Breakthrough: Coree Woltering’s Running and Sobriety Journey

Merrell Test Lab athlete Coree Woltering’s journey to becoming an ultra-trail runner wasn’t a straight line. Growing up, he was a multi-sport athlete, participating in soccer, cross country, swimming, and track. Running was just a means to stay in shape for other sports. “I played many sports growing up,” Coree remembers. “But running is always a sport that you just kind of had to do for those other sports to stay in shape.” This led to a breakthrough of a lifetime. 

In college, Coree focused on track and cross country. However, frequent injuries from increased mileage forced him to explore other options. With his background in running and swimming, triathlon seemed like a natural fit. “It just made sense to buy a bike and try a triathlon,” Coree recalls. He found success quickly, qualifying for the half Ironman world championships while still in college.

After his college days, Coree moved to Colorado with dreams of becoming a professional triathlete. This move unexpectedly opened up a whole new world of mountain biking and trail running. Little did he know that this decision would set him on a path to becoming a prominent figure in the world of ultra-trail running.

Love at First Ultra

In 2014, Coree had a life-changing experience at the Leadville 100 race. He wasn’t competing but was there to support a friend. “I was crewing and pacing a friend there,” Coree says. “That was going over Hope Pass. You could still have pacers over Hope Pass. That was the moment that I just fell in love with trail running.”

What captivated Coree about trail running was how different it felt from his previous racing experiences. Instead of obsessing over power meters or pace, it was about embracing the journey and the experience. “It was more just about taking in the experience and just doing this amazing thing on foot,” he explains. “And that’s what I really fell in love with.”

Diving into the Deep End

Remarkably, Coree had never run a marathon before diving into the world of ultra running. After his Leadville experience, he ran his first marathon just five weeks later. Two weeks after that, he tackled his first 50K race at Malibu Canyon.

“It was honestly the hardest thing I had ever done,” Coree admits. “But there’s just something about that that I absolutely loved.” This rapid progression from no marathons to ultramarathons in a matter of weeks showcases Coree’s all-in approach to the sport.

Navigating Identity in Trail Running

As Coree’s running career took off, he found himself navigating complex issues of identity. As a person of color and a member of the LGBTQ community, he initially didn’t give much thought to how these aspects of himself might impact his place in the sport.

“When I first got into this sport, I honestly didn’t think anything about being a person of color or the LGBTQ community in the sport,” he says. “It just wasn’t an issue for any of them. It wasn’t a thing.”

However, as his profile rose in the ultra-running world, Coree became more aware of the importance of representation. He realized that his visibility could make a difference for others who might not see themselves represented in the sport. “It’s important to use your platform, use your voice to help create space and dialogue,” he reflects.

The Turn to Sobriety

In recent years, Coree has been open about his journey to sobriety, a decision that has had a profound impact on both his personal life and his running career. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 led to increased drinking out of boredom for many people, including Coree.

“During COVID 2020, 2021, I was running professionally, coaching, and so other than that, there wasn’t much going on,” Coree explains. “I can go out for my run, finish my run at 10:00 a.m. and then what do you do for the rest of the day? Drinking out of boredom becomes a very easy thing to do.” Eventually, Coree realized he needed to make a change. “I can either continue to do this or I just have to completely stop.” With his characteristic all-or-nothing approach, Coree made the decision to go to rehab in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

“I chose to go. I had a choice to go. I didn’t have to hit rock bottom for it,” he says. “I didn’t have to lose everything to go. It was just a choice that I made to go. Because if I’m going to stop this and if I’m going to figure out why I’m drinking so much and how to just fix this, then I felt like that was the best way to go.”

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Rediscovering Running in Sobriety

Getting sober changed Coree’s relationship with running in ways he didn’t expect. Initially, he struggled to find joy in the sport, starting with just 30-minute runs each day. “Running actually kind of sucked,” he admits. “That was the most disappointing thing, to not see immediate benefits in terms of running.”

However, persistence paid off. Six months into sobriety, Coree completed a challenging two-day stage race in Scotland, followed immediately by the Cruel Jewel race in the United States. A year into sobriety, he set a significant personal record at the Kolmården 110K in Sweden.

“I remember coming through the 100k mark of that race like an hour and 15 minutes faster than my previous 100K PR and then finishing the 110k under my previous 100K PR,” Coree recalls. “I think that’s when I really started to see some actual benefits to it. Over the past years, it’s just been faster, better recovery, being able to handle just volume better, and relatively injury free.”

Mental Toughness and Pain Management

This mental shift has deepened Coree’s appreciation for the sport. He’s learned to embrace the challenges and remember why he’s out there in the first place. “I am out here because I actually love this sport, and I’m choosing to be out here,” he says. “I’m not forced to do this. I don’t have to do this. I am actively choosing to be here.”

Coree Woltering’s journey from college athlete to professional ultra runner and sober athlete is a testament to the power of following your passions and facing challenges head-on. His story serves as an inspiration to runners and non-runners alike, showing that it’s never too late to discover a new path or make positive changes in your life. Through sobriety, Coree has not only a breakthrough in life but also gained a deeper appreciation for the sport he loves.

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