Running for recovery: An Eagle County nonprofit’s approach is changing the way locals overcome addictions

The relationship between running and recovery is something Rob Shearon understands better than most.

“It’s one of the most beautiful metaphors for recovery out there,” the 35-year-old said of the sport he picked up just a few years ago. “You are putting yourself out there, through a lot of obstacles, the ups and downs — and you don’t have to do it alone.”

Shearon’s nonprofit derives its name from its approach and mission: REcovery, CONNECTion and EDucation. RECONNECTED helps individuals who are in or seeking recovery from addictions and mental health challenges through peer support, social events and community education. In running (pun intended) relationship-building meet-ups in the outdoors, the foundation is blazing a new trail to victory over addiction.

“Recovery doesn’t sound attractive,” Shearon said. “A lot of times it’s, ‘Oh I have to go to a meeting to talk about my feelings.’ We’re really trying to shift that narrative that recovery is for everyone or anyone who wants it — and it’s fun.”

In addition to its recurring events — which range from community yoga, rafting, weekly pickleball games or mountain bike rides and more — RECONNECTED fosters relationships in the recovery space through endurance challenges.

Support Local Journalism

Donate

This summer, about 20 members of the RECONNECTED community have participated in running and biking races ranging from 10 kilometers to 100 miles as part of a fundraising campaign called “The Weight We Carry.” As of this writing, $22,579 of the $25,000 target has been raised to help “lighten the load for individuals seeking recovery in the Vail Valley” by funding the vital resources RECONNECTED provides. The endurance epic continues this weekend with the Leadville Trail 100 MTB on Saturday and the Leadville 10K run on Sunday.

Finding your tribe

Shearon’s struggles with alcohol began at 15 and escalated when he left Battle Mountain for the University of Colorado Boulder. After numerous encounters with law enforcement and multiple detox facility stops, Shearon began his recovery at CU Boulder’s Collegiate Recovery Center. After a year and a half of sobriety, he embarked on a scooter ride from Colorado to Alaska, raising awareness and money for recovery scholarships. After a stint at the same recovery center that had supported him in Boulder, he returned to Vail in 2022.

“I made a big effort to make friends with a lot of people in recovery,” Shearon said. Two of those were Nick Gunkel and Stefan Brenner.

“They were super into running,” Shearon said. “I wanted to hang out with them.”

The small tribe grew. Eventually, the friends came up with an idea.

“With my experience with the scooter trip — and the fundraising and awareness aspect — I was like, ‘How about we run Vail to Aspen and raise money for something and raise awareness that there are people in the Vail Valley in recovery?'” said Shearon. He originally asked Carrie Benway if it was OK to raise money for Your Hope Center, where Benway was executive director at the time.

“We started talking about what we were going to do,” Shearon continued. “People were like, ‘Why don’t you start an organization?'”

RECONNECTED was born through its inaugural fundraiser. Ten individuals, either in recovery or allies of people in recovery, completed the 70-mile run, with another 150 supporters coming out to pace individual segments or set up aid stations. Similar to Shearon, Brenner, RECONNECTED’s cofounder, described trail running as a “powerful life metaphor.”

“(It’s) a journey of ups, downs, beauty, camaraderie and overcoming obstacles — much like recovery itself,” he stated. “Through this challenge, I aim to inspire. I have learned that you cannot directly change people, but you can inspire them. If I can achieve a goal of this magnitude after my past, it shows anyone can find self-motivation.”

The Vail-to-Aspen adventure inspired Shannon Dunbar to participate in races this summer.

“I wondered if I could do something like that myself — to push the limits of what I believe I’m capable of, just as those guys and gals did,” said Dunbar, who met Shearon on his first day sober in the valley. “With that in mind, I’m inspired to show what it means to be sober: the endless opportunities we have access to, made even better by true friends out on the trail.”

Shearon said there’s a multifaceted connection between endurance activities and recovery.

“Most times, people don’t choose to have an addiction or mental health challenge. With that comes a lot of suffering they didn’t choose. In these endurance sports, you’re choosing to put yourself through a certain amount of discomfort and learn to cope with that discomfort,” he explained. “And not only cope individually; with these endurance events specifically, it’s not just an individual sport. You depend on the entire crew.”

At every Leadville Race Series event, members of the RECONNECTED community have been both on course competing and/or cheering.

“A big thing people in addiction struggle with is being able to believe and accept the love that’s being shown to them and believe they’re worth that,” Shearon said. “There’s nothing more powerful than running one of these races and seeing people out there to support you.”

Shearon sees another link between addiction and recreation.

“A lot of times, individuals choose to move to a mountain town for the lifestyle opportunities and access to mountains,” he said. “Addiction takes you away from being able to enjoy the entire reason you moved here. (It) gets in the way and starts becoming more of a priority than those things you originally sought out.”

Reigniting a passion for the outdoors through running, hiking and biking kills two birds with one stone.

“We are fortunate enough to live in a world-class area for outdoor adventures. Being outside and moving the body shuts the mind off, and allows space for calmness and peace, but also at the same time brings so much excitement and joy,” said Gunkel, who ran the Silver Rush 50 last month. “Being in recovery, my perspective on life has completely shifted. I view each day as a bonus, and I get to live a meaningful, exciting life with purpose. Endurance events bring me that and so much more.”

Many members of the RECONNECTED team are new to running. Chris, who asked that his last name not be used, said he “never imagined” signing up for 10K races.

“Every step I take on those courses is a reflection of the progress I’ve made and the support I’ve found through RECONNECTED,” he said. “I’m running for my past, present and my future.”

Johnny, another RECONNECTED community member, wasn’t a huge runner growing up, but took on the Heavy Half in Leadville this June. He’s relished the opportunity to “connect with others who have a similar mindset and use physical activity to keep them on the path.”

“When things get tough, I am motivated by my family and friends who have been with me every step of the way. Proving to myself that I can do it,” he said.

Along with Shearon, fellow RECONNECTED community member Creighton Soukup is competing in the Lead Challenge. Both athletes will complete all five of the Leadville Race Series’ most demanding events — the Trail Marathon, Silver Rush 50, Trail 100 MTB, Trail 100 Run and 10K — in 49 days. The friends plan to cover all 282.4 miles together.

“If Creighton is going too fast, he slows down and waits for me; and if I’m going too fast for Creighton, I slow down and wait for him,” Shearon said. “I personally believe in choosing to do something hard and remembering there is a personal goal, but you don’t have to do it alone.”

To learn more about RECONNECTED, referrals, upcoming events or ways to support the foundation, visit reconnected.org.