Mike Shipp is a Legacy of Hope sponsored runner for the Saucony Love Run. His easy-going demeanor gives little hint of the depth of his résumé or the experiences that shaped it. When asked about his biggest challenges of his life, Shipp didn’t even mention that he’d had a stroke at the age of 18, and the ensuing recovery—a quiet testament of the depth of character possessed by this Philly native from the city’s Olney/Mount Airy section. Shipp’s journey has taken him far beyond Philly’s borders—but has always brought him back home.
After graduating high school, Shipp enlisted in the U.S. Navy—serving four years active duty and four years in the Reserves. After the Navy he worked at Merrill Lynch, where his role focused less on finance and more on people—helping veterans transition into corporate life, and community-building initiatives within the company—early experiences that helped define his long-term commitment to service and inclusion.
Those early chapters set the foundation for a life shaped by a series of pivotal moments—each nudging Shipp closer to the intersection of running, service, and community.
Shipp led his first group run as an ambassador for the 2016 Philly Love Run. That experience planted the seed for what would later become a central thread in his life: building community through movement.
Another pivotal part of Shipp’s story is sobriety. With humility, Shipp shares that “by the grace of God I never got a DUI, even after being black out drunk and totaling two cars. Drinking was still a huge part of my life, even after finishing the Maryland Ironman in 2017.” Thankfully, he stopped drinking in 2018; and has now been sober for nearly eight years. Shortly after getting sober, he joined Athletic Brewing Company and helped them expand into the DC, Maryland, and Virginia markets.
2022 was a year of convergence, loss, transition, and uncertainty for Shipp. He completed his undergraduate degree in May, and the following month his father died tragically of a drug overdose. That summer, he and his now fiancé, Danielle, moved back to Philly and he began an executive MBA program at the University of Virginia—living in Philly, but traveling to UVA once a month. Within a year, he’d lose his job at Athletic Brewing. “2022 was a lot of back to back…” Shipp says.
Graduating in 2024 brought new challenges. Despite holding an MBA, work was hard to find. Veteran benefits ran out. Unemployment ended; and uncertainty led Shipp to a crossroads. Instead of spiraling, he committed to what he calls a “year of service.” And thus was born Philly Track Jawn, holding its first run on July 9, 2024. Soon after, Shipp began working with Students Run Philly Style, helping support programming and growth in underserved neighborhoods. He eventually landed at YouthBuild, a young adult charter school serving students ages 17 to 21, where he helps to secure internship opportunities for students pursuing tracks in healthcare, construction, culinary arts, and hospitality.
Philly Track Jawn (PTJ) remains central to his life. Through PTJ, initiatives like Running On Business, Shipp brings intentional, free run activations to small business corridors in historically underserved communities. This work ultimately connected him with Legacy of Hope, by way of friend, Josh Holi, whom Shipp met at a PTJ event. Shipp’s connection with Legacy of Hope grew quickly—starting with him organizing an official shakeout run that drew nearly 100 runners with just two weeks’ notice.
Shipp’s motivation for running the Philly Love Run Half Marathon is deeply personal. His grandfather died young and quickly from prostate cancer. “I remember how fast it happened,” he says. “Even now, our family continues to navigate that loss—especially seeing how it affected my mom and her connection to Philadelphia. It raises questions about how families and communities heal, both during loss and after.”
Asked whether he has a quote or mantra that guides his work and life, Shipp was quick to share: “If we don’t intentionally include, we unintentionally exclude. This idea really defines Philly Track Jawn. We don’t do anything wildly different from other run clubs—but we do everything with intention. We’re often described as a Black-led run club, not a Black run club. We’re truly representative of the city.” He adds, chuckling, “and because I’m a nerd who has a lot of DEI experience, I can support that claim with real data—not just sentiment.”
For first-time half marathoners, his advice is simple: surround yourself with people who will hold you accountable. “Training gets hard,” he says. “But community carries you through.”
You can support Mike by contributing to his Love Run fundraising page, or you can run the Love Run for free, by enrolling in Philly Runs Free. You can find Shipp and Philly Track Jawn every Tuesday evening at 7:00 PM at the Temple Sports Complex in North Philadelphia. PTJ continues to grow, fueled by the same values that guide Shipp’s own journey— do the right things, for the right reasons.
“I want to shout out to everyone in the Philly running community doing amazing things—especially those who show up for Philly Track Jawn. I may have a lot of ideas, but none of it would matter without the people who show up and build the community with me. I’m really grateful for the city and how everything is coming together right now.”The next official group training session for the Saucony Love Run takes place on Saturday, February 21 at 8:30 AM. Visit this link for full details, to register and for a chance to win a pair of Saucony shoes or a free Love Run entry.