Recovery to Ultra Running: Jonathan Frey’s Journey to Finding Purpose on the Trails

When Jonathan Frey laced up his running shoes in early 2017, he wasn’t thinking about racing or completing ultra distances. He was nine months into his sobriety journey at Healing Transitions in Raleigh, North Carolina, and simply needed an outlet for his excess energy. Little did he know that those first steps would lead from recovery to ultra running. Along the way, he not only became an accomplished ultrarunner but also a race director giving back to the community that helped save his life.

“I just knew I loved to run,” Frey recalls. “It helped me get rid of excess energy that I had in new sobriety.” But running provided more than just physical benefits. It became a powerful tool for connection and healing.

Breaking Down Barriers One Mile at a Time

The structured environment of traditional recovery meetings, while valuable, didn’t always facilitate the deep connections Frey was seeking. “You come into 12-step meetings and they’re in rooms, sitting in chairs, sometimes face to face with people. In my experience, it’s not a great thing for sharing and opening up,” he explains.

However, Frey discovered that movement created an entirely different dynamic. “I found with movement through the years, doing icebreaker runs with people or doing something active, people, including myself, are a lot more apt to share stories about themselves, be genuine, open up a little bit more.”

Taking the Leap into Ultra Running

The transition from recovery running to ultra running came through a fortuitous connection with Charlie Engel, who became Frey’s mentor. Engel helped Frey see how his past struggles could actually become an asset in endurance sports.

“He related to me that most people that are struggling with drug and alcohol abuse are really good at suffering, so they’re inherently good at doing long endurance sports, especially running for 24 hours or running 100 miles,” Frey shares. This perspective shift led to Frey’s first 100-mile race in March 2018 at El Zoro 24, where he not only finished but won the race, completing it five hours before the 24-hour cutoff.

Finding Strength in Gratitude

For Frey, the mental aspects of ultra running have become intertwined with his recovery journey. When facing difficult moments during races, he turns to gratitude rather than seeking escape. “Going into that pain cave, you have to keep some gratitude in your head at all times,” he explains. “I signed up for this. There’s not that many people out there that are lucky enough to come out and do these things.”

This approach marks a significant shift from his past. “In addiction, it was always if I felt something, I wanted to numb it or get away from it. When it came to running and doing 100-mile races, I wanted to feel everything. This hurts, but it’s supposed to hurt and it’s okay that it hurts.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Building Community Through Racing

Frey’s passion for ultra running has evolved beyond personal achievement. He now directs several races, including the Mountain Sea Endurance Races and Oakwood 24, both of which give back to organizations that support recovery and trail maintenance.

“I like putting people together to have a good time,” Frey says of his race directing. His events maintain a grassroots feel, focusing on community building rather than commercial success. This approach aligns perfectly with his preference for smaller, more intimate races as a runner.

Advice for Newcomers

For those considering ultra running, whether in recovery or not, Frey emphasizes the importance of staying open-minded and finding your community. “Most people, once you get them in the woods a few times, they’re completely hooked and absolutely love it,” he shares.

He also stresses the importance of patience and persistence, drawing parallels between recovery and ultra running. “Most people don’t get it on the first try. It’s just like sobriety. There’s no reason to get your hopes down because you DNF a couple times.”

“You should always, at least once a year, try to do something that you’re not sure you’re going to finish,” Frey advises. “Take that big chance.” It’s this philosophy that continues to guide both his running and his recovery journey, proving that every finish line is just the beginning of a new adventure.

Looking Forward While Giving Back

Today, Frey continues to push himself while helping others discover the transformative power of endurance sports. His races support various organizations, including Healing Transitions, Hope and Vine in Raleigh, and Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail.

For those interested in joining Frey’s community of runners, his next Mountain Sea Endurance Races event takes place March 8th-9th, offering distances from 10 miles to 100 miles. More information can be found at mountainstosea100.com.