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about us

serving the Fredericksburg area as your guide on the journey to a healthier, happier self

our mission

We are not just a fitness program. At 12 Gauge Gym we are a vehicle for life change. Anyone that has been a member at 12 Gauge Gym for more than a few months can testify to the unique environment that is fostered by our coaching staff and our community.

This place has become a “third place” for many of our members outside of the work and home life.

It’s a place they come to unwind, work off stress and know that they can be their true authentic self.

No matter what your background is, your age, race, religion, or political beliefs… In this gym, we are all athlete on the same journey. In this gym we all root for each other. We all push each other through difficult times, we all celebrate breakthroughs both physical and mental. In this gym, we all may look and act a little different but we are all part of the 12 Gauge Gym family.

The small ripple effect that occurs from nurturing happier healthier humans, extends from gym life to the world around us.

OUR GOAL:

TO PROVIDE

positive & challenging environments promoting health, fitness, well being & community

our story

CrossFit Solus was established in December of 2009. Our gym started in our 800 square foot shop with just a handful of friends and some lofty dreams that we could change the way that people thought about fitness. After seeing multiple physical transformations from our members through the CrossFit workouts and a Zone/ Paleo style diet, we knew there was something special to this program.


Our passion for CrossFit grew even stronger as we noticed the mental and emotional effects it had on people. The workouts were hard, sometime unbearable, but we were a team and we all battled it out together and bonded from it. Over time we could see the confidence, camaraderie and genuine care for our fellow athlete grow more and more each day.


In the beginning, we thought we were just selling fitness, but in reality we were developing relationships, building self confidence, overcoming insecurities, forging grittiness, learning empathy, and on top of all of the dramatic physical transformations that were in the works, the mental transformations were by far the most gratifying. Our Mission was simple, transform one life at a time. Every person that stepped foot into our gym, we made it our goal to give them best possible service and training program that we could. It didn’t matter where you came from or what your background was, for that hour of that day, we were a family and we were there to support you. A family that strived to make this the BEST hour of your day!


In 2011, me moved into our commercial location in town. As we approach year 11 of our affiliation, our vision for the future remains the same. We are in constant pursuit of excellence in all that we do and we will always strive to improve our program the best we can.
Our community of athletes at CrossFit Solus are second to none. They are some of the most caring and supportive group you will ever meet. We value every relationship we get to have with all our athletes and thank God to have them in our lives.

OUR PEOPLE IS WHAT MAKES US GREAT

OUR TEAM

Coach Nick

Owner and L2 TRAINER

Coach Kelly

KIDS COACH / L1 TRAINER

Coach John

L1 TRAINER

Coach Joe

L1 TRAINER

Coach Zach

L1 TRAINER

Coach Tom

L1 TRAINER

Coach Lauren

L1 TRAINER

Coach Caroline

L1 TRAINER

Coach Danny

L2 TRAINER

Coach Jess

L1 Trainer

Oakley

Goodest boy

ARE YOU READY TO LEVEL UP?

getting started is easy!

1. SCHEDULE YOUR FIRST VISIT

Talk with a coach about your goals and learn how we can get you to your best self.

2. START YOUR TRAINING

You have defined your goals and you are ready to begin your journey. We will start you strong by taking you through the fundamentals of training and sound habits putting you on the road to success!

3. HAVE FUN REACHING NEW LEVELS

Once you have the basics down you’ll book classes easily on our app, enjoy the workouts with awesome people and reach your goals in no time!

12 Gauge Gym

CONTACT US

GETTING STARTED IS EASY!

Simply fill out the form below and then schedule Your FREE intro session on the next page.

Shortly after we will be in touch with you to confirm your intro session. We are excited to meet you!

Coach Nick

OWNER / L2 TRAINER

I have been a proud US Marine since 2003, with five years of active duty, and a reservist since 2008. I only ever did the minimum when it came to fitness in the Marines and spent FAR more time playing World of Warcraft than I did working out. It was in 2009, as a reserve Marine, I was hit with the brutal reality that I was 20 pounds over the required standard to be a Marine, one cycle of P90X later, and an addiction to fitness was born.

From 2012-2022, I coached strength and conditioning classes for free at Retro Intensity in Virginia Beach, this was all done while working as a civilian full-time for the Navy. While I dearly miss that gym environment, something about my life there wasn’t agreeing with me and definitely wasn’t setting my heart on fire every day. So, in 2022, the decision was made to hit the reset button on life. I proceeded to resign from my very secure government job of 12 years, sold my paid-off home, and moved to a city where I only knew one person. Fredericksburg, VA. To start life over and go to college for exercise science.

