Joe Woodworth's path into the sport of running was anything but traditional. Throughout high school, Joe participated in lacrosse, basketball, tennis, and several other sports, often wondering what people found so enjoyable about running.

In 1996, Joe's close friend, Nate Holdridge, an accomplished high school runner, was tragically killed in a car accident. Later that year, family, friends, and community members came together to honor Nate's memory by establishing the annual Nate Race.

Since its inception, the Nate Race has grown into a meaningful community event that supports numerous youth and fitness programs. Funds raised through the race help send students to running camps, support local youth summer track programs, and provide scholarships to high school students who participate in running and fitness activities.

From the beginning, Joe played an active role in the event. Drawing on his background in art and illustration, he contributed race shirt designs and assisted with race-day operations. Despite his involvement, Joe never considered himself a runner and did not participate in the race during those early years.

That changed in 2001 when Joe decided to challenge himself by entering the 10-mile Mountain Goat Run—his first-ever race. Before the event, he set a goal of finishing in 80 minutes and remarkably crossed the finish line in exactly that time. Later that same year, Joe ran the Nate Race for the first time. Following the race, he made a personal commitment to carry on Nate's passion for running and fitness in the best way he could.

As his love for the sport grew, Joe joined the Syracuse Track Club and went on to complete well over 100 races, including multiple Mountain Goat Runs and two marathons.

Throughout the years, Joe has remained deeply involved with the Nate Race. He continues to run the event annually and has designed and produced race shirts for more than two decades, helping preserve the event's identity and tradition.

Joe's passion for running eventually evolved into a profession. There is a good chance that many of the race shirts seen at local events throughout Central New York were printed by Joe and his team. This passion led to the creation of USA Racing, a company built around supporting the sport and community he loves. Through USA Racing, Joe helps events of all sizes create memorable experiences through custom apparel, awards, medals, and event merchandise.

Although Joe has completed countless miles and numerous races since he began running in 2001, he still experiences the same pre-race butterflies at every starting line. No matter the distance, every runner reaches a moment during a race when they need a little extra encouragement. During those moments, Joe believes Nate is still running alongside him, offering the motivation to keep moving forward.