Finding Strength in Every Stride

When our life begins, the hope is for a full bill of health, a life of ease, a chance to fulfill any opportunity that comes our way over the course of a long and prosperous life. The world hopes for it, communities hope for it, our families hope for it. For many of us, though, there are bumps along the way that take us on a different path, one that brings challenges – either for us or for ones we love.

Cody Williams was welcoming a baby boy into the world, a joyous occasion, until doctors gave him and his wife what would be very challenging news. Their son needed surgery to take out a portion of his small intestine – suffering from a condition known as Short Bowel Syndrome. When the surgeon got finished with the procedure, about 90% of his small intestine was removed.

“It was the lowest, most challenging moment I have ever had to go through,” said Cody. “I was back and forth between the hospital and home with my girls, trying to figure out how we were going to help him.”

A Father’s Mental and Emotional Battle

At the lowest moments, Cody went through challenges with his own mental health. Trying to keep his family going, his wife healing and his son on an arduous recovery and development as a baby. It was taking its toll on him.

“The doctor’s said he will have a life equal to summiting Mount Everest without any help or any equipment,” said Cody.

Climbing His Own Everest

But hearing those words struck a chord within Cody. His son wasn’t going to be alone through this, and he was going to need to show up for this child at his fullest possible. He was going to need to summit Everest with him and FOR him.

Cody had been picking up running prior to his son’s birth – motivated by weight loss and improved health for his growing family. He was able to shed significant weight, and improve his speed and distance of running. When he finally got time to breathe and his wife asked him what he wanted to do to get a break once per week, Cody didn’t hesitate.

“I want to go for a run,” Cody recalls telling his wife.

And run, he did. Fueled by the desire to show up for his children, to climb Everest with them, he started pushing further, training for 10K and farther distances. He started to see his times improve constantly, as he continued to get more and more fit. Cody was finding strength in running and the challenges it presented. 

“Having that thing to focus on, something to clear my brain but drive me forward allowed me to continue going deeper, while also allowing me to support my family,” said Cody.

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Self-Care for Family Care

Cody’s son is likely going to need some level of care throughout the rest of his life. In addition to Short Bowel Syndrome, he was diagnosed with other neurological developmental conditions that could either be mild or extreme as he continues to grow and age. Though medical and therapeutic interventions will continue to help him, he will need some level of care. Cody sees running as a way to stay sharp, stay strong and be able to care for those needs, whatever they may end up being.

“If I didn’t take care of myself, and found myself sick or unable to care for my family because of something I could have prevented through my own self-care, I would feel a lot of guilt,” said Cody.

That’s not to say he’s running out of guilt, but rather he uses running as a form of medicine, one that can help heal him from the emotional trauma of the unknown for his own son, but also as a medicine to keep him physically healthy to support his entire family for the long haul. The strength that it takes to overcome running challenges is one thing. The strength that it takes to overcome life’s challenges are another.

In this instance, Cody is benefitting from both. Perspective through running and life has been gained through every step along the journey.

A Message to All Parents

This is something I think we all have felt in one way or another as we continue to go deeper into our own “why” for running. That ability to be sharp. The ability to care for ourselves. The ability to care for others more wholly. Running as a medicine doesn’t just mean healing the physical ailments, but also the emotional, mental and even spiritual ailments that come along with being human. That medicine unlocks the best version of ourselves, not just as a runner, but as that human being.

We can find strength through running and the challenges that the sport presents to us. The work to overcome those challenges, and sometimes miss, can help us beyond the sport.

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