I love coaching and just being around people that want to make themselves better than they were yesterday. That’s my passion and what wakes me up every morning.

CERTIFICATIONS

CERTIFIED L1 CROSSFIT TRAINER
CERTIFIED L2 CROSSFIT TRAINER

Coach Kelly

L1 TRAINER

Coach Kelly has been a part of the 12 Gauge family for the last three years and has coached the 12 Gauge Kids program since January 2021. She really enjoys instilling her love for CrossFit into kids, including her own. Her goal is for each child to walk away stronger and more prepared to deal with life’s inevitable physical, mental, and emotional challenges. The gym truly is her second home. Coach Kelly trains for endurance races including Spartan Ultra races and multi-day events like the Peak Races Death Race. Over the next several years she is focused on finishing the Death Race and GoRuck Selection. She likes that these events are multifaceted and require significant planning and that they aren’t just a test of physical strength, but are more holistic challenges. Kelly is a Certified CrossFit Kids Coach and is working on her L1 certification. She loves the challenge that CrossFit provides to athletes and loves the community.

CERTIFICATIONS

CERTIFIED CROSSFIT KIDS COACH
WORKING TOWARDS CERTIFIED L1 CROSSFIT TRAINER

Coach John

L1 TRAINER

I have lived in Fredericksburg, VA my whole life. I have always been a very active person, participating in everything from competitive swimming to college rugby. I got especially into fitness in college and afterward struggled to find something that scratched the team fitness itch. I dropped in at a CrossFit box and have been hooked ever since.
 
I love helping athletes succeed at complex gymnastics and barbell movements. Seeing when everything comes together and clicks for the athlete is one of my favorite parts of teaching.
 
I have been involved with Crossfit since 2018. I have bounced from gym to gym, and I can confidently say that CrossFit 12 Gauge is a fantastic environment to learn and grow in your fitness journey. I believe in meeting you where you are, and can guarantee that if you show up to work you will see the fruits of your labor. I would encourage anyone who’s on the fence to drop in and give it a shot, I know that you’ll find a warm environment where you can grow and better yourself.

CERTIFICATIONS

CERTIFIED L1 CROSSFIT TRAINER

Coach Joe

L1 TRAINER

In high school I was a football and track athlete, training for improvement was all I knew. Always with a desire to be faster and stronger, I had/have the mentality that I don’t ever want to get fat and out of shape. Somewhere around 2008, I remember my buddy suggesting we start CrossFit and I was skeptical because it was still new and not widely known and accepted. The first workout I remember was Cindy and it gassed me so bad and I was young and “in shape”. That was all it took and I did CrossFit on my own until early 2017 when I joined my first box at BIO CrossFit, where I quickly became a coach and gained lots of friends and experience that made me better all around. There are many who say I won’t be able to do CrossFit forever and I work to prove them wrong every day. After 15 years I continue to improve and learn, and hope that trend continues for the rest of my life!

CERTIFICATIONS

CERTIFIED L1 CROSSFIT TRAINER

Coach Zach

L1 TRAINER

I have been a competitive athlete since I was in elementary school in Northern Virginia, playing sports such as wrestling, lacrosse, swimming, and most of all football. I started playing football when I was 9 and continued all the way up through the end of college where I played at Randolph Macon College in Ashland Va. Fitness and working out has been a mainstay in my daily routine since I was in 8th grade. In high school during the offseason, I lived in the weight room, where I first got introduced to CrossFit and was always a fan of the way CrossFit transformed working out into a fun experience where you could work out and bond with friends/teammates.
 
While playing college football weight training was once again a staple, and I loved the atmosphere brought forward by working out with my teammates in a group setting. That was one of the holes I noticed in my fitness journey once football was over. After college I fell into the rut of going to the local gym with headphones on, getting a workout in to stay in shape, but having no competitive edge or drive to make any improvements. That is when I found my way back to CrossFit.
 
I signed up with a couple friends for a CrossFit team competition in Florida, and once the “pregame butterflies” that I used to feel before a big football game hit me while walking out for that first workout, I knew it was over. I was hooked. Since then, I have been training CrossFit daily, once again enjoying that group workout comradery and participating in more competitions. I am excited to help others find their groove, reach their fitness goals, and have a fun time doing it!

CERTIFICATIONS

CERTIFIED L1 CROSSFIT TRAINER

Tom

CrossFit Level 1

I’m a proud father of 5 boys and former multi-sport Division I athlete, with coaching blood running through my veins. From my grandfather to my father, I share their love and ability for all things sports. Together with my wife Leila, we love being around like-minded people with a passion for fitness and competition, and we found that in the CrossFit community at large and here at home with CrossFit XII Gauge.
 
