#055 - From Despair to Endurance: Jon Frey's Journey to Sobriety and Running Ultra Marathons

In this episode of the Turn Your Life Around podcast, host Sarah Coates interviews Jon Frey, a person in 12-step recovery and the founder of Oakwood 24 and other endurance events. Jon shares his journey from a troubled youth experimenting with substances in eastern North Carolina to his struggles with alcoholism and drug abuse that led to legal troubles and health crises. He recounts how hitting rock bottom led him to seek help and ultimately change his life through the Healing Transitions program. Jon emphasizes the role of community, accountability, and a shift in focus towards health and endurance running in his recovery. He details his involvement in creating Oakwood 24, an event to raise funds for Healing Transitions, and his passion for supporting the recovery community. The conversation also touches on the importance of asking for help, the power of taking action towards recovery, and the transformative impact of endurance running and community support on his life. Jon Frey's Links: https://oakwood24.com https://healing-transitions.org/oakwood24/ The Turn Your Life Around Podcast Links: https://one-eightycounseling.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@turnyourlifearoundpodcast https://www.instagram.com/turnyourlifearoundpodcast 00:00 Welcome to the Turn Your Life Around Podcast 00:45 Introducing Jon Fry: From Addiction to Endurance Racing 01:32 Jon's Journey: Early Life and Descent into Addiction 10:54 The Turning Point: Hitting Rock Bottom and Seeking Help 14:35 Healing Transitions: A Year of Recovery and Transformation 21:02 From Recovery to Running: The Birth of Oakwood 24 24:59 Expanding Impact: Oakwood 24 and Beyond 27:09 Reflections and Advice: The Power of Asking for Help 34:46 Closing Thoughts and How to Support Oakwood 24