Joel Young: Coming Home to His Cause
Through a passion for cycling and a chance encounter with a client, Joel Young discovered a cause that hits closer to home than he imagined.
By Bryan D. Vargo | Jan. 16, 2025
Joel Young didn’t anticipate getting involved with the arthritis community, but an epiphany on the California coast and some family ties brought things full circle for the 41-year-old Fuquay Varina, North Carolina, resident — owner of Carolina Multisports LLC, an endurance sports coaching business.
We caught up with Joel recently after he had finished his second Arthritis Foundation Cycling Experience, the California Coast Classic Bike Tour, to learn more about his story and what motivates him to engage with the arthritis community.
Q: What inspired you to get involved with the arthritis community?
I found the Arthritis Foundation and the California Coast Classic through a client. I’m a triathlon coach full-time and had a client approach me about training her for this epic riding event. I knew nothing about it, and I said, “Well absolutely! I can certainly help you train for this.” And the more I started looking at it, I’m like, “Would it be weird if I went along, too? I would love to do this. This looks amazing!” So, we ended up training together, fundraising independently, but then of course doing the ride together.
Q: What did you gain from participating?
All these stories from my family started coming out. My father just had a hip replacement because of arthritis. And I’m like, “Why have we never talked about this stuff as a family before?” And they said, “Did you know your grandpa and grandma and all these people you know had rheumatoid arthritis?” I didn’t know any of this. I’m like, “Oh my gosh, this is something that does have more meaning to me than I actually realized.” One in four people have arthritis, and I remembered that statistic and thinking, “Oh my gosh, here are all those people around me who were a lot closer than I even realized.”
Q: I understand you had a bit of an epiphany during your first California Coast Classic. Care to share?
I had this epiphany on day five of the ride. I’ll never forget it. We’re sitting on the beach at this seaside café. I’m on the end of the picnic table looking out towards the ocean, towards the sun and the water. And of course, all these sensory things are happening — I can smell the eucalyptus trees, I can smell the sea salt coming off the ocean, I’m enjoying this amazing hamburger and all the smells from the restaurant. Then, all of a sudden, I realized I’m amongst this amazing company, these people are wonderful. We’re engaged in this, riding to make a difference in other people’s lives through our fundraising. All of a sudden, I just have this epiphany — THIS IS LIVING! This is what it’s all about. It’s about a lifestyle and not just a bucket list event. Coming, preparing and training for an event like the California Coast Classic — it’s not a one-and-done thing. I was fundraising throughout the entire year. I was connecting with people the entire year, and then that full week I’m hearing all these honorees’ stories every night in camp. They were not only emotional and tear-jerking to hear not just the struggle, but also the triumphs. The positive outlook really drew me. A lot of people have asked me, “Well, why the Arthritis Foundation?” It just fit like a glove with everything I already think about and already do.
Q: What did you do with your newfound knowledge?
I basically redesigned my entire marketing philosophy with my business. I no longer market to that athlete that just wants to accomplish an event. I made a three-pronged mission statement: fitness, community and adventure. And that community part of my business has really taken center stage. Fitness allows us to do things for other people, right? If we didn’t have fitness, it’s very hard to serve other people. And when it comes to community, some of the best experiences in life are when we’re serving other people, right? And adventure, well, why not have some fun along the way? So those three legs of a stool have come from that one experience, that epiphany on the beach during the California Coast Classic. Fitness, community and adventure. Serving others, having the fitness to do it and having fun along the way, kind of encapsulates my first experience on the tour and really laid the groundwork for coming back year after year.
Q: How long have you been cycling and how did you get into it?
I’ve been cycling full-time since 2017. I started my coaching business in 2020. I have struggled with depression for quite some time and I really didn’t know I was struggling with it until other people pointed it out. So, in 2017, I knew I had to get to the gym, I needed to change my lifestyle. Cycling became part of that. I had realized after visiting with a therapist that cycling and running, swimming, lifting, working out at the gym — those things kept me very stable. Long story short, I haven’t met with the therapist in a long time, I got off medication because exercise became that medication. Cycling, triathlon and these other sports that I cross trained with keep me very level, very happy. So, when I found the Arthritis Foundation and this mega long ride of 500 miles … I’ve never done anything like that. I’ve done a full distance triathlon, 140-mile triathlon, but I always was looking for that next big thing. I found it, although it wasn’t a race. It wasn’t anything that had any pressure built into. Just a slow roll and sightseeing tour that I really enjoyed, and that kind of flipped a switch for me. I don’t need to be competitive. I don’t need to compare myself to anyone else. The camaraderie in addition to the fitness give me so much mentally and so I’m committed to these things — like cycling to raise awareness for arthritis.
Joel is currently training to participate in his third — the 25th anniversary — California Coast Classic and the inaugural Carolina Hills Classic in 2025. As a Western North Carolina native, he was a key figure on the founding committee of the Carolina Hills Classic, planning routes and sights to see along the way, and he regularly participates in the Arthritis Foundation’s Jingle Bell Run.
