Rich has been active since a young age. He was that kid who always came back from recess covered in sweat, and played outside until the sun went down. Throughout high school he participated in cross country and track & field competing in 5K's, high hurdles, triple jump, and pole vault. During his junior year, he also started performing with Project D Dance Company, and eventually led as an assistant director for one season. After graduating high school, Rich left the world of competitive sports in order to focus on his studies at the University of Washington (UW). He maintained an active lifestyle by continuing to run and take dance classes, and by diving into a variety of activities including parkour, weight training, and snowboarding. This lifestyle completely changed when he injured his low back in 2007.

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Rich's low back injury taught him the importance of maintaining a healthy body. He struggled to perform daily tasks such as bending over the sink to wash his face, picking things up off the floor, and even walking. Physical therapy helped, but it was only the first step to recovery. By circumstance, Rich immersed himself in dance for an entire quarter at the UW studying dance composition, modern, and social dance, which developed the core strength and mobility that finally healed his back. He was able to return to doing the things he loved and continued exploring new activities like cycling, hiking, and rock climbing.