june member of the month: rhae Lokay
Rhae is one of the most caring and selfless people in our community. She consistently puts others before herself, shows up to support those around her, and always finds ways to make people feel seen and valued. Whether she's cheering people on from the sidelines, making signs for events, writing thoughtful cards, or simply taking the time to connect with someone, she makes a positive impact on everyone around her.
Rhae truly embodies what makes Sanitas such a special place. Her kindness, encouragement, and genuine care for others help create the strong sense of community that we all love. Thank you, Rhae, for being such an incredible part of Sanitas—we're so lucky to have you here!
Here is a little Q&A to get to know Rhae:
1. You’ve lived quite an adventurous life! Professional cyclist, from Canada.. How did you end up here in CO!? How was that journey?
I was in Seattle, working at Microsoft and racing triathlons — honestly, I have no idea how I was doing both — when the opportunity came to switch to road cycling. So I went off to Europe to race.
The life of a pro cyclist is nomadic — I got to travel and see the world, but I lived out of a suitcase for nine months of the year. Compared to the very posh life of a triathlete, it was a big adjustment.
When I retired, my goals were simple: get a dog, put down roots, and live somewhere that made staying home feel like a vacation. I wanted sun, four seasons, and an outdoor fitness mindset. Thirteen years ago, Boulder checked every box.
2. You had an impressive career as a professional cyclist. How did you get started in the sport, and what are some of your favorite memories from that chapter of your life?
I started as a triathlete (half and full Ironman), and just kept saying yes to new opportunities and goals as they appeared. I switched with the intent of race the Olympics in 2012.
I'm really proud of a lot of the races I won. But I’m most proud of how I did it. I raced clean in a pretty dirty sport, and I raced with panache. I won my first European UCI race in a long solo break and the French paper ran a headline about my panache. I stayed confident and true to myself regardless of what was going on around me - and that feels like a big accomplishment.
The memories of 15 years of racing are wild! I have so many. But I think my favorite thing about that part of my life is that it happened. Leaving Microsoft was scary. Leaving a triathlon career I'd poured everything into — one I was really good at — to chase an Olympic cycling dream was also scary. I did it anyway, even when people thought I was making a huge mistake. I followed my heart, even when it didn't make sense to other people.
3. What lessons from your cycling career have carried over into your life today and your CrossFit journey?
In a 9–10 hour race, a lot doesn't go according to plan. It’s not what you do when things are going well, it's what you do when they're not that makes all the difference. With every obstacle, there's always a choice to make about what comes next. My journey taught me to follow my instincts and commit.
The other big lesson: no one actually cares how fast you are. They won't remember your splits or your podiums — and the internet will have your history all wrong years later anyway. It just doesn't matter.
What people remember is how you made them feel.
4. What’s one challenge you’ve had to overcome, and how did you push through it?
Accepting that falling is a part of success. I used to worry so much about getting things perfect. In every area of my life — sport, career, personal - it took me a while to understand that the people who win aren't the ones who never fall. They're the ones who just keep getting back up every single time. Burpees are basically my life philosophy.
5. What are 3+ of your favorite movements in CrossFit, and some numbers that are significant to you! I know you love a nice long chipper so we will come up with something awesome for your workout!!! feel free to send over anything you want to be included in that.
I like all the things. Some of my Favorite movements:
• Burpees — and all the variations (to target, box jump overs, over the bar, devils press….)
• Dumbbell snatches
• Toes-to-bar
• Deadlift
Numbers that matter:
50 (my age) · 30 (Zac's age) · 10 (Jack's age)