Serving Those Who Have Served At Home And Abroad
FITNESS IS
MEDICINE
Finish lines are lifelines. We provide significantly discounted and free race entries to veterans, service members, and first responders because the next mile might save a life.
Hover to pause
MORE THAN A RACE
Operation WarriorFit exists because 22 veterans die by suicide every day. We believe that fitness is an evidence-based intervention for mental health challenges and that crossing a finish line can be the first step toward reclaiming purpose, rebuilding community, and rediscovering what it means to feel alive.
We provide free and discounted race entries to veterans, active-duty service members, reservists, and first responders. Because the hardest part of any race is not the miles, it is showing up at the starting line.
BY THE NUMBERS
THREE STEPS TO YOUR NEXT MISSION
Apply
Fill out a simple application confirming your service status as a veteran, service member, or first responder.
Choose Your Race
Browse our database of 200+ partnered races—5Ks, marathons, obstacle courses, triathlons, and more.
Cross the Finish Line
Show up, push yourself, and join a community of warriors who understand that every mile matters.
WHO WE SERVE
Operation WarriorFit provides free and discounted race entries to those who have served our country and communities. We believe that everyone who has answered the call deserves access to the transformative power of fitness.
Veterans
Those who have honorably completed their service in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. Whether you served for 4 years or 40, whether you saw combat or served stateside, you are a warrior and you belong here.
Includes all eras of service from WWII to present day. No minimum service requirement.
Active Duty
Currently serving members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Coast Guard. Your service does not have to wait for retirement to prioritize your health.
All ranks and MOSs welcome. Dependents may be eligible in future programs.
Reservists & Guard
National Guard and Reserve members who serve part-time while maintaining civilian careers. You carry a unique burden of balancing two worlds, and you deserve support in both.
Includes drilling reservists, IRR members, and all Guard components.
First Responders
Police officers, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, corrections officers, and dispatchers who serve our communities on the front lines every day. Your sacrifice mirrors military service.
Career and volunteer first responders are both eligible. Must be currently serving or retired.
Not sure if you qualify? Apply anyway. We review every application individually.
Check Your EligibilityARE YOU R.E.A.D.Y.?
These five values guide everything we do at Operation WarriorFit, from how we build our organization to how we support every warrior who joins our mission.
We overcome obstacles on the racecourse and in life, fostering grit and mental toughness through every challenge. Resilience isn't about never falling, it's about getting back up every single time. In endurance racing and in life after service, setbacks are inevitable. What defines us is how we respond.
Our Team
Our founder, Jonathan, built OWF while working full-time, completing his MBA, and training for 100-mile ultramarathons. When Hurricane Helene devastated Asheville in 2024, the OWF team didn't pause. They adapted, pivoted, and kept building because the mission was too important to stop.
Our Warriors
A warrior who hasn't laced up running shoes in years signs up for their first 5K. They show up on race day nervous, unsure if they can finish. When they cross that line, they prove to themselves that the setbacks of the past don't define their future. That's resilience in action.
We push our physical and mental limits, understanding that progress comes through perseverance, consistency, and heart. Endurance isn't just about long distances. It's about showing up day after day, even when motivation fades. It's the compound effect of consistent effort over time.
Our Team
Building a nonprofit from scratch requires endurance. Daily content creation, endless partnership outreach, application processing, and strategic planning, all while maintaining the energy to inspire others. OWF commits to the long game, knowing that sustainable impact takes time.
Our Warriors
A first responder working 60-hour weeks still finds time to train. They wake up early, they run in the rain, they push through fatigue because they know the finish line represents something bigger than the race itself. Every mile is a step toward reclaiming their sense of purpose.
We hold ourselves and each other to high standards and stay committed to our goals, teams, and community. Accountability means doing what you said you would do, even when no one is watching. It's the foundation of trust, and trust is the foundation of community.
Our Team
OWF practices radical transparency. Every financial decision, every partnership, every metric is made public. When we commit to getting warriors to starting lines, we track and report our progress openly. We hold ourselves accountable to our mission and to every donor who believes in it.
Our Warriors
When a warrior registers for a race through OWF, they're making a commitment. They check in before the event, they show up, and they report back after. This accountability structure isn't about policing, it's about building the habit of following through that service members know so well.
We relentlessly pursue personal growth, team success, and the fulfillment of our mission to serve those who have served. Dedication is the fuel that keeps us going when the initial excitement fades. It's the deep commitment to something bigger than ourselves.
Our Team
Every day of OWF's first year is documented. Every partnership meeting, every rejection, every small win. The team is dedicated not just to the mission, but to proving that a nonprofit can be built differently, with authenticity, transparency, and relentless forward motion.
Our Warriors
A veteran who felt lost after leaving service dedicates themselves to training for a marathon. It becomes their mission. They study nutrition, they follow a plan, they join the community. That dedication doesn't just prepare them for 26.2 miles, it rebuilds their identity around growth and purpose.
We believe in empowering the individual because every step, every race, and every act of service begins with you. No one can run your miles for you. No one can do the work of healing except you. But you don't have to do it alone. OWF exists to give you the opportunity. The rest is up to you.
Our Team
OWF was started by one person who decided to act. Every board member, every volunteer, every partner joined because they individually chose to be part of something meaningful. The organization is the sum of individuals who said "I'm in."
Our Warriors
When you apply to OWF, you're not asking for a handout. You're raising your hand and saying "I'm ready to do the work." We provide the entry. You provide the effort, the sweat, the commitment. The transformation that happens at the finish line, that's all you.
STANDING WITH WARRIORS
These organizations share our belief that fitness transforms lives. Together, we are putting more warriors at starting lines.
THE NEXT MILE STARTS HERE
Whether you're a warrior looking for your next race, a donor wanting to change lives, or a partner ready to join the mission—there's a place for you here.
JOIN THE MISSION
Get updates on new race partnerships, warrior stories, and ways to get involved.