Meet Jeremiah ‘Miah’ Cowan | Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jeremiah ‘Miah’ Cowan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jeremiah ‘Miah’, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
Giving up, simply, is not in my vocabulary. Too many people quit before the getting is good. A poor mentality will always bring you down to a lesser version of yourself. Even if the only progress that’s made in a day’s time is a one inch step— that one inch of territory gained. Progress does not need to be perfect it just needs to be consistent.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am an Atlanta native. Raised by a single mother due to childhood trauma, I learned that life was hard and not fair: the first lesson. I went on to earn my Eagle Scout Award. During this time I led a trek of 12 scouts across the Sangro De Christo Mountains of New Mexico @ Philmont Scout Ranch, sailed the Florida Keys @ Seabase High Adventure, and canoed/portaged over 60 miles of the Man Chain Lakes crossing the United States Boundary Waters between Minnesota and Ontario in the Quetico Provincial Park. All before I was 18. My love for adventure had been born.

Around this time, my photography career took off. What started as a hobby photographing the city of Atlanta on an iPhone, quickly turned into out of the blue emails from major brands. I went on to work with Apple, GAP, Ford, SPG Hotels, Lexus, Veuve Clicqout, etc.

Little did anyone know at this time, addiction ran rampant in my life. Ultimately, it ruined my career. I couldn’t keep a job, I lost my friendships, I dropped out of college, and my girlfriend at the time broke up with me. I drained my bank account and pushed everyone in my life away, had two suicide attempts, two hospitalizations, a psychotic break, a totaled car, a bi-polar diagnosis, a DUI that landed me in jail, among countless other negative things.

I lost myself.

For years, therapy, medications, AA meetings, counseling, and rehabs could not quell my sickness. That’s when my wise Mom suggested I hike the Appalachian Trail, a dream I had lost.

A few weeks later, I found myself at Amicalola Falls. On March 20, 2022 I began my walk to Maine. August 16, 2022 was the last day I had a drink and almost two months later, on October 17th of 2022, after 2,194 miles. I completed my thru hike of the Appalachian Trail: this life-changing adventure spanned a little over 7 months.

When I returned to society, I knew that keeping my body moving was my medicine. Running is my remedy for sobriety. Upon returning, I ran the Thanksgiving Day Half-Marathon, and a few months later I ran a 3 and half hour Marathon @ the Atlanta Publix Marathon. In addition to those two major races I ran the Spartan Race Sprint 5K, the Tough Mudder 5K, and thru-hiked the Art Loeb and Foothills Trail. I also became an Atlanta Track Club Member running every single race offered in the calendar year for 2023. All of this led to an offer to be on a team of 5 representing Kilometer Kids in this years 2023 TCS NYC Marathon, in which I am currently In-Training for and raising money for the Kilometer Kids Foundation.

My mile PR is 5:23. I am in the best shape of my life!

My hope + goal with this new found purpose is to share a story of hope through the gift of fitness and its intersection with art. I have some exciting and innovative projects up my sleeve that I cannot wait to share with the world.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’d pick you up @ Hartsfield Jackson— the busiest airport in the world. First stop is Chrome Yellow Trading Co. Then we would walk by MLK Jr.‘s house and Ebenezer Church. Then Jackson St. Bridge— Atlanta’s most over-photographed spot (it’s cliché for a reason). Next would be lunch at Victory Sandwhich Bar in Inman Park. From there we’d walk up the Beltline, pitsopping by PCM, making our way to Piedmont Park. From there, the High Musuem would be next. By now, we are hungry so we go to a Ford Fry restaurant— any of them because Ford Fry is the GOAT. Finally, we’d burn off all the calories we just ate by making a hiking circuit of Arabia mountain, Stone Mountain, and Kennesaw mountain.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to thank God, my family, and my girlfriend— the trifecta of foundation in my life.

Instagram: @miahcowan

Other: Strava: @jeremiahcowan