My Story
I've worked with Olympic athletes.
And I still had to rebuild myself.
I'm a middle-aged father of three with a 27+ year career as a Certified and Licensed Athletic Trainer. I've worked with athletes at every level — from youth teams to the Olympics. But in my 40s, despite all that knowledge, my own health started falling apart. What I learned from that journey is what drives everything I do at HYLA Wellness.
Built on 27 years of real-world experience
Throughout my career I've worked with athletes at every level — youth and high school, collegiate, professional, and Olympic competitors. I've seen what the body can do when it's supported right, and what happens when it isn't.
In 2020, during the pandemic, I discovered ultrarunning. What started as a mental outlet became a framework for understanding health from the inside out — not just performance, but longevity, joy, and sustainable living.
When my own health fell apart
By my mid-40s, despite completing three ultramarathons and staying active my whole life, things started going wrong. Anxiety. ER visits for chest pains. Panic attacks. A kidney stone and a gallstone at the same time. High blood pressure. High cholesterol. Low energy.
Here I was — someone who had spent decades helping other people get healthy — and I was struggling with my own.
I realized I needed a change. An approachable, measurable, real change. Not more willpower. A system.
The decision that changed everything
On July 16th, 2024, I became an alcohol-free athlete, father, and professional. For over 20 years, alcohol had been my signal that the workday was done. But over time it took more and more to feel that release — and I couldn't get it under control without a radical change.
With the help of journaling, counseling, and a personalized plan built on my own research and experience, I came out the other side healthier than I'd been in years. And I knew I had to share what I'd learned.