8/25/2026

It's the foundation of the program, and you have all heard me say it: Movement is Healing. Movement can become more than exercise. For people in recovery, it can become a way to regulate the nervous system, reconnect with the body, and practice moving through discomfort without being controlled by it. Within the Addict to Athlete philosophy, running and other rhythmic activities are viewed as powerful complements to therapy because they combine structure, breath, effort, community, and forward motion. The comparison to EMDR is useful when stated carefully: rhythmic left-right movement may resemble one element of EMDR’s bilateral stimulation, but exercise is not a replacement for trauma therapy. Its value lies in creating a body-based pathway for regulation and recovery. The Body Remembers, and It Can Learn a New Rhythm You may ask, Hey Coach, how do movement, recovery, and trauma healing meet in the Addict to Athlete philosophy?" So glad you asked! There are experiences we can describe clearly, and there are experiences the body carries before we ever find the words. Trauma may show up as a clenched jaw, shallow breathing, restless sleep, a racing heart, emotional numbness, irritability, or the constant feeling that danger is nearby. Addiction often enters that same landscape. It can become an attempt to quiet the nervous system, escape painful memories, control overwhelming emotions, or create temporary relief from an unbearable internal state. Recovery asks us to do something difficult: remain present in the body we once tried to escape. That is where movement becomes part of the healing process. Within Addict to Athlete, movement is not treated merely as a way to burn calories or improve performance. It is a practice of regulation, discipline, connection, and identity. A run, walk, workout, or team activity can become a place where a person learns to experience discomfort without immediately reacting to it. The goal is not to erase pain. The goal is to develop a different relationship with pain.

Thanks to everyone who joined us for the our back to school AIIA movie night. Yes we did get rained on, but we adjusted and enjoyed the night. I'll be eating the snacks I brought for a couple of weeks, haha. Next up, volunteering for the Runtastic Nebo races this next weekend. The marathon, half, 10K and 5K races are on Saturday, August 29 but there are volunteering opportunities on Wednesday August 26 in the evening, Friday August 28 all day and then of course on Saturday with aid stations that could always use some help. Remember, proceeds go to AIIA for us volunteering. Reach out to Mitsie to volunteer. Looking ahead to September, please plan on it and put it on your calendars, Saturday September 26, 2026 is the annual AIIA 5K in Tooele this year. Registration is open, link below. Let's support Coach Jason Gonzales and his Tooele chapter for some 3.1 mile fun. A memory grove is planned, one of my favorite parts of the run. https://www.raceentry.com/races/addictiiathlete-5k/2026/register?fbclid=IwdGRjcAT4PYBwZG9mBWZkaWQWUNB46RfmfEQQArmKUHd9FizvGTmf-GV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR63Ufb6U5ekcAPuox6L8_92e9AoFVHr6drIDKBBAzr72m3RXFUM_W0TDZRFug_aem_kHmu21C4gs66nf-9heObaA

Athletes, this week I want you to look at building endurance. You all should know athletics is not about one great performance. It is about training consistently enough to keep showing up when the excitement fades, the body gets tired, and the competition becomes difficult. The same principle applies to addiction recovery and mental health: lasting change is built through repeated choices that protect your health, strengthen your character, and keep you connected to your purpose. Endurance Is Built, Not Discovered Athletes do not develop endurance by waiting to feel motivated. They build it through progressive training, recovery, nutrition, discipline, and repetition. A runner who wants to finish strong must prepare for discomfort without confusing discomfort with danger. They learn how to regulate their pace, conserve energy, and continue moving when the finish line still feels far away. Recovery works in much the same way. You build endurance each time you: - Attend therapy or a recovery meeting - Practice honesty instead of hiding - Follow a healthy routine - Manage stress without returning to old behaviors - Reach out before a crisis - Rest without abandoning your goals - Make the next clean choice when no one is watching Each choice may feel small, but small choices repeated over time create a stronger life. The Long Game In competition, short bursts of effort can produce impressive moments, but endurance determines who remains effective late in the race. An athlete who starts too fast may struggle when the course becomes demanding. A sustainable pace allows them to preserve energy, respond to challenges, and finish with strength. Many people approach recovery as if they must permanently solve every problem immediately. That expectation can create unnecessary pressure. A more sustainable approach is to focus on the next mile, the next practice, or the next healthy decision. You do not have to control the entire future today. You do have to train for the life you want by practicing the habits that support it now.

Recovery is built one choice at a time. The principles with in the recovery process can remind us that we may not control everything that happens, but we can control how we respond, where we place our attention, and what we choose to do next. In Addict II Athlete, these principles become practical tools for turning anger into awareness, discipline into self-respect, and adversity into forward movement. We do not have to be defined by our past we can train our minds, reclaim our lives, and take the next right step. Below is a list of lessons I have learned what I would say have been key in my own recovery. 1. Anger often becomes a punishment you inflict on yourself. 2. Discipline is one of the clearest forms of self-respect. 3. Keep your ego in check; humility creates lasting strength. 4. Choose what is right over what is easy. 5. You become free when you no longer depend on other people’s approval. 6. Not everything deserves your attention or response. 7. Expect nothing from the world; earn the life you want through your actions. 8. Many fears lose their power when you face them directly. 9. Release what you cannot change, or it will begin to control you. 10. True strength is the ability to govern yourself. 11. When emotions rise, pause and breathe before you act. 12. Worrying about tomorrow makes you suffer before tomorrow arrives. 13. Not every situation deserves a reaction; silence can protect your peace. 14. If it will not matter years from now, consider releasing it today. 15. Become the person your younger self needed and hoped you would become. 16. Focus on your effort, not the outcome; results are never completely within your control. 17. A wise person listens carefully before choosing to speak. 18. Suffering can become a source of strength when you learn to accept and endure it. 19. Consistent routines build resilience; constant chaos weakens it. 20. Your time is your life, so protect both carefully. These lessons center on self-control, discipline, acceptance, humility, and intentional use of time. I think strength comes less from controlling circumstances and more from choosing your response to them. What lessons have you learned in your own recovery.