AS TOLD BY AN ATHLETE

Always Find the

Finish Line

With Sam Parsons

Photography By Emily Maye

Sometimes our strongest finishes sneak up on us. We’re so woven into the work, engulfed by the grit and the grind, that we can only hope it all unfolds into an achievement. In racing, at least we know we’re headed toward the tape, following a route at a practiced pace. But in most other aspects of life, there is no set start or end. We just follow the course. And no matter what, we always find the finish line – wherever that may be. As runners, it’s in our blood.

As Sam Parsons navigates his next steps as a professional runner after racing the 2025 World Indoor Championships, he’s redefined his destination, leaning on his creativity as a compass to equip his ambitions. With an equal love for the act and art of running, Sam is joining Tracksmith as a creative and athletic partner, where he’ll be able apply his elite insights and performance-minded perspective. Here at the Trackhouse, he’s found a new finish – one that will actually lead him to new beginnings.

Sam Parson's New Path

This past fall, I found myself at a crossroads in the sport and filled with resentment. I had just missed out on making the Olympic team, was dropped by my longtime sponsors, and saw teammates moving on to other ventures. All the while, I felt that my best running was still ahead of me.

One of the things I’m most proud of in my career is how I’ve learned to deal with failure. I’ve discovered that failure can be my strongest ally and motivator, rather than letting it define me. It will always be my greatest teacher (sorry, Ms. Jackson). It shows you how much harder or smarter you need to work, forcing you to be vulnerable with yourself and face the hard truths of why that “failure” occurred. It’s a brutal undertaking, and one of the many reasons why running is such a beautiful endeavor – because inevitably, you will fail far more often than you succeed.

This year, I was so focused on simply trying to survive that I forgot to truly enjoy the process. Every race came with an underlying mindset of needing to gather enough points to qualify for the Olympics and sell enough product to support the members of our team.

I knew I needed a change of support, a new outlet for creativity, and, most importantly, a new challenge. I learned early in my career that I run my best when I’m equally excited about what I’m doing outside of the sport as I am about my training and racing. So, I called my agent and shared my best-case scenario: Can I work for a brand and still run professionally? I didn’t know if it would be feasible to find someone who could make that happen. I received some offers to just work and some to just run, but deep down, I knew none of these situations would bring me the joy and excitement I needed to be successful again.

Finally, Tracksmith answered the call. I had always dreamt of being able to not only continue pursuing my dreams as a professional runner but also have a brand by my side that trusted me and offered the opportunity to work within the company creatively — that’s special. It excites me to no end, and I hope this ushers in a whole new wave of athletes being viewed as more than just athletes, but as individuals who can bring something to a brand outside of just times on the clock.

I cannot wait to learn and work alongside the people within Tracksmith that I’ve admired for so long and to represent them when I race. I know the work we will do here will continue to push the sport of running forward, which has always been, and will always be, my mission. I don’t know how many more years of running I have left, and I think that’s okay. But what I do know is that I chose the right path.