Marathon Running Part of Recovery for Odyssey House Residents

Five residents at the Odyssey House drug and alcohol treatment facility will be competing in the upcoming New York City Marathon.

On Sunday, November 6, the runners in recovery will be among over 35,000 marathoners to run 26.2 miles through the city's five boroughs. Odyssey House treats more than 800 patients in its six New York City residential centers. Residents are allowed time to work out one evening a week, and as they progress they earn the privilege to exercise more frequently and enter local races.

The recreational program coordinator at Odyssey House, Andre Matthews, coaches the resident runners, who range in age from 21 to 41. Matthews, 45, is in recovery himself and has run in the city's marathon since 2001.

At weekly meetings for the facility's marathon participants and other beginning runners, mental health counselor Nell Hanks emphasizes that the lessons and skills learned in long-distance running, including pacing, goal setting, and delayed gratification, are the same ones needed for successful recovery from drug or alcohol use.

"We talk about how job interview days are like race days, and that's the day you really need to show up. It's so tangible, without a whole lot of psychobabble," said Hanks. "People relate to roadblocks. It becomes a very physical connection."

"A client goes out, they get a number, they run a race, they complete something. For some, it's the first time in their life that they've completed anything," said John Tavolacci, chief operating officer and head of clinical services at Odyssey House. "They get an official time. On top of that, the times improve. It's concrete. It's very powerful for a person who has a history of losing and not accomplishing things to have this."

"One of the beautiful things about this program," adds Tavolacci, "is that there may be someone in jail right now, or homeless on the street, who next year will be running the New York City Marathon."

(11/4/2005)