his health. Once he got his nutrition and fitness back on track he was looking for something more challenging with a greater variety than his daily walking/running routine. He discovered CrossFit Rail Stop in 2022 and was hooked. The group classes remind him of his days in the Army doing physical training with his team and platoon. Scott compares doing a CrossFit workout to doing a double shot of a good espresso. He gets that same rush of energy and motivation from the experience. After doing CrossFit for a couple of years he wanted to expand his knowledge within the program and become a better athlete, so he took the level 1 course. He spent several months shadowing and bench coaching at the gym. Scott decided he wanted to help his fellow athletes with their fitness journey and make sure they were able to have a positive and meaningful experience.

Coach K

Coach

CROSSFIT LEVEL 1 TRAINER (CF-L1) USAW LEVEL 1 COACH OPEX COACHING CERTIFICATE PROGRAM GRADUATE ISSA CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINER

Coach Kristy, known as Coach K, embodies grit and understands the power of tenacity. A Georgia native and former Army service member, she developed a deep passion for health and fitness during her military career. In 2018, after a Category 5 hurricane devastated her Florida home, she sought solace in a local CrossFit gym amid the turmoil. There, she fell in love with the culture and rekindled her passion for training, which naturally led her to pursue coaching. Coach K specializes in functional strength and nutrition while also embracing a well-rounded approach that includes Olympic weightlifting and powerlifting. “Be intentional in all that you do. Find structure among the chaos, and make waves.”

Unique Features and Facilities

Rail Stop Fitness boasts a spacious, open-layout facility designed to maximize your training experience, featuring a dedicated personal training and Olympic lifting areas for group classes. Our outdoor workout space allows clients to train in the fresh air, adding variety and excitement to their routines. Additionally, we provide extensive recovery equipment to ensure a complete fitness journey from start to finish.

Top-Notch Fitness Equipment

At Rail Stop Fitness, we pride ourselves on providing top-of-the-line equipment to ensure our clients achieve their fitness goals. Our facility is equipped with Rogue barbells and weights, Concept2 rowers, and Rogue Echo Bikes to enhance your personal training or group training experience. We also offer a variety of kettlebells, medicine balls, and plyometric boxes for comprehensive functional fitness workouts. With our extensive range of equipment, Rail Stop Fitness is committed to helping you become stronger, faster, and more agile.

Book Your Free Intro Session Today

Take the first step towards a healthier lifestyle with a free intro session at Rail Stop Fitness in Falcon, CO! Our team will get to know you and discuss your goals, and help you start your fitness journey. Schedule your session now and experience firsthand how Rail Stop Fitness can support your fitness journey.