How Do You Rebuild a Life? Tommie Runz on Sobriety, Loss, and Running

Many runners come to ultrarunning through performance, but what happens when running comes after everything else falls apart? This episode explores how sobriety, loss, and identity shape the path into ultrarunning and what it actually looks like to rebuild a life from the ground up.Josh sits down with Tommie Runz to trace the arc from heavy drinking and personal collapse to running across the desert from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, and eventually into ultrarunning. The conversation moves through early sobriety, community, and the tension between commitment and loss, including missing his best friend’s funeral during that run revealing how change actually happens over time.For runners interested in the deeper reasons people come to the sport. Follow the show for more conversations like this.Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review.Presented by Kiprun.Topics / TimestampsChapters00:00 The Impact of Personal Loss on Running01:19 The Relationship Between Sobriety and Running02:38 Community Support and Accountability05:43 Transitioning from Road to Trail Running06:54 The Experience of Running Javelina09:31 The Future of Tommy Runs16:25 The Journey to 100 Miles18:13 Cutting in Line: The Western States Experience18:15 Trail Running: A New Era of Competitors19:02 Training for the Mountains: Strategies and ChallengesResources / LinksTommie Runz on InstagramWestern States----Find us at Borderlands.cc and sign up for the newsletter.Want to run in the Salt Lake area? Check out the Salt Lake Foothills Trail Races happening May 30, 2026.And if you haven't checked out Wylder yet, it's worth a look. iOS or Android