Lisa and Dr. Mike Ray, co-owners of CrossFit Flagstaff, give us the tour of their box and CrossFit home in Flagstaff, Ariz.
The Rays began CrossFitting in 2004 out of their home. In 2006, they formed a garage affiliate, then moved into a gym, finally finding their current location two years ago. Lisa says they bought a 10,000-square-foot building and use it for adult classes, CrossFit Kids and their private home.
Lisa says her husband, Mike, taught himself how to weld so he could fabricate CrossFit equipment, such as boxes and pull-up structures. Their pull-up bars are unique because they attach to the walls instead of being part of a freestanding structure.
“We keep the floor space nice and clear. It just seemed to make more sense to us than putting it into the floor as a cage system,” Lisa says.
Their love of projects didn’t end with gym equipment. When the Rays bought the building housing their affiliate, it came with office space they converted into their home.
“My dream has always been to have a live-work space, and we had that with the garage,” Lisa says.
She adds: “The close proximity to the gym I think for our personal life can be somewhat challenging. We’re trying to work through that.”
Nevertheless, Lisa says the arrangement is working out really well.
“Our clients are completely respectful of our space and of our privacy,” she says.
12min 37sec
Additional audio: CrossFit Radio Episode 69 by Justin Judkins, published June 1, 2009.