I brought my camera to CrossFit 1313 in Las Vegas Nevada and was met with friendly faces (and a great spot to take photos in).

Home away from home

Throughout all my travels (somebody’s gotta bring this camera somewhere), occasionally I do feel a bit homesick. And after a day of exploring bustling Freemont Street in Las Vegas, I saw a CrossFit gym so close I could’ve handstand walked there (just kidding). I decided to drop in for a quick photo op and to feel that oh-so-familar sense of community. And 1313 did not disappoint.

How 1313 Got Its Name

Tucked away in what seemed to be an old warehouse at 1313 E Charleston Blvd Las Vegas, NV, something about CrossFit 1313 felt so authentic. If you haven’t figured it out by now, 1313’s namesake simply comes from its street address number. Something about that name is so fitting – there are no gimmicks, just a space with some equipment and a tight-knit crew dedicated to lead healthier lives.

Just walk in

I say it all the time: I’ve walked into dozens of CrossFit gyms. I’ve probably done close to 1,000 WODs. I still get nervous. Walking into a new place is always a source of excitement, and I felt every eye lock onto me when I cracked the door open. One of the owners, Diana (above), greeted me mid-set and welcomed me in. She was incredibly friendly and gave me a quick tour of the space.

“Take a picture of the new shirt!”

I think that’s my favorite photo I took. Coach Anjo hit me with a double-arm flex after telling me he was wearing 1313’s newest merch. He’s an OG CrossFit connoisseur, who hit the killer assault bike/wall-walk workout pre-class and gave the 5PM crew a heads up of the pain they’ll feel. The magic of CrossFit comes through the energy of its coaches, and Anjo brought it tenfold.

Pre-WOD Handshakes

The workout was a doozy – an AMRAP of wall walks and assault bikes with a finisher consisting of strict gymnastics rig work. It didn’t surprise me that out of nowhere Diana and Anjo hit a sick handshake before the clock was set. It fit the vibe. You can tell that this wasn’t their first rodeo.

A few of my favorite things about CrossFit 1313:

• The location: its close to the Freemont Downtown area, home of plenty of coffee shops and even the Pawn Stars retail store.
• The community: immediately you can tell the members are treated like family. The crew was close-knit and welcoming and you were never out of ear-shot of laughter or encouragement.
• The coaches/owners were members too: The coaches and owners I met were clearly involved in the community and all hit the WOD as well. I think that goes a long way in building a close-knit community.

If you’re a fellow traveler looking for a spot to drop-in or a Vegas local looking for your next gym home, you can check out CrossFit 1313’s website at crossfit1313.com or via Instagram.