My son Zach, who recently turned 33, started walking at 7½ months old. Shortly thereafter, he started running—and he really hasn't stopped since.
Zach has always loved going fast. Whether it was running, rollerblading, riding his bike, or ice skating, his goal was simple: see how fast he could go. And usually, that was very fast.
Source: YouTube
Unfortunately, I cannot find a picture of his favorite Nike T-shirt from when he was five years old, but I clearly remember what it said:
I ride my bike
I wear cool shoes
I ride to win
I never lose
Gotta go, bye
That mentality always fit my youngest son perfectly. It is also somewhat reminiscent of another famous movie quote and character:
Source: Gracious Quotes
I remember when he was five years old, and his older brother Shane was seven. Shane was taking figure skating lessons at the Kent State ice arena. Zach used to stand on the outside of the rink next to his brother and challenge him to a race to see who could circle the entire ice arena the fastest... Shane on skates versus Zach and his Nikes. He thought this was great fun as he usually beat his big brother.
Zach loved sports that involved running. This included track, basketball, football, and especially soccer. He also loved training and challenges. He actually loved the Presidential Fitness competitions in gym class each year, as well as the eight months of training, in both the weight room and on the track, that preceded soccer season.
He was blessed to play on the CVCA Soccer team in high school. The school had one of the strongest soccer programs in Ohio at the time, reaching seven state championship games over a ten-year span. Zach played in the state soccer championship his last two years of school, winning it his senior year.
At a warm-up scrimmage before the state championship, the starters played against the reserves. The losing team had to race Coach Iannetta in a 100-yard dash—a challenge nobody had ever come close to winning.
Since Zach's team lost, they lined up against Coach I. Zach won by more than 10 yards. Around the 80-yard mark, I watched him glance over his shoulder to see if anyone was close. When I asked him about it afterward, he simply shrugged and said:
"Usain Bolt looks over his shoulder."
Since graduating from the University of Akron and beginning his professional career, Zach has continued to work out and train. Today, he serves as Vice President of Financial Planning at Valmark Financial Group.
Source: LinkedIn
He always told me he did better when he had a goal to strive for. In 2025, he decided to run the Akron half-marathon, which he completed in 1 hour and 40 minutes.
Source: Jesse's iPhone
One thing I've learned about Zach over the years is that speed was never really the point. What he loved most was having a challenge to chase.
Subsequently, this year, he decided to train for the full Cleveland marathon. He spent 14 weeks training through the cooler winter and spring months. Unfortunately, Sunday, May 17th, brought an 80° day with high humidity. Despite the tougher conditions, he completed the marathon in 3:46. Although the finishing time was slightly above his personal goal, I was even more impressed by how he responded when things got difficult. The heat and humidity took their toll during the final seven miles, but he kept moving forward and finished what he started.
Source: Jesse's iPhone
Rachel and I would also like to thank our fun, beautiful, and AMAZING daughter-in-law, Kayli, Zach's wife of nearly ten years, for her constant love, encouragement, and support. We are grateful that they live nearby and that we have the opportunity to share so much of life together.
I am incredibly proud of the man Zach has become—both personally and professionally. More importantly, I am grateful for the opportunity to continue sharing life's adventures with him and Kayli.
As Maverick might say, Zach has always felt the need for speed. Thankfully, over the years, he has learned that the most meaningful journeys aren't measured in miles per hour, but in the people who travel alongside us.
Thanks for letting me share this family update. And yes, with Zach, we're still "Moving Life Forward." Gotta go, bye!
© 2026 Jesse Hurst
Senior Wealth Manager
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