How Running Is Helping the Homeless Get Back on Their Feet

Manuel Navarro used to hate running. Now, he loves it because it’s helping him get his life back on the right path. A former drug dealer who spent time in prison, Manuel is a member of Back on My Feet, a nonprofit that integrates running into its program to combat homelessness in 12 major cities. Manuel, who lives in San Francisco, meets his running partner and Back on My Feet volunteer, Pete Roller, three times a week. He feels empowered by the combination of exercise and encouragement.

“No one runs alone on our morning runs. Everyone runs together. This isn’t running with your headset in and you’re just doing your thing on your own. This is about running with someone else in the community. This is about supporting each other through whatever might be going on in any of your lives, whether it’s a member or volunteer,” said Katy Sherratt, CEO of Back on My Feet.

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I was a drug dealer,
and I got incarcerated.

When I came out,
I was like

there's no way I'm gonna get
a second chance or get a job.

I'm trying to achieve and running
is part of my way of getting there.

This Great Big
Story was made possible by

Dignity Health.
Hello, humankindness.

My name is Manuel Navarro,
and I am a runner with Back On My Feet.

Back On My Feet is an organization
that helps people fight homelessness;

and at this point in my life,

the lowest point in my life,
that's where I'm at;

and it's helping me
be successful

and achieve everything
I wanna achieve the right way.

My name is Pete Roller,
and I'm a volunteer

and board member
with Back On My Feet.

Manny and I have been running
together for nine months.

We run three mornings
a week at 5:45 in the morning.

Back On My Feet is a national non-profit
that works with individuals

who are experiencing homelessness
or in some stage of recovery

and provides a hand up
to employment and housing

and independence through
community and fitness.

Running is a really nice complement

to recovery for many of our members.

Running, in particular,
provides the physical release.

For a lot of us, we're
replacing negativity.

Those three mornings a
week are the three mornings

where they know they can
come and be supported

by the rest of the group
and really feel good

about themselves because
whatever comes in between that

is gonna be much harder;
and Back On My Feet provides

the link for them to successfully
continue that recovery.

I know it works because the changes

in the individuals,
members, volunteers, myself

are visible, and they're tangible.

For our members, it allows
them to feel human again,

and I've seen countless
members just blossom.

When they come to the morning circle,

they're just another runner.

Who are we?

Back On My Feet.

Where we from?

San Francisco.

How far we gonna run?

Forever.

I hated running, but now I love running.

I mean, just the community;

they make you feel very welcome.

They're really there to help you,

to embrace you and to support the fact that
you're trying to be successful in life

and trying to do something right.

And the connection that me
and Pete have is amazing.

I never had real friends before.

In the drug business
you don't trust anybody,

and here I am trusting.

He's always telling me
how I could do better

and pushing me to do
better and that's good

because he's there to support me,

and I think we all
deserve a second chance,

and I'm taking it.