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The Rich Roll Podcast · September 3, 2026 · 2h 16m

From Drinking Every Morning to Running 340 Miles: Tommie Runz on Recovery, Running & Redemption

Rich Roll speaks with Tommie Runz, runner and sobriety advocate, about his journey from morning drinking and denial to nine years of sobriety. Tommie shares the moment he finally told the truth about his addiction and how ultrarunning became a spiritual practice that transformed his life. They discuss the illusion of functional alcoholism, the importance of inclusivity in trail running, and the philosophy that sobriety must come first. This episode is a testament to the power of honesty and endurance in rebuilding a life.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Preview

Tommie Runz asserts that sobriety must come first and that every other aspect of his life depends on it.
The Delusion of Functional Drinking
Tommie describes how he rationalized his heavy drinking by telling himself he was still functional, which he now sees as outright denial.

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