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Opioid addiction hence, in many minds, has been classified as a public health crisis. An epidemic taking toll on hundreds or maybe thousands of lifetimes each year and often demanding a multifaceted treatment approach. In general, such an approach would include counseling and peer support or medication-assisted therapy. Recent years, however, have seen physical activity begin to argue for its place in addiction recovery.
Running for recovery has been considered as a treatment as it seeks to bring back autonomy, self-respect, and community spirit to individuals.
Kellen Matthews-Thompson and Mitch Ammons attested that running was firmly etched into the very core of their recovery from opioid addiction: it signified the metamorphosis of not just the bodies but their whole identities.
For Matthews-Thompson and Ammons, running was much more than a workout, in the darkest hours of their existence, it was instruction, discipline, and hope. Their recovery stories demonstrate that running can totally replace the emotional highs from opioids with a well-need dose of exhilaration, and fulfillment in their lives
Matthews-Thompson told Philadelphia Magazine he wrestled with addiction for nearly 14 years. It began with prescription pain medications. Heroin was the first deep descent, followed by fentanyl.
The big change for Matthews-Thompson happened in 2017 in a treatment center group therapy session where someone said exercise might aid neurochemistry in the brain. Running produces endorphins, which produce feelings of happiness and reward.
For Matthews-Thompson, it was an “Aha!” moment: Running could give him an opioid-induced feel-good rush without any of the harm.
At 25 days of his own sobriety, Matthews-Thompson said he was itching to put his experiment to the test: For a pack-a-day smoker and someone who felt too out of shape, he went outside and ran a mile. The physical pain was there, but the emotional vindication was way bigger.
“I was exhausted, but I felt accomplished,” he told the Philadelphia Magazine reporter. “It was a feeling I haven’t felt in years-that I could finally do something positive for myself.”
The love for running cemented through time. One trained for ultramarathons, set course records, and actually ran one marathon a month for awareness of addiction recovery. A transformation from being rajput to basically being an athlete gave Matthews-Thompson the center and strength to continue with his recovery.
In 2024, Matthews-Thompson formed his Recovery Run Club in Philadelphia for people at all stages of recovery, not just from substance abuse, but from trauma, eating disorders, and other issues. The group meets on a monthly basis, nurturing an atmosphere of inclusiveness, motivation, and common goals.
Mitch Ammons also had a tale of struggles. Ammons told Runner’s World he was an addict for 10 years and abused an array of drugs – from opioids to heroin, from crack to alcohol.
Ammons’ second attempt at recovery was followed by a relapse; by the third time, his body was severely weakened. Still, he never lost sight of the hope for recovery. He went through homelessness, court cases, and much more, but underneath all of it was an echo reminding him of sports.
Ammons did a sharp U-turn on his life course in 2018. Relocating to Austin, Texas, he began his recovery by quitting smoking, walking his dog, and attending a boot camp class. So slow was his progress that half a-mile of running would leave him winded and feeling defeated.
But he never quit.
His endurance built from there as he became a member of a running group called Gilbert’s Gazelles and started following an organized training schedule.
The fitter Ammons became, the fitter his mind also healed.
Running had become Ammons’ way of keeping the demons of addiction at bay while restoring his personal identity.
In 2024, Ammons qualified for the Olympic Marathon Trials and ran his personal best of 2:16:48 in the California International Marathon. And through all his accomplishments, the disciplines of training, eating well, and socializing have been transformative to his life, he told the magazine.
One reason why such a sport or exercise might be so good for the addict is that it functions as a healthy drug to lift their spirits. Running releases endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin-the very neurochemicals that produce euphoria-anxiety, and depression, parallel with opioids. These chemicals lay down a natural reward system for the addicts to replace drug-induced highs.
For Matthews-Thompson, running was an entirely new neurochemical reward.
“I could put effort in, and then I would get results immediately. I could rely on feeling good. And it wasn’t just a physical feel-good,” Matthews-Thompson told Philadelphia Magazine. “It was an emotional and mental feel-good too — because I was able to tell people what I had accomplished. Now I had other people say, ‘Oh my God, that’s awesome,’ which also felt good. It gave me that feeling of accomplishment and people being proud of you.”
Ammons recalled to Runner’s World, “I say this all the time—everything good in my life has come from running. And the confidence I’ve gained from running has carried over to the rest of my life.”
Running modifies the identity framework of addiction-“I am an addict” or “I am a failure.” One of the best things running can do through addiction recovery is help people wrest their identity back from the training. Matthews-Thompson and Ammons both disassociated from being termed a “drug addict” and adopted being an “athlete.” This change of identity was crucial to the continuation of their recovery.
Psychologists argue that identity is critical in changing behavior. When persons see themselves differently, they are bound to begin to behave differently. In changing miles and voices, in changing landscapes and destinations, running helped Matthews-Thompson and Ammons to reframe their identities and emerge with goals worthy of striving for, thus providing motivation and hope. The lack of such purpose is common among the recovering, deprived of tangible goals, they tend to see little progress or meaning in their lives.
Running, also, provided a social-support mechanism. For the two men, running groups and fellow runners’ camaraderie became important elements of their recovery. The organization Matthews-Thompson set up, Recovery Run Club, and the group Ammons became a part of, the Gilbert’s Gazelles, gave them accountability and friendship. This provided a social environment where individuals could be vulnerable, connect, and encourage each other. Their support network helped them resist isolation, a great risk factor for relapse.
Looking at how these things are said, those of Matthews-Thompson and Ammons show that to recover from opioid addiction is not only about stopping the use of such substances. It means recreating an existence with new meaning, structure, and society. Running, in its physical, psychological, and social variation of benefits, stands as the instrument for recovery for more than fitness. From running marathons to running for pure bliss, the lessons learned along the running path, such as commitment, endurance, and hope, reach beyond anyone and inspire the ongoing recovery path.
This article was written as part of a program to educate youth and others about Alameda County’s opioid crisis, prevention and treatment options. The program is funded by the Alameda County Behavioral Health Department and the grant is administered by Three Valleys Community Foundation.
