FOX CITIES, Wis. (WFRV) – An Appleton man turned his passion for running into a reason for him to stay sober.
Appleton resident Tate Whitlinger said that after overcoming a 20+ year battle with alcohol and drug addiction, one of the first things he did was go for a run.
“I decided to go run for one mile, that run was life changing for me,” he told Local 5 News. “It was horrible, I wanted to quit but I kept going and it kind of changed me.”
Since that first run he’s gone on many more, finishing several marathons and ultra marathons. Most importantly, he said he’s been sober since Jan. 20, 2016.
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“Running has brought me so much joy and it has helped me in my sobriety so much,” he said. “Once you get sober and stay sober you can pretty much do whatever you want to do, it’s a very powerful thing.”
Whitlinger said he’s uses his love for running as a tool to maintain his sobriety.
“For me I’m connected with my higher power, I’m outside so I use running as kind of a prayer and a meditation,” he said. “It just brings me such great joy. It really gives me the ability to give hope and be a person of light to help inspire others. Not only as runners but as a sober person.”
This weekend, Whitlinger will run the Community First Fox Cities Marathon for the ninth time. He said it makes him emotional running in the place he grew up and reflecting on his journey and how far he has come.
“Gratitude, gratitude is a big part of my life it’s what fuels my life each and every day,” he said. “Those emotions that come up from where I was to where I am now and then when I look down that chute and see my family it’s a very powerful thing.”
For more information about the Community First Fox Cities Marathon, please click here.