My CrossFit journey started a few years back and, as a lifelong gym rat, I can tell you there really is nothing else that delivers a better combination of fitness, competition, and camaraderie. Whether it’s the satisfaction of crushing a hero WOD (e.g., Murph, Fran, etc…), the exhilaration of conquering a new skill or hitting a PR (e.g., double-unders, muscle-ups, etc…), or just the daily pride of knowing you’re getting fitter every day you show up, it’s what I try and instill in my athletes every day.
 
We all come from different backgrounds and life circumstances, and, as a result, are at different fitness levels, but one thing is for certain, you’ve got to show up to get results. As your coach, I will show up for you, so come join me and my “extended family” at CrossFit XII Gauge for the best hour of your day. Your body will thank you and you won’t regret it.

CERTIFICATIONS

CrossFit Level 1

Coach Lauren

CrossFit Level 1

My first introduction to CrossFit was performing a WOD with a rower, a dumbell, and a desire for change. Afterwards, I was completely spent and thoroughly surprised I was still alive. More importantly, I was hooked.

Since 2016 I have intermittently trained in CrossFit at boxes across the country. Being active duty military, it was not always feasible to maintain a membership, but my love for the sport never faded. In 2021 I obtained my Level 1 Certification before moving duty stations. After several years of having a constantly changing schedule, I was finally able to settle down and start coaching in 2024.

Eight years after discovering it, I can easily say that CrossFit is still as rewarding and beneficial as the first time I completed a WOD. The health benefits and sense of accomplishment you can achieve with this sport are amazing. But not nearly as amazing as the people you meet when you are at the box. They will cheer you on and push you every single day you show up. And so will I.

CERTIFICATIONS

CrossFit Level 1

Coach Caroline

CrossFit Level 1

I’ve had a lifelong relationship with fitness, but was always fixated on shrinking myself and taking up less space. My Pinterest boards were filled with curated “exercise challenge” infographics, and my Tumblr was clogged with “thinspirations”. After stumbling upon a CrossFit documentary in 2015, I was in awe of what the female athletes were capable of. I had finally found a culture where men and women alike were encouraged to take up space and celebrate strength. After stalking the sport for three years, I finally got the guts to try it myself. While working a desk job in administration, I would reward myself for getting through the day with a CrossFit class in the evening. That was my sign to follow my passion and pursue a career in fitness.

In 2020, I started doing cleaning, social media, and different odd jobs at CrossFit Harrisonburg, continued into management, and finally became a CF-L1 trainer. After a while I moved to Staunton, Virginia as the head coach and manager of 3xF, a former CrossFit Affiliate. Now, I’ve accumulated over 1,500 hours of group class instruction and personal training. I moved to Fredericksburg with my husband in October 2023. I dropped in to every CrossFit gym in the area, and finally found my home at 12 Gauge. I couldn’t be happier to continue working in fitness and helping people to become the better versions of themselves.

CERTIFICATIONS

CrossFit Level 1

Coach Danny

L2 Trainer

I’m a proud father to my three-year-old daughter and proud husband to my wife of 5 years. Without the two of them, who knows where I would be in life? Growing up, I was a very active child and played mostly baseball. After graduating high school and enlisting in the military, I began meeting more and more people who were both faster and stronger than me. Over the years, I continuously strive to be a better version of myself both in my personal and athletic endeavors. Sometimes I hit the mark, and sometimes I fall short, but that’s life, right? Regardless, my goal is always to show up and put in the work.
 
I began my CrossFit journey in 2014 and dabbled for a couple of months but never remained consistent. I had always “worked out” or done resistance training but became bored with the repetitive bro splits of chest/tris and back/bis. When I began getting into CrossFit, it served as a quantifiable metric of my capabilities. I learned through adversity and doing hard things, which I would classify CrossFit as hard, you learn a ton about how resilient you are and how you respond in life when things get hard or don’t go your way. The biggest benefit CrossFit has provided me has been between my ears. CrossFit gives me the confidence and capacity to do anything I put my mind to, no matter how difficult it may seem.
 
In 2019, I started coaching at my previous gym and fell in love with helping people achieve more than they thought they were capable of. Each day is a continuous process of refining my craft and helping athletes achieve their true potential. I truly enjoy seeing athletes put the work in day in and day out to not only meet their goals but exceed them.
 
