08/30/2026
We celebrated 17 years in business last night!
Seventeen years ago, I started RPF because I loved fitness and I knew I could make a difference.
I had no idea what I was actually starting.
Or even what I was doing.
But I was doing it with my whole heart!
Just that one class on the side while I was working 3 other jobs was where this all started.
Man I could have never predicted the blessing it would become.
I was supposed to give a speech at the party. Probably should have prepared something...
Because I looked around the room and almost started crying.
So many people I love in one room. Blew me away.
I’ll keep that picture in my head and heart forever.
No words felt adequate.
And I didn’t trust myself to think too much about and talk about what I was feeling.
Pretty sure I just kept alternating the words thank you and amazing.
I’m better at writing things down anyway.
I saw people who have become a huge part of my life.
I've watched them get stronger.
I've watched them do things they didn't think they could do.
I've watched friendships form that never would've happened if somebody hadn't decided to walk into an RPF class.
But I've also watched them go through some really hard things.
We've been through losses together.
Health scares.
Family struggles.
Lost people we cared about.
Kids growing up.
Parents getting older.
Careers changing.
Life changing.
And through all of it, we've kept showing up for each other.
That's the part I'm most proud of.
I didn't start this thinking, "I hope someday I get to build a community of people I genuinely love."
But somehow, that's exactly what happened.
RPF has given me far more than I could ever give back.
It's given me purpose.
It's given me friendships.
It's given me thousands of mornings when I woke up knowing that what I was about to do mattered to somebody.
And there have been times over these 17 years when this business has been hard.
I mean really hard.
Times I've wondered how much longer I could do it.
And then one of you would tell me something like...
"I'm not sure I could have gotten through this without my friends from class."
Or sometimes you'd just walk through the door smiling.
And I'd remember why I started.
So when somebody congratulates me on 17 years of RPF,
I appreciate it, that's so cool. I love it.
But it's not me, it's we.
We did.
Every person who showed up.
Every person who brought a friend.
Every coach who cared about our people.
Every person who believed in this place.
You are part of this story.
People come in and out of class.
That's just life.
But I hope the friendships made here last.
I hope the confidence you built here stays with you.
I hope you're still doing things at 70, 80, and 90 years old that you once weren't sure you'd be able to do.
And I hope you know how incredibly grateful I am that, for a little part of your life, I got to be your coach.
Seventeen years ago, I thought I was starting a fitness business.
Turns out, we were building a family.
I love you guys.
Thank you for these 17 years.
And we're not done yet.