Joel Young didn’t anticipate getting involved with the arthritis community, but an epiphany on the California coast and some family ties brought things full circle for the 41-year-old Fuquay Varina, North Carolina, resident — owner of Carolina Multisports LLC, an endurance sports coaching business.
We caught up with Joel recently after he had finished his second Arthritis Foundation Cycling Experience, the California Coast Classic Bike Tour, to learn more about his story and what motivates him to engage with the arthritis community.
Q: What inspired you to get involved with the arthritis community?
I found the Arthritis Foundation and the California Coast Classic through a client. I’m a triathlon coach full-time and had a client approach me about training her for this epic riding event. I knew nothing about it, and I said, “Well absolutely! I can certainly help you train for this.” And the more I started looking at it, I’m like, “Would it be weird if I went along, too? I would love to do this. This looks amazing!” So, we ended up training together, fundraising independently, but then of course doing the ride together.
Q: What did you gain from participating?All these stories from my family started coming out. My father just had a hip replacement because of arthritis. And I’m like, “Why have we never talked about this stuff as a family before?” And they said, “Did you know your grandpa and grandma and all these people you know had rheumatoid arthritis?” I didn’t know any of this. I’m like, “Oh my gosh, this is something that does have more meaning to me than I actually realized.” One in four people have arthritis, and I remembered that statistic and thinking, “Oh my gosh, here are all those people around me who were a lot closer than I even realized.”
Q: I understand you had a bit of an epiphany during your first California Coast Classic. Care to share?
I had this epiphany on day five of the ride. I’ll never forget it. We’re sitting on the beach at this seaside café. I’m on the end of the picnic table looking out towards the ocean, towards the sun and the water. And of course, all these sensory things are happening — I can smell the eucalyptus trees, I can smell the sea salt coming off the ocean, I’m enjoying this amazing hamburger and all the smells from the restaurant. Then, all of a sudden, I realized I’m amongst this amazing company, these people are wonderful. We’re engaged in this, riding to make a difference in other people’s lives through our fundraising. All of a sudden, I just have this epiphany — THIS IS LIVING! This is what it’s all about. It’s about a lifestyle and not just a bucket list event. Coming, preparing and training for an event like the California Coast Classic — it’s not a one-and-done thing. I was fundraising throughout the entire year. I was connecting with people the entire year, and then that full week I’m hearing all these honorees’ stories every night in camp. They were not only emotional and tear-jerking to hear not just the struggle, but also the triumphs. The positive outlook really drew me. A lot of people have asked me, “Well, why the Arthritis Foundation?” It just fit like a glove with everything I already think about and already do.
Q: What did you do with your newfound knowledge?
I basically redesigned my entire marketing philosophy with my business. I no longer market to that athlete that just wants to accomplish an event. I made a three-pronged mission statement: fitness, community and adventure. And that community part of my business has really taken center stage. Fitness allows us to do things for other people, right? If we didn’t have fitness, it’s very hard to serve other people. And when it comes to community, some of the best experiences in life are when we’re serving other people, right? And adventure, well, why not have some fun along the way? So those three legs of a stool have come from that one experience, that epiphany on the beach during the California Coast Classic. Fitness, community and adventure. Serving others, having the fitness to do it and having fun along the way, kind of encapsulates my first experience on the tour and really laid the groundwork for coming back year after year.
Q: How long have you been cycling and how did you get into it?
I’ve been cycling full-time since 2017. I started my coaching business in 2020. I have struggled with depression for quite some time and I really didn’t know I was struggling with it until other people pointed it out. So, in 2017, I knew I had to get to the gym, I needed to change my lifestyle. Cycling became part of that. I had realized after visiting with a therapist that cycling and running, swimming, lifting, working out at the gym — those things kept me very stable. Long story short, I haven’t met with the therapist in a long time, I got off medication because exercise became that medication. Cycling, triathlon and these other sports that I cross trained with keep me very level, very happy. So, when I found the Arthritis Foundation and this mega long ride of 500 miles … I’ve never done anything like that. I’ve done a full distance triathlon, 140-mile triathlon, but I always was looking for that next big thing. I found it, although it wasn’t a race. It wasn’t anything that had any pressure built into. Just a slow roll and sightseeing tour that I really enjoyed, and that kind of flipped a switch for me. I don’t need to be competitive. I don’t need to compare myself to anyone else. The camaraderie in addition to the fitness give me so much mentally and so I’m committed to these things — like cycling to raise awareness for arthritis.
Joel is currently training to participate in his third — the 25th anniversary — California Coast Classic and the inaugural Carolina Hills Classic in 2025. As a Western North Carolina native, he was a key figure on the founding committee of the Carolina Hills Classic, planning routes and sights to see along the way, and he regularly participates in the Arthritis Foundation’s Jingle Bell Run.
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