Description
"Get [a runner's] high with your friends and feel proud of yourself afterward."
For someone battling addiction, regular exercise can be life-changing. Not only does it replace the high of using with a natural high, regular exercise speeds up the rewiring of the brain, making it easier to stay sober in early recovery. It's also a great way to relieve stress, anxiety, and depression, all of which are common triggers for addiction relapse. The experience of exercising is even more powerful when done toward a challenging goal with the support of a community. The mindset and life skills needed to focus on a goal, overcome setbacks and obstacles, and support each other are very similar to those needed to maintain long term recovery.
That's why the men of Beacon House are training for a half marathon. Led by their Strides in Recovery coach, these men are literally going the extra mile for their own sobriety. They've been training since February, starting with a 3 mile walk/run and slowly building toward the 13.1 miles they will cover on event day. Week after week, they are getting stronger inside and out. They are practicing commitment, accountability, perseverance, and self-discipline. They are proving to themselves that they can do whatever they put their minds to.
On May 8th, they will begin race day near Lunada Bay in Rancho Palos Verdes, enjoying the ocean views along the cliffs of the peninsula. They will continue on through White Point Preserve and Point Fermin Park, winding their way back to the Beacon House facilities in San Pedro. There they will proudly cross the finish line, receive their medals, and celebrate their huge accomplishment with the staff and their brothers in sobriety.
If we weren't in the middle of a pandemic, we'd invite you to run with them in person. But, since we can't do that, we invite you to train and run with them in spirit. Whether you are an experienced distance runner or brand new to running, we have a virtual option that's right for you. You can choose a 5K, a beginner half marathon spread over 2 weeks, or a standard half marathon. Proceeds benefit Strides in Recovery as well as Beacon House.
You can also cheer on the men of Beacon House virtually by posting your encouragement on social media along with the hashtag #StridesWithBeaconHouse, @thebeaconhouseasp and @stridesinrecovery.
Will you join us?
What You Get
Not only do you get the satisfaction of knowing you are supporting the men of Beacon House on their journey to long term sobriety, you get a beautiful 4" 5K Finisher or Half Marathon Finisher medal that you can proudly wear and display. You will also receive a high quality adjustable running hat embroidered with the Strides in Recovery logo. (You'll get to choose the color during registration.)
Celebrate your accomplishment. Stay cool, and help us spread the word.
Addiction destroys lives. You can be part of the solution.
Additional Benefits of Participating
This event is about so much more than covering the distance. It's about building community and strengthening connections. It's about supporting you as you add exercise to your routine or build on what you've already been doing. And, because we are all part of a community supporting addiction recovery, you'll have the opportunity to virtually cheer on the men of Beacon House Half Marathon Team, and cheer on each other too.
When you register, you'll be able to opt-in for emails that introduce you to the Beacon House runners, follow their progress, and give you opportunities to show your support. You'll also get training tips to help you mentally and physically prepare for your own run/walk.
We look forward to sharing this experience with you.
Show Your Support on Social Media
We've made it easy for you to show your support virtually by creating a Selfie Sign you can use to share your message. Simply follow these steps:
1. Download the Selfie Sign here
2. Print the sign and add your message
3. Take a selfie with the sign
4. Share your selfie on social media along with #StridesWithBeaconHouse, @StridesInRecovery and @BeaconHouseASP
If you tag us, we may share your selfie on our social media accounts as well, hopefully encouraging others to do the same!
Race Contact Info
If you have any questions about this race, click the button below.
Virtual Run Location
Run our course virtually from any location! Your virtual participation will be in support of the men of The Beacon House who will be running a course created by Strides in Recovery in real life on May 8. But you can run your virtual course anywhere.
If you'd like to see where the Beacon House men will be running, click on "View Course Map" below.
MapMyRun Map
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