Courage only exists if there's fear, and the level of bravery you'll hear in this episode is superhuman. Drea tells her story of getting sober and staying sober, and she doesn't hold back. It's already a difficult topic to discuss, but her story has another layer of difficulty that I am so grateful she was willing to reveal.

Medically Assisted Treatment. GLP-1 Medications. Methadone. Suboxone. In the world of recovery, around the topic weight loss, or just in our culture in general, these words tend to cause a reaction. Usually that reaction is strong, and often times it carries with it a lot of judgement.

That's one of the many reasons conversations like these are so important. We're all in this together, and we need to remember that when we want to throw stones at someone else's choices.

The similarities between having an eating disorder and having substance use disorder are profound, though not that surprising given they’re both mental health challenges that share so many of the same roots: fear and shame. 

I had the absolute pleasure of exploring this with an expert on the subject. Christiana Rutkowski is not only a runner recovering from an eating disorder, but she’s also a therapist. She is a professional with lived experience, which gives her a unique and valuable perspective on what it’s like to suffer, treat, and recover from an eating disorder. 

Oh and she’s also a badass runner, having competed in Division 1 at the college level and run sub 3 for the marathon. That’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to her running accolades. Follow her on TikTok to see the rest: @christianarutkowski

Billy Mahon. Wow.

Putting people on pedestals is rarely a good idea, but with Billy, it's hard to not be reverential. After all, he's been sober for 31 years. In a row. No breaks. No vacations. That's a LONG time. On top of that, he's a multi-time Chicago Marathon Finisher. So he runs. A lot. And anyone who knows him personally can attest to just how generous he is, so often willing to open his doors to fellow runners when they're in town for the big race.

I've learned in my recovery that just because someone is sober for a long time, it doesn't mean they're infallible. Hence, the importance of avoiding the pedestal. We're all human after all, and mistakes are bound to happen. I've also learned that despite the human tendency to err, there's usually a good reason they haven't gone back to the drink or the drug. I've learned to listen to what people like Billy have to share. The wisdom. The experience. The ultimate lesson: that anyone can stay sober through anything.

On her socials, Heather goes by HeatherRunsTexas, but you can often find her going on adventures very far from Texas. Without necessarily intending to, she started running a few years ago and quickly discovered how helpful it was in her early sobriety. 

Over 5 years later, Heather’s desire to push her body and test the limits of her potential has resulted in half-marathons, marathons, and ultra-marathons. Running has become medicine, and a trail 50k just might be where Heather feels the most at-home. When she isn’t running, Heather has learned the value of sitting with her feelings, and having faith that it will all work out. 

With no plans of slowing down, Heather has some big goals in the future. We talked about some of those the races and adventures on her calendar, and I was reminded of the power of setting out to do the big scary thing. Among many things, Heather consistently proves that big goals mixed with steadfast resilience always produce incredible experiences.

Follow Heather on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube: @heatherrunstexas

Dan Mount is a runner who recently celebrated 9 years of sobriety. Above all, he is a top notch human being who shows up for life, his family, and his friends. He loves to race, and has completed every distance up to and including the marathon.

Some of his biggest challenges happened in sobriety, not the least of which was a bout with cancer. Through diagnoses and radiation treatment, not to mention his fair share of running injuries, he remained sober.

Listen in as Dan shares his story, as well as his experience, strength, and hope.

Follow Dan on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@grampierunner?_r=1&_t=ZP-98zJ1Ia1nuJ