A passionate and dedicated runner since 1997, 51-year-old Izzy Alvarado always felt empowered while running. His first 5K was on the 50th anniversary of the famous UFO landing in Roswell, New Mexico, where he was staying with his grandmother for the summer. Izzy has battled addiction for over 30 years and used running in 2017 to regain his sobriety. Two years into his recovery, he was asked to volunteer at DePaul Rehabilitation Center in Portland to share his passion for running with their patients. He agreed, and the runs became an instant success. When Izzy was talking about his service work at the treatment center with his friend and co-worker, Alyssa Halbisen, the pair struck upon an idea to start a non-profit organization dedicated to making running more accessible to those fighting substance abuse. Here, Izzy and Alyssa share their inspiring story.

Izzy: Battling addiction and relapse is a part of my life, as is running. I first discovered the power of running in 1997 when I put on my first pair of running shoes and just ran. I found that it empowered me. I started running 5Ks, 10Ks, half-marathons, and then a marathon. Since then, I’ve run 17 marathons. I dream about running marathons in London, Paris, and the coveted Boston!

I: When I relapsed in 2010, I became homeless in Portland and started attending a treatment center. When I pulled myself up and got an apartment and a serving job, I met Alyssa Halbisen, and it was she who convinced me to get a dog. Eventually, I agreed because I knew the root cause of my addiction was loneliness. I named her Anna Mae (after my hero, Tina Turner), and it became a ‘who saved who story.’  She’s been with me for six years now. We have a house and a backyard; she truly saved me.

I: After two years in recovery, the treatment center asked if I could take other patients out on runs. They knew how passionate I was about running and a few of the inpatients wanted to get out and leave the building to get some fresh air and exercise, but they didn’t have running gear or anyone to take them. I asked my friends on Facebook if anyone could donate running shoes and the response was overwhelming. 

I: On the first day, I took 12 men out running. I was bowled over by their desire and willingness to run and seek treatment. When we returned to the center, one of the runners suggested a name for our running group: Go The Distance or ‘GTD’. It was perfect. Two months later, at the local dog park, I told Alyssa about the run club. She was studying Public Health and Civic Leadership at Portland State University at the time, and immediately saw the importance of what I was doing. She said: “There is really something here, we should take this further and start a non-profit”. So, that’s what we did. Go The Distance was finally registered in November 2019.

Alyssa: Go The Distance has two primary programs: the inpatient program and the alumni program. Once a client enters a partnering treatment center, they are welcome to join GTD. This is especially powerful in the early stages of recovery; it helps to get clients outside. After 12 runs (between 6-8 weeks), they earn a coveted graduation package containing On running shoes, socks, a GTD t-shirt, a medal, and a certificate of completion. It creates a sense of pride in our runners. We also provide our women with sports bras during the program, because many can’t afford them.

A: You don’t have to be an avid runner to show up. Maybe you just want fresh air. Often people are angry and frustrated when they start treatment, but then they get outside, and their mood changes. During each run, we stop for a few minutes to talk about vulnerability and honesty. The aim is to give people the psychological tools to build new habits and claim their life back. We should all have the right to move.

A: Four years on, we are operating twice a week in five treatment centers across Portland. We have signed-up male and female runners, aged between 19 and 65. Once our clients leave treatment, they are invited to attend our alumni runs which take place twice a week at the Portland Waterfront. Our clients become friends while in treatment and continue with the alumni runs together. We also register all interested alumni runners in quarterly (or more) 5K races in the community.

Izzy: We started with just 12 runners. Now we have around 50 runners joining us from across our inpatient programs, and 100 people attending the alumni runs. In fact, since October 2022, 300 new inpatient runners have signed up to run with us. Go The Distance brings people together through camaraderie, community, self-esteem, pride, and the natural high that you can get from running. I believe the runners trust me to help them because I’m genuine. With me, they have acceptance. They’re not judged. I’m a Person of Color, I’m gay, and I’m a minority, and I’m still here. Their ability to relate to me is imperative. I tell them: ‘If I can do it, you can do it.’ And then, we do it together.

Alyssa: Our goal is to expand to more treatment centers and ultimately implement an outpatient program that mirrors that of the inpatient program. But to do this, we need more capacity. It takes just one hour during the week to lead one of our runs, and taking these men and women running is such a gift. Having allies join us makes our Portland community so much stronger.

Through Right To Run partnership support, Go the Distance is receiving funds to expand its services to more treatment centers in Portland, as well as products to empower the community they serve. To learn more about how you can get involved, visit Go The Distance.