Celebration Through Movement: The Journey of Jordan Cole

Jordan Cole’s life transformed the day he hung up his soccer cleats. After years of playing the sport he loved, a severe head injury forced him to step away from the game. “The doctors pleaded with me to stop any form of contact activities,” he recalls. The transition wasn’t easy. A lifelong athlete suddenly faced with limitations, Jordan was desperate to move, to challenge himself. For Jordan, running would become more than just a punishment, it would become a celebration through movement. 

Discovering Meditation in Motion

Running became his salvation. But this wasn’t the same running he’d done as a soccer player—a mere fitness requirement. One day, with dead earbuds, Jordan discovered something magical. “It was just me and my body and my mind and my breath,” he explains. The act of running became a moving meditation, a way to be completely present.

Battling Inner Demons

Behind Jordan’s athletic exterior lay a complex journey of survival. Undiagnosed autism, childhood and adult trauma, and struggles with addiction painted a challenging backdrop to his life. Not knowing of his autism at the time, Jordan felt the need to put on a mask to please others. “I started using drugs and alcohol to let my guard down,” he shares candidly. The pain medications from multiple knee surgeries, the alcohol—they were temporary masks for deeper struggles.

The Turning Point of Sobriety

In 2012, everything changed. After nearly moving forward on his suicide plan of getting lost and taking his life in the mountains, Jordan began to turn his life around with his first trip to residential treatment for help with PTSD, anxiety, and severe depression. Later, in 2014 with a newborn daughter and a family intervention, Jordan committed to recovery from addiction. “I convinced myself early on that I cannot turn back to those substances because if I do, I will absolutely be dead in a matter of weeks,” he says. July 22, 2014, marked the beginning of his sobriety journey—a path he’s maintained for over a decade.

Ultra Running: A New Adventure

Running evolved from a punishment to a celebration. Jordan’s first significant run—a 28-mile route from Marble (Colorado) to his favorite Carbondale coffee shop—became a pivotal moment. “I was hooked at that moment,” he remembers. Trail running offered something road racing never could: a sense of adventure, a puzzle to solve with each route.

Embracing the Unexpected

Recently diagnosed as autistic, Jordan now understands the intricate ways his brain works. The ritualistic nature of his past addictions, the mental exhaustion of masking in social situations—these were pieces of a complex puzzle. Running became more than exercise; it became a way to process, to be authentically Jordan Cole. 

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Looking Ahead: Pushing Boundaries

2025 promises to be an extraordinary year for Jordan. He’s set to tackle some of the most challenging ultra-running events: Sedona Canyons 125, Bigfoot 200, and Moab 240. Each race represents more than a physical challenge—they’re a celebration of his journey, his resilience.

The Philosophy of Movement

For Jordan, running isn’t about addiction or escape. “Running is a celebration of my existence,” he explains. “It’s taking advantage of the opportunity that for today I have the ability to go move my body.” Each step is intentional, each mile a testament to his strength.

A Message of Hope

Jordan’s story isn’t just about running or sobriety. It’s about finding purpose, understanding oneself, and choosing life moment by moment. “One foot in front of the other,” he says—a philosophy that applies both to running and to life’s most challenging journeys.

His advice is simple yet profound: Find what works for you. Whether it’s ultra-running, meditation, or something entirely different, the key is intention and presence. For Jordan Cole, his path in running means celebration through movement. 

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