I Used to Be a Real Estate Agent — And I Hated It

Years ago, I was working in real estate. From the outside, it looked fine — decent money, flexible hours, a “respectable” career. But I dreaded going to work. I felt stuck, bored, and disconnected from any real purpose.

To cope, I drank. Not in some wild, destructive way — just enough to blur the edges and numb the quiet dissatisfaction. It became a habit. And the more I drank, the more I felt like I was losing something: time, energy, clarity, myself.

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Walking Saved Me

I didn’t quit drinking overnight. It started with something small: night walks.

When the urge to drink hit, I’d just walk. Not far, not fast — just around the block. It gave me space to think. And little by little, those walks became longer. They became the thing I looked forward to instead of that next drink.

Eventually, walking turned into running.

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Running Changed Everything

Running became a way to detox — not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. I started feeling better. Sleeping better. Thinking clearer. The miles added up.

One 5K led to another. Then a half marathon. Then full marathons. I wasn’t chasing finish lines — I was chasing momentum.

What really helped me stay consistent was joining running clubs. That social accountability, that unspoken camaraderie of showing up for the same Saturday run — it’s what kept me going, even on tough days.

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From Miles to Code

Somewhere along that journey, I started teaching myself to code. I’d run in the morning and tinker with tutorials at night. Slowly, it clicked.

Eventually, I landed a role as a software developer — and later worked at JPMorgan Chase. I had gone from selling homes I didn’t care about to building software that actually meant something to me.

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But It All Started With Sobriety and Running

None of it — not the career change, not the clarity, not the confidence — would’ve happened if I hadn’t decided to stop drinking and start moving.

And now, I want to give that back.

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So I Built RunGroop

RunGroop is a running app designed to make it easier to find people to run with — automatically.

You can:
• Join or create local running groups
• RSVP to runs and see who’s going
• Claim your club and organize meetups
• Build consistency by making running social

It’s built with React Native and a .NET Core backend, and it’s shaped by everything I wish existed when I first laced up my shoes alone.

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Real Connection > Just Fitness

This isn’t about competition or PRs — it’s about community.

Because I know firsthand: running can save lives. But it’s a lot easier — and more powerful — when you’re not doing it alone.

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Check out RunGroop
https://rungroop.com