WHY I STARTED FINISH LINE SOCIETY

There are moments in life that divide everything into a "before" and an "after."

For me, that moment came on February 29, 2024.

That was the day I made the decision to get sober— and, looking back, the day my life truly began.

It wasn't easy. There were difficult conversations, uncomfortable emotions, sleepless nights, and moments when running back to what was familiar seemed easier than moving forward. Recovery forced me to confront the parts of myself I had spent years trying to outrun.

So instead, I started running.

Literally.

What began as a way to cope quickly became something much greater. I found a passion for health and fitness— specifically endurance sports— and it became more than a hobby. It became a source of healing. Every early morning run, every mile on the bike, and every swim before sunrise became another opportunity to rebuild trust with myself—and another step toward becoming the person I had always been capable of being.

Training for marathons, ultramarathons, and IRONMAN races taught me something I'll never forget: 

The finish line isn't where transformation happens.

Transformation happens in the thousands of quiet moments when nobody is watching— the mornings you don't want to get up, the workouts you almost skip, the setbacks that test you, and the small decisions that, over time, become a completely different life.

That realization became the foundation for Finish Line Society.

I didn't want to create just another race. I wanted to build events that remind people why they started in the first place and celebrate the journey— not just the finish line.

Whether someone is running their very first 5K, chasing a personal record, walking with family, or simply proving to themselves that they can do hard things, every participant arrives at the finish line with a story worth celebrating.

When it came time to choose a charity partner for our inaugural event, there wasn't a more meaningful choice than The Next Door Recovery.

Drugs and alcohol promised me peace, purpose, connection, and hope. Sobriety actually delivered them.Partnering with an organization that helps women reclaim those same things felt like a natural extension of everything Finish Line Society stands for.

My hope is that every person who crosses the finish line leaves believing they're capable of more than they ever imagined.

Because at the end of the day, this event isn't about running.

It's about moving forward.

And realizing that every finish line is only the beginning.