Love Where You Live Was Bigger Than a Race

There’s always a moment before a race starts where everything feels still for about five seconds.

The music lowers just enough.
Runners start locking in.
Some people are stretching like Olympians.
Others are pretending they “didn’t train that much” while secretly chasing a PR.
Families move toward the barricades.
Volunteers get into position.

Then boom.

Energy.

That’s exactly what downtown Spartanburg felt like during Run GSP’s 2026 Love Where You Live weekend.

This was my second year serving as emcee for the event, and honestly… this year hit different.

Over 1,600 participants showed up across the 5K, 10K, and the first-ever Love Where You Live Half Marathon in Run GSP history.

And let me tell you something:
When you launch a first-ever half marathon and people show up like THAT?
That’s not just a race anymore.
That’s community momentum.

You could feel it everywhere.

Some runners were chasing a new PR.
Some were just trying to survive the hills.
Some crossed the finish line looking like they had entered another dimension somewhere around mile 11.

Respect to all of you.

As somebody who spends a lot of time hosting live events, weekends like this remind me why in-person experiences still matter so much.

People are starving for real moments.
Real connection.
Real energy.
Not just scrolling past each other online.

And Run GSP creates that.

My role as emcee has never just been about yelling into a microphone or hyping people up.
Anybody can be loud.

The real job is helping shape the emotional pace of the day.

Knowing when to raise the energy.
Knowing when to let a moment breathe.
Knowing when somebody crossing a finish line deserves more than just hearing their bib number.

Because every runner out there had a story.

Some sprinted through the finish line smiling ear to ear.
Some were emotional.
Some crossed with friends.
Some crossed with family.
Some looked relieved they no longer had to hear me saying “YOU GOT THIS” every thirty seconds.

That’s fair too.

But those moments matter.

The best live events don’t just entertain people.
They give people something to feel.

And that’s what this weekend did.

Run GSP continues to build races that feel personal, welcoming, and deeply connected to Spartanburg. You can tell there’s intentionality behind everything, from the volunteers to the spectators to the runners chasing sub-times all morning long.

And honestly…
Watching the energy around this first-ever half marathon has me thinking.

I might have to run it myself one year.

Now let’s be clear:
Right now my best event-hosting PR is significantly stronger than my running PR.

But who knows?

Maybe one day I’ll be out there chasing a sub-2 instead of chasing down runners for finish-line interviews.

Either way, I’m grateful to have been part of year two, and I already know year three is going to be even bigger.

If you’re looking for an emcee or live event host who knows how to connect with audiences, create energy, and turn moments into experiences people actually remember, let’s work.