Zach’s Success Story

I grew up in Idaho where I was a good student and a better athlete. But after years of homelessness, it took my time at the Rescue Mission of Salt Lake before my life and fitness were restored.

In high school, I ran track and competed as a sprinter, specializing in the quarter mile and relays. On the outside, things looked good. I had talent, speed, and opportunity. But inside, I never felt like I truly fit in. I was not part of any group where I felt fully accepted, and I carried a lot of anxiety that I did not know how to deal with.

Substances became my solution. At first, it was just partying, chasing social acceptance and the thrill of it all. Drugs quieted my insecurity and helped me feel like I belonged, at least temporarily. What I did not understand at the time was that I was setting myself on a path that would consume years of my life. Addiction slowly stole my ability to think clearly and damaged my body.

A significant point came when my wife and I lost our child to miscarriage. That grief broke something inside me. I dove headfirst into alcohol, trying to escape the pain instead of facing it. Not long after, our marriage ended in divorce. I spiraled further into addiction, cycling through short periods of sobriety followed by relapse. For 15 years (while living in the Boise area), rotating between jail and homelessness became my way of life, if you can call that living. Homelessness was especially dangerous for me. Without stability or structure, staying clean felt nearly impossible.

I had family in Utah and wanted to be closer to them. I started searching online for help in the Salt Lake area, and Rescue Mission of Salt Lake came up. Even though I did not fully understand what the Mission’s New Life Program involved, I knew I had nothing left to lose. I took the leap and came to Utah, hoping for one more chance.

When I arrived at the Mission, I experienced what God might call the gift of desperation. I was finally willing to try anything. From the beginning, the Mission was loving. That acceptance changed me. I committed to the program and the process. For the first time in my life, I was surrounded by people who wanted to grow, heal, and help one another. I had never experienced stable, healthy relationships rooted in accountability. Slowly, I became emotionally invested in people and in my own recovery.

Narcotics Anonymous (NA) became a crucial part of my sobriety and I regularly attended meetings outside the Mission as well as the Mission’s classes. The Mission gave me the safe place I needed to fully immerse myself in fellowship. I went to meetings, took on commitments, attended events, and started building connections. As I grew, I felt a responsibility to give back, to encourage others in the program, and to help bring people along with me.

Work was another major hurdle. My work history was limited, and I had to start from the ground up. I donated plasma, did side jobs, and kept pushing forward until I found stable employment with a pest control company. I started as a seasonal technician, learning the basics. Within three weeks, I was offered a permanent position and earned promotions and greater responsibility.

As my life stabilized, I found myself drawn back to something I loved as a kid: Running. Addiction had taken my mind and body from me, but I asked myself what I loved doing when I was a teenager (before I started using substances), and the answer was clear. I started slowly, following training plans I found online and building consistency. My NA sponsor happened to be an ultramarathon runner. We began running together on trails in the foothills above Salt Lake, logging long miles and having long conversations.

Along the way, I learned about the new Sydney Marathon and felt an immediate connection to it. I entered an online lottery to run it.  When I received the email saying I had been selected to run the Sydney Marathon, I was overwhelmed with gratitude. Seven hundred thousand people applied, and only 40,000 were chosen. I followed a strict training plan for 24 weeks, balancing work, recovery, and service commitments.

At the time, I was living at the Mission’s transitional housing unit Freedom House and paying rent and my own expenses. I did not know how I would afford the trip, but I stayed committed, saved every dollar, lived frugally, got my passport, and trusted the process.

Running the Sydney Marathon in August 2025 was life changing. I exceeded my race time goal and spent 10 days in Australia, attending NA meetings there, exploring the country, and pushing myself to fully experience a life I once thought was impossible.

I had always admired Ironman athletes, even during my darkest years. Competing in an Ironman felt like the ultimate symbol of recovery. Today, I am training for an Ironman. I am actively involved with my family again and committed to giving back. Through the Mission, I learned how to receive love and how to give it freely. That growth did something therapy alone never could.

This year, I will compete in an Ironman in Boise, returning to the place where I once hit rock bottom. It feels like a full circle moment. My life is proof that no matter how broken you feel, anything is possible. For those struggling with addiction, homelessness, or despair, I want my life to be an example that hope and recovery is real. Thank you for supporting the Rescue Mission. Your support has changed my life!