Hi, I’m Tim
I’m a NASM Certified Personal Trainer, UESCA Certified Running Coach, and the founder of Foxfire Fitness.
I design highly individualized training programs built around each client's goals, lifestyle, and schedule.
My coaching philosophy emphasizes movement quality, progressive strength, and aerobic development—helping clients train efficiently, stay healthy, and enjoy the process while building results that last.
But credentials only tell part of the story. Here's the rest.
1. How It Started
For thirty years, I worked as an English instructor and writer—most of that time behind a desk grading essays, reading, and writing. As a kid, I loved baseball and basketball. As an adult, my activity rarely extended beyond the occasional pickup game.
At fifty, I decided it was time for a change. I'd always been fast as a kid—maybe I'd try running. I'd spent years watching boxing—maybe I'd try that too. In February 2021, I started moving around at home: running in place to an 80's mix, lifting 8-lb weights, shadowboxing in my living room. Just moving a little made me feel better.
2. How It Progressed
By November 2021, I was taking boxing and Muay Thai classes in Asheville, NC. Every class blended technique with high-intensity intervals—jump rope, core work, skill drills, light sparring. In March 2022, I fought in my first Muay Thai smoker match. There's a saying in Muay Thai that stuck with me: "No run, no Muay Thai"—so I started running. In June 2022, I tried a trail run and it was a turning point. I fell in love with the freedom and challenge of it—the climbs, the technical terrain, the immersion in nature. Four months later, I ran my first trail half-marathon and finished 8th.
3. I kept Going
Since then, running has become my passion. I've completed ultra distances, placed in the Top 10 in several races, and won the Masters Division (50+) of the 2025 Assault on Blackrock—a grueling 7-mile race that climbs 2,700 feet in the first 3.5 miles. At 53, I set personal bests of 5:36 in the mile and 18:53 in the 5K.
For over a year, I trained under Aaron Saft—a decorated ultrarunner and outstanding coach—an experience that shaped my approach around consistency, intelligent progression, and long-term durability. Those principles are at the core of every program I design.
4. Why I Coach Today
Today, my own training blends trail running, power hiking, and functional strength work with cross-training in martial arts.
My programs reflect that same philosophy: strong fundamentals—mobility, stability, strength, and aerobic capacity—so athletes can train confidently and sustainably, for the long haul.
I know what it's like to start over. I know what it's like to be a complete beginner at something physically demanding—to feel awkward, uncertain, and out of shape—and to come out the other side genuinely transformed. That experience is at the heart of everything I do as a coach.
The decades I spent teaching and mentoring inform my coaching style just as much as my athletic experience. I believe in clear communication, thoughtful programming, and helping clients understand their training—not just follow it. My goal isn't to hand you a plan. It's to help you build a fitness practice that's realistic, rewarding, and lasting.
If you're ready to find out what you're capable of, I'd love to be in your corner.
