From Heroin to Marathons: How Kellen Matthews-Thompson Rebuilt His Life

In this episode, we sit down with Kellen Matthews-Thompson – Philly runner, content creator, father, husband, and the founder of Recovery Run Club. Before his life revolved around miles, marathons, and community, Kellen spent over a decade in the grip of opioid addiction. He began using in his teens, eventually turning to IV drugs in his twenties. His life unraveled – until a doctor in treatment connected the dots between the chemistry of the runner’s high and the brain’s need for relief. Something clicked. From that moment, Kellen started running. First one mile. Then another. Then a hundred.Literally – he went on to win a 100-mile ultramarathon and run a marathon every month in 2024 to raise awareness for recovery. Today, Kellen uses running as a bridge – not just for himself, but for others. Recovery Run Club is just one example of how Kellen uses his growing online presence to raise awareness and inspire hope around recovery.  There’s a special kind of resonance in this conversation – because Zac is a born-and-raised Philly guy who found his own way back through recovery, service, and showing up for other people. Two men who rebuilt their lives from the inside out. Two men who know what it means to choose a different kind of hard. We talk about: Running as an entryway to emotional regulation and self-belief Love as the key ingredient to helping others find recovery  The loneliness of early recovery and how community closes the gap Fatherhood after addiction Building something that serves people instead of just saving yourself Why running is such a powerful tool in recovery for so many This is a conversation about movement, identity, and returning to yourself — one mile, one day, one choice at a time. Kellen: @kellenrunsphilly Recovery Run Club: @recoveryrunclub Connect with Zac https://www.instagram.com/zwclark/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/zac-c-746b96254/ https://www.tiktok.com/@zacwclark https://www.strava.com/athletes/55697553 https://twitter.com/zacwclark If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release Recovery: (914) 588-6564 releaserecovery.com @releaserecovery Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices