FOUNDERS STORY

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

For me, that moment came on February 29, 2024. I remember that day vividly. At the time, I thought I had reached the lowest point of my life. Looking back now, I realize it was the day my life truly began.

It was the day I decided to get sober.

It’s funny how life works. I spent years searching for peace, confidence, purpose, and fulfillment in places that only left me emptier than before. I believed alcohol and other substances could numb the pain, quiet the anxiety, or somehow make me feel more alive.

Instead, they slowly took pieces of me. When I finally chose recovery, I wasn’t just giving something up. I was getting my life back. For the first time in years, I began learning who I actually was.

Recovery wasn't about becoming someone new. It was about becoming the person I had always been capable of becoming—the one buried beneath years of fear, shame, and unhealthy coping mechanisms. It wasn’t easy. There were difficult conversations, uncomfortable emotions, long nights, and moments when I wanted to run back to what felt familiar.

But instead…

I started running.

Literally.

I found a passion for health, fitness, and endurance sports. It became more than just a hobby or exercise. It became therapy and a source of healing. Every early morning run, every mile on the bike, every swim before sunrise became another opportunity to rebuild trust with myself.

Endurance sports taught me lessons I never expected. You can’t cheat an IRONMAN. You can’t fake your way through an Ultramarathon. Eventually your body stops, your mind starts talking, and you’re forced to confront the person you’ve been avoiding.

Somewhere between the training sessions, the lonely miles, the finish lines, and the countless hours spent alone with my thoughts, I began healing the parts of myself I'd spent years trying to outrun.

The same discipline that helped me train for races became the discipline that kept me sober. The same resilience I found on the course carried into everyday life.

Today, I’ve completed an IRONMAN, marathons, ultramarathons, and countless endurance events— but the accomplishment I’m proudest of isn’t a medal hanging on my wall. It’s waking up every morning knowing I no longer need to escape my own life–– and have built a life that I am proud of. 

Recovery gave me everything drugs and alcohol had promised— but never could deliver.

Real peace.

Real confidence.

Real purpose.

Real connection.

Real freedom.

That transformation eventually led to something much bigger than myself. In January of 2026, I founded Finish Line Society. People assume it’s just a race company.In reality, it’s a community built around a much bigger idea.

The finish line has never been the point. The journey is.

Every person who stands on a starting line has a story. Some are chasing a personal record. Some are running their very first mile. Some are celebrating weight loss. Some are honoring someone they’ve lost. Some are simply proving to themselves they can do hard things. No matter our background, fitness level, age, or life experiences, we all share something in common: We’re moving forward.

And sometimes, simply moving forward is the greatest victory of all.

That’s what Finish Line Society exists to celebrate. Not the medal. Not the podium. But the courage it takes to begin—and the journey that transforms us along the way.

That vision comes to life on September 12, 2026 at our inaugural Nashville Fall Forward Classic at Two Rivers Park.Whether you’re running the 5K, 10K, or 15K, my hope is that this event feels like more than a race. It’s a celebration of perseverance. Of community. Of choosing forward.

Whether you're chasing a personal best, walking your very first 5K, or simply showing up because someone you love has been impacted by addiction, there's a place for you at the starting line.

We'll have beautiful greenway courses, custom medals, local vendors, music, food, and an incredible community waiting for you.

But the part I’m most proud of isn’t anything you’ll find on race day. It’s who we’re running for.

I knew I wanted every event to stand for something greater than just miles, medals, and finish lines. I wanted every race to create a positive and meaningful impact in our community and the people in it. So as I began planning the Nashville Fall Forward Classic, choosing a beneficiary wasn’t simply another item on a checklist. It had to mean something.

I met Tisha Moore through our local BNI chapter and was immediately inspired by both her story and the incredible work being done at The Next Door Recovery. As I learned more about the organization, I realized our missions were deeply connected.

Addiction doesn’t discriminate.

It affects every community, every profession, every neighborhood, and nearly every family in one way or another. Even if you’ve never personally struggled with addiction, chances are someone you love has. A parent. A child. A spouse. A sibling. A friend. Recovery isn’t just about the individual— it changes entire families and communities.

Mine is just one story among millions, but it's proof that a different life is possible.

Through my own journey, I eventually began volunteering with The Next Door Recovery. Serving meals, spending time with the women, and witnessing lives being transformed reminded me of something I’ll never forget: Someone extended grace to me when I hadn't yet learned how to give it to myself. Someone believed in me before I believed in myself. Now I have the opportunity to pass that gift on to someone else. Now I have the opportunity to give that hope to someone else. That’s a gift I never want to take for granted.

The Nashville Fall Forward Classic isn’t simply raising money for The Next Door Recovery. It’s helping create opportunities for women to rebuild their lives, restore relationships, and discover that recovery is possible. Just like someone once did for me.

If you’ve been thinking about signing up for a race…

If you’re beginning your own fitness journey…

If you’re celebrating recovery…

If you’re supporting someone you love…

Or if you’re simply looking for a meaningful way to spend a Saturday morning…

I’d love for you to join us.

Because every finish line represents something different.

For some, it's a medal.

For others, it's a personal best.

For me, it represents a second chance.

And maybe that's why I believe the finish line was never the goal.

The real victory happens long before that— in the quiet, ordinary moments when we choose, one day at a time, to keep moving forward.