My hope is that you find your way into our gym and allow our coaches to guide you and push you to be the best version of yourself so you may tackle whatever comes at you with confidence. You will thank yourself over and over for coming into the best community in Fredericksburg.

CERTIFICATIONS

CrossFit Level 2 Trainer (CF-L2)
 
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer (CF-L1)
 
Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)
 
Tactical Strength and Conditioning Specialist (TSAC-F)

Coach Jess

L1 Trainer

Sent back in time to kill John Connor.

CERTIFICATIONS

CrossFit Level 1

Oakley

Goodest boy

Coming soon!

CERTIFICATIONS

CrossFit Level 1

Coach Brian

L1 TRAINER

I have been at CrossFit 12 Gauge for over 5 years. I first signed my son up to get him to do some physical activity. Realizing that I was spending an hour waiting for kids’ class, might as well be doing something. My first CrossFit class was a 35 min WOD, it was brutal. I did CrossFit for six months, then I participated in a strongman practice comp. And fell in love with Strongman. I did my first comp as a last minute sign-up and took 3rd place.
 
I listened to a podcast with Ed Coan one day. He said “be a student of your sport.” I took that serious and started learning everything strongman related. I learned so much that I started helping others in the gym on cues and techniques. Shortly after that, I formed my own club within 12 Gauge. I welcome anyone who wants try strongman, whether they want to just have fun or become a serious competitor. I have met some of the most amazing people in strongman. I have competed at the Olympia and finished 10th in the Nation. I have finished 5th at USS nationals. I have won America’s Strongest Veteran 3 years in a row. And I have podiumed at numerous local competitions. And currently hold the Virginia State record for keg over bar throw.

CERTIFICATIONS

CERTIFIED L1 CROSSFIT TRAINER

Coach Lizzy

L1 TRAINER

Lizzy has been a lifelong athlete, calculated adrenaline junkie, and outdoor enthusiast. She grew up on Charleston beaches and spent her winters in the mountains of Idaho.
 
Important note: Lizzy will try anything at least once. In college, her beach volleyball coach and trainer suggested CrossFit was a way to increase her metabolic conditioning and strength. She tried it once, and has never looked back.
 
Over the course of her life Lizzy has experienced her fair share of adventures (from skydiving over the FL Keys, 2-day whitewater rafting trips out west, surfing in Hawaii, sport climbing in WV Gorge, to moving over 5 times across the country as a proud ARMY daughter, to owning her own 6-figure digital design & marketing agency).
 
Through all of those adventures, and more, she has been consistently supported and driven by only a few factors: family, a no-quit attitude, the philosophy to live fully, and fervor to challenge her mental and physical limits. CrossFit intersects with all of these and therefore, has become a pillar in her life.

CERTIFICATIONS

CERTIFIED L1 CROSSFIT TRAINER

HOLD POLICY

Month-to-Month Membership Agreements and Paid-In-Full Annual Membership Agreements: You may place your Membership on hold two (2) times per calendar year up to three (3) consecutive months each time. Advanced notice of at least two (2) business days is required. The hold must be 30 days in duration at a minimum and 30 days must elapse between holds. Upon expiration of the term of the hold, your account will automatically become active and payments will resume. Should you choose to return prior to the end of the hold period, the hold will be released and payments will resume.

CANCELLATION POLICY

All membership agreements require 30-days writen notice to cancel your membership. This form will serve as your 30-days written cancellation notice. Note that if you have a scheduled renewal payment within 30-days of your invoice billing date, the payment will be processed as scheduled. Your membership will be cancelled at the end of your final paid month. All payments are non-refundable. All grandfathered membership rates will also be forfeited and returning members will be subject to current rates.

MEMBERSHIP CANCELLATION REQUEST

Please fill out the form below and one of our team members will review your request. Warning. The submission of this form does not cancel your membership. We will review your request, then reach out to confirm.

HAVE QUESTIONS?

We Would Love To Meet You!

Simply fill out the form below
& one of our amazing
coaches will be in touch asap! We are excited to meet you!

ARE YOU LOOKING TO DROP-IN?

We Would Love To Meet You!
WARNING! Class Sizes Are Limited.

If you would like to reserve a spot… Simply fill out the form below letting us know what day you might come by & one of our amazing coaches will reach out to you to reserve your class.

OUR DROP-IN RATES

$22 Per Class

FIND US AT:

11050 Pierson Drive
Fredericksburg, VA, 22408

(540) 509-0990

OUR PRICING IS SIMPLE

We Want To Offer You The PERFECT Membership For YouR NEEDS.

Simply fill out the form below and one of our amazing coaches will send you our current membership information.

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