Ultrarunner Taylor Spike
Oregonian Taylor Spike added his name to the very short list of ultra-endurance athletes to complete a sub-60 hour, 200-mile ultramarathon. For Taylor, running is about life — and life is about submitting to the friction necessary to get uncomfortable. Comfort is hiding after a lousy day at work to bust into a case of beer. Comfortable is overweight. Comfortable is Dilaudid, a buzz, and a couch. There was a time in Taylor’s life when he went through the motions of addiction to cope. "I didn’t have a pill problem, I had a pain problem". Back surgeries and a gut left him uninspired and lethargic.
In the suffering of the long run, he finds his family and his truth. “I was quick to look for the easy out,” according to Taylor, who at the time was trapped in the spiral of routine, but which ultimately spun into a self-destructive path chasing numbness and a false high. When a second surgery was required for his back, he was already walking down that road. Alone. When the second round of therapy and pain management was heaped on his plate, Taylor expected help and accountability. He hoped again to skate through riding the easy out. Life was not gritty, raw, or real.
What he found instead was a heavy dose of self-accountability and a hard look in the mirror. No one offered to do the heavy lifting for him, and he realized that no one could alter the map of his life besides himself. There are prisons we lock ourselves in that we hold the only key to. “We all go through life avoiding confrontation,” he says. Even conflict within ourselves.
Listen to this podcast with Coach Blu and Taylor. See if you can relate to anything said here, and make sure to share the word with others! We can all recover. "I am a CHAMPION!"
Follow Taylor Spike
Twitter @Taylorspike
Instagram: tspike2
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Reflections of Healing with James Yount
James Yount comes from a family of addiction and a history of trauma. He struggled with anger, addiction, overeating, and suicidal ideation. In 2020 he decided he didn't recognize the reflection in the mirror and flushed all his dope. A few months later, he set a goal to do the dishes and take his dog for a daily walk. He has been clean and sober since that first day and has now lost 155 lbs in the last 18 months.
James says, "I know if I stay here, I will become comfortable, and being comfortable is what led me to being uncomfortable. There is a difference between discomfort and pain. I don't want to go back to the pain, but I don't mind the discomfort. Discomfort is what makes a diamond. Discomfort is what makes a pearl. Discomfort has lead me to the growth I am experiencing today."
It is essential not to take any waking moment for granted. Be introspective and self-aware to be able to change. Early behaviors are learned, so they can be unlearned. What are your coping mechanisms?
This is a fantastic episode you don't want to miss. Follow James on Instagram. James has a goal to start a faith-based fitness recovery center in time.
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1% Improvement Everyday with Rob Molling
In studio 1% Fitness CEO Rob Molling. Blu and Rob go way back and they have a great discussion covering Rob's past drug addiction, jail time, and come back to helping others heal through health, fitness, and nutrition. Rob's recovery story is a great one as he has erased his criminality and substance use with exercise, health and nutrition. Check out 1% Fitness' meal prep and health challenges. https://1percentfit.com
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Exercising Recovery with Nicole Golden
Today Coach Blu speaks to Nicole Golden who is a NASM Master Trainer, CES, BCS, FNS and AFAA certified group fitness instructor and Master of Science in Applied Exercise Science/Sports Nutrition. Nicole shares the research and the importance of using exercise in your recovery. We all know exercise is a powerful depression fighter for several reasons. Most importantly, it promotes all kinds of changes in the brain, including neural growth, and new activity patterns that promote feelings of calm and well-being. It also releases endorphins, powerful chemicals in your brain that energize your spirits and make you feel good. Finally, exercise can also serve as a distraction, allowing you to find some quiet time to break out of the cycle of negative thoughts that feed depression and addiction.
Exercise can be a valuable medicine in the treatment of substance use disorders. Learn about the effectiveness of exercise as an adjunct therapy for drug/alcohol use disorders in this episode. Find out more about her business https://fwfwellness.com
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One on One: Emotional Turbulence
Welcome to our weekly live show, One on One with Coach Blu. Coach Blu is a licensed mental health therapist and certified substance use, disorder counselor. Today's cohost is Addict II Athlete's own Athletic Director, Marisa Robinson. Marissa is a Certified Recreational Therapist. This is an open topic, so by which you, the listener, can participate by submitting your questions through direct messaging or jumping on the zoom link provided to be a guest and participant on the show. We discuss addiction, recovery, mental illness, health and wellness, and much more.
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