0:00:01.510,0:00:06.725
I was a drug dealer,[br]and I got incarcerated.

0:00:07.216,0:00:08.880
When I came out,[br]I was like

0:00:08.880,0:00:13.455
there's no way I'm gonna get[br]a second chance or get a job.

0:00:13.819,0:00:15.830
I'm trying to achieve and running[br]is part of my way of getting there.

0:00:20.929,0:00:23.632
This Great Big[br]Story was made possible by

0:00:23.632,0:00:28.248
Dignity Health. [br]Hello, humankindness.

0:00:42.278,0:00:47.238
My name is Manuel Navarro,[br]and I am a runner with Back On My Feet.

0:00:47.489,0:00:53.071
Back On My Feet is an organization[br]that helps people fight homelessness;

0:00:53.239,0:00:55.404
and at this point in my life,

0:00:55.404,0:00:57.950
the lowest point in my life,[br]that's where I'm at;

0:00:57.950,0:01:00.090
and it's helping me[br]be successful

0:01:00.090,0:01:02.993
and achieve everything[br]I wanna achieve the right way.

0:01:05.050,0:01:06.940
My name is Pete Roller,[br]and I'm a volunteer

0:01:06.940,0:01:08.840
and board member [br]with Back On My Feet.

0:01:09.680,0:01:12.260
Manny and I have been running[br]together for nine months.

0:01:12.260,0:01:14.963
We run three mornings [br]a week at 5:45 in the morning.

0:01:17.020,0:01:19.310
Back On My Feet is a national non-profit[br]that works with individuals

0:01:19.310,0:01:22.603
who are experiencing homelessness[br]or in some stage of recovery

0:01:23.586,0:01:24.586
and provides a hand up[br]to employment and housing

0:01:25.570,0:01:28.203
and independence through[br]community and fitness.

0:01:34.030,0:01:35.990
Running is a really nice complement

0:01:35.990,0:01:38.940
to recovery for many of our members.

0:01:38.940,0:01:41.560
Running, in particular,[br]provides the physical release.

0:01:41.560,0:01:45.240
For a lot of us, we're[br]replacing negativity.

0:01:45.876,0:01:46.876
Those three mornings a[br]week are the three mornings

0:01:47.512,0:01:50.070
where they know they can[br]come and be supported

0:01:50.070,0:01:51.960
by the rest of the group[br]and really feel good

0:01:51.960,0:01:54.520
about themselves because[br]whatever comes in between that

0:01:54.520,0:01:57.690
is gonna be much harder;[br]and Back On My Feet provides

0:01:57.690,0:02:01.220
the link for them to successfully[br]continue that recovery.

0:02:01.220,0:02:03.370
I know it works because the changes

0:02:03.370,0:02:07.400
in the individuals,[br]members, volunteers, myself

0:02:07.400,0:02:09.032
are visible, and they're tangible.

0:02:09.032,0:02:12.630
For our members, it allows[br]them to feel human again,

0:02:14.255,0:02:15.255
and I've seen countless[br]members just blossom.

0:02:16.880,0:02:18.358
When they come to the morning circle,

0:02:18.358,0:02:20.530
they're just another runner.

0:02:20.530,0:02:21.363
Who are we?

0:02:21.363,0:02:22.416
Back On My Feet.

0:02:22.416,0:02:23.249
Where we from?

0:02:23.249,0:02:24.683
San Francisco.

0:02:24.683,0:02:25.866
How far we gonna run?

0:02:25.866,0:02:27.366
Forever.

0:02:29.090,0:02:31.580
I hated running, but now I love running.

0:02:31.580,0:02:32.960
I mean, just the community;

0:02:32.960,0:02:35.120
they make you feel very welcome.

0:02:35.120,0:02:36.436
They're really there to help you,

0:02:36.436,0:02:39.920
to embrace you and to support the fact that[br]you're trying to be successful in life

0:02:41.757,0:02:43.490
and trying to do something right.

0:02:43.490,0:02:47.840
And the connection that me[br]and Pete have is amazing.

0:02:47.840,0:02:49.552
I never had real friends before.

0:02:49.552,0:02:52.270
In the drug business[br]you don't trust anybody,

0:02:52.270,0:02:56.129
and here I am trusting.

0:02:56.129,0:02:57.129
He's always telling me[br]how I could do better

0:02:57.129,0:02:59.920
and pushing me to do[br]better and that's good

0:02:59.920,0:03:01.630
because he's there to support me,

0:03:01.630,0:03:04.128
and I think we all[br]deserve a second chance,

0:03:04.128,0:03:05.629
and I'm taking it.