The Addicted Mind Podcast 194: Running Without the Devil with Henry Ward
On today’s episode, Duane speaks with ultra-runner and recovering alcoholic and addict, Henry Ward, as he shares his own story of recovery, about how alcoholism and drugs took his whole life, and finally getting into treatment.
For a few years, Henry was wandering around, not being able to do anything, until he stumbled into running. Today, he shares how running has impacted his life, and how he uses running, not only in his own recovery but also to bring his passion for running to others through his nonprofit Running Without the Devil.
Growing up in a family and community where alcohol was prevalent, Henry subconsciously knew he got the addictive gene. Eventually, he got stuck into this vicious cycle which caused a lot of damage to his reputation and pushed away relationships. Ultimately, he went into treatment and discovered his passion for running. The more runner’s high he got, the more he felt like himself.
After 22 years of drinking and using, Henry had dealt with all the pain, the shame, and the guilt. And so, for him, his physical pain from running was nothing compared to what he went through back then – because if he got through that, then he can get through anything.
In this episode, you will hear:
- Henry’s story of addiction
- Putting the work in to set yourself up for success
- Discovering his passion for running
- What is an ultra-marathon?
- Pushing through the stinking thinking
- How he used his history of addiction to his advantage
Key Quotes:
[33:19] - "There is no magic pill. It doesn't matter if it's diet or exercise or recovery from addiction, you have to put the work in. If you want to succeed in a career, you can't just half-ass it.”
[33:30] - "If you have a half-assed recovery, you're going to get half-assed results, and you probably go back out there."
[38:15] - "I found that thing that helps you burn off the anxiety, get me out of my own head, get my confidence back. And when I run, I feel like myself. The more runner's high you get, the more I feel like myself."
[40:22] - "You get a lot of time on your feet. But you get a lot of time in your head, and you really learn a lot about yourself and what the human body is capable of."
[43:02] - "Quiet the negative voices. Quiet that devil and just take it like a small little fragment, and break it down... it teaches you to stay in the moment."
[46:22] - "Everything always works out for the better and better than you imagine. It doesn't matter what it is, you get what you put into it."
[46:29] - "Keep hustling, keep trying, keep asking people and keep networking, and something good is going to come of it. Put the time in, but it's not worth worrying about."
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Supporting Resources:
Running Without the Devil
https://runningwithoutthedevil.com
Episode Credits
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