I'll never forget standing at a race start line in San Jose, surrounded by thousands of runners yet feeling completely alone. After every race, I'd discover friends had been there too. We'd run the same course, celebrated the same finish, but never connected. Missing out on genuine connections sparked something.
"Those headbands and wristbands weren't just swag. They were conversation starters, connection makers, community builders."
So I built RaceMob and started showing up to races differently. By 2013, I was at race director conferences, partnering with Run Local and Brazen Racing, setting up booths every weekend.
Everything changed. Suddenly, people were cheering for me by name. I was cheering for others. Race day became a celebration, not a solitary struggle. That lonely feeling vanished, replaced by something extraordinary: community.
"The fun, the shared celebration — this made race day truly special."
