Courtney Govan was not always a fan of running. "You’re by yourself running, exhausting yourself,” he laughs. “But now it's awesome. It's like my release.”
Early Sunday morning, Courtney laced up for his first 5K. While focused on his breath and stride, something else fuels him. "I'm thinking about my kids the whole time and how I'm not going to give up, I'm not going to give up, I'm not going to give up."
Courtney is taking steps to live a healthier life for his family. Less than a year ago, "I was homeless. I was doing meth on the streets. I was in a toxic relationship. I lost my children; I lost everything."
Courtney found the Men's Crossroads program through Washoe County's Human Services Agency. It is an alcohol and drug-free campus with wrap-around services to help people transition out of homelessness. From life skills to mental health and addiction services, case workers follow participants from beginning to end.
"It's a very holistic program in terms of addressing really all of the key needs an individual has when they come in off the streets or out of jail, to create a level of stabilization,” explains Frankie Lemus who is a contractor with the Human Services Agency.
HSA supervisor, Mikie Franklin is taking the program a step farther - literally - with the running in recovery program.
"In any stage of recovery, exercise is beneficial and there are a ton of studies that show that." Instead of turning to something toxic, Mikie shows them a natural, healthy runner's high. "You get this dopamine rush you get with using drugs - the same with running."
For the past 12 weeks, a consistent group of 30 people met bright and early. "Our 6 a.m. trainings we wake up, sleepy-eyed, no coffee, no nothing, you know,” says Levi Feuerherm. “And we just go for runs."
Levi, who was once addicted to meth and heroine, says it is about more than logging miles. "I'm learning that in order to be in recovery you need to have a supportive system around you. This is it." Consider it a support group - on the go. They view their recovery like a race; you work towards it one step at a time.
"You have to work for it, you have to want it and things will get better."
To learn more about Running In Recovery and Washoe County's Human Services Agency, log on to https://www.washoecounty.us/hsa/
