, an extremely popular new treadmill studio startup with a cult-like following. The brand appeals broadly from folks just starting to run to elite running athletes. With community and kindness as core values of the company, Thoroughbred is taking the fitness industry by storm.
Way before founding Thoroughbred, I was looking at preschools for my oldest son Jake. I decided to open my own school called. That was my first real business that I opened, and it’s been in existence now for 30 years and we still have all of the same staff. I really went through all the unglamorous trials and tribulations of starting your own business. The late nights and early mornings, figuring out what works and doesn’t with people, budgeting, etc.
Jake decided to go to Salesforce and work in marketing. He came to me two years later and said, “Mom, I want to do Thoroughbred.” I was 100% in. I knew this was the right thing, and didn’t hesitate. Jake was willing to leave a career, an income, and all of the joys of working in San Francisco in order to take on this venture. We opened the first studio in 2016.We were working around the clock. We made a plan for the business and started looking for real estate.
You also have little blitzes of success. For example, the first time we had a class sellout and people were waiting outside the door. When this happened, I thought, “Oh my god, I want to start crying. This is going to work!” We’ve had people finish our classes and cry while thanking us. These things make you realize why you started the business.