Zach and Stephanie first became friends through BASSM (Bethel Atlanta School of Supernatural Ministry). Steph was a 3rd year student and Zach was her 3rd year small group leader. They connected pretty quickly over work stuff... Zach was in the process of launching his blood testing company and Stephanie, a nurse practitioner, provided some advice and an inside look in the medical system. While Stephanie starting noticing herself becoming "curious" about Zach, their friendship remained strictly that, just friends. The following year Stephanie joined the 3rd year staff team and she and Zach ended up leading a small group together (aghhem thanks Dan :-) This is also around the time that Stephanie started running.... a lot. Zach had been helping out "crewing" our friends that were running ultramarathons and Stephanie got thrown into the mix as a pacer and crew member. Eventually, Steph started running races of her own and Zach crewing along side (aka "driving the beer truck"). At her first 100 mile race in Oct 2019, Steph came into the mile 80 aid station freezing and beyond exhausted. Zach was there ready with hugs, cheers, coffee and more gels. He loaded her running pack up and then threw her a curve ball by saying that he was running the last section with her. So off they went into the night.... Steph a mess of exhaustion, hypothermia, and emotions and Zach, her never ending encourager. They finished the race together 6 hours later. What started as really great friendship shifted to something more than friends that weekend. They started officially dating in December 2019 and have been running full stride ever since.