PITTSFIELD — One of the defining moments in Dylan Lundgren’s recovery from drug addiction was when he started running.
He’ll celebrate 20 years of sobriety in two days, and he’s been running for almost as long.
But on Sunday morning, he had something else to celebrate: first place overall in the Fitness in Recovery 5K.
“When I first got sober, it was one of the few things that kept me calm,” Lundgren says. “I still use it today. For me it’s a balance of running and still being in tune with myself and not pushing myself too hard. I’m just trying to run with what’s going on in my life instead of running away from it.”
Lundgren led the runners in a brisk 18 minutes, 58 seconds on the Ashwiltikook Rail Trail to take the overall victory in the Fitness in Recovery 5K, a 3.1-mile (5,000-meter) race that supports the Berkshire Running Foundation’s program of the same name, which provides people in recovery with a supportive environment and community for exercise.
Winner Dylan Lundgren runs toward the finish line at the second annual Fitness in Recovery 5k in Pittsfield on Sunday.
Gillian Jones Heck — Berkshire Eagle
As a staff member at Living in Recovery, located at 75 North St., Lundgren strives to impart the same tools she used, such as exercise, yoga, meditation and healthy eating, to others in recovery.
He hopes to set up a formal running group there soon.
Lundgren’s journey to the finish line on Sunday wasn’t easy. “It’s hard to stay sober,” he said. And he injured himself early on when he tried to run more to ease the uncontrollable pain. It took a lot of trial and error to find the right balance, he said.
But eventually, Lundgren realized she could control the pain and redirect the energy that came with it. As she worked on her mental health and recovery, she found exercise to be a great support structure for transforming anxiety and depression into positive momentum.
“My running is driven by pain and anxiety,” Lundgren says, “and one of the reasons I’m able to run so fast is because it’s driven by pain and anxiety. So all my energy is focused in one direction.”
The race expands
This is the second annual Fitness in Recovery 5K race, inviting area residents to come out and support those in recovery and those whose lives have been affected by addiction. The race was organized in partnership with the Berkshire Running Foundation and Spectrum Health Systems.
Rebecca Polastri, regional executive director for Spectrum Health Systems, kicked off the day’s events by positioning September as a time to “celebrate those in recovery, honor those seeking recovery and honor those who have lost the battle with addiction.”
Siobhan Rehm, founder and executive director of the Berkshire Running Foundation, said participation in the race is up from last year, with 85 runners registered this year, up 30 from the inaugural event in 2023. The race also had 12 walk-in participants.
Rehm said the program was created last year with the same benefits in mind that Lundgren experienced, recognizing that “running, or any physical activity, is a component of a healthy recovery process.” He said the program was heavily inspired by the Boston Bulldogs Running Club, which has a similar mission to “bring the component of wellness” into the lives of its participants.
Rehm estimated that Sunday’s race raised about $3,000, most of which will go directly back into the program’s operating budget.
Reasons to run
While all the participants had the same goal, they all ran for different reasons. Lauren Osborne, who took first place in the women’s division in 25 minutes, 5 seconds, ran the race while visiting family in town. Her 100-year-old grandmother, a Pittsfield resident, had recently passed away, and she kept thinking about her as she crossed the finish line.
“I was planning on going for a run today and thought, ‘Why not do this for an important cause?'” Osborne said. “Running is so good for your mental health, so I really understand why fitness in recovery is so important.”
Lauren Osborne, the first woman to complete the second annual Fitness in Recovery 5k marathon, runs toward the finish line on Sunday in Pittsfield.
Gillian Jones Heck — Berkshire Eagle
For Emily Russo (36:42) and Peter Aronson (29:24), a married couple who live part-time in Lenox, it was a chance to continue their budding tradition of running 5Ks together. Fittingly, the first race the couple completed was last year’s inaugural Fitness in Recovery Run.
“We love running 5Ks together,” Aronson said. “We work out a lot. We go to the gym a couple of times a week, work out at home, run in the street… it’s just something we enjoy.”
“That’s a good pace,” Russo added. “I’ll never be able to do a marathon, but I think I could manage a 5K. It’s hard, but I can do it.”
Peter Aronson runs toward the finish line at the second annual Fitness in Recovery 5k in Pittsfield on Sunday.
Gillian Jones Heck — Berkshire Eagle
And for Jennifer Votruba (31:32) and Lena Ferry (32:29), it was a chance to show support for an issue that is “close to home” for them: Votruba and Ferry both work in healthcare and wanted to show their support for those embarking on their journey to recovery.
Jennifer Votruba runs toward the finish line at the second annual Fitness in Recovery 5k in Pittsfield on Sunday.
Gillian Jones Heck — Berkshire Eagle
Votruba works as a physician assistant in a primary care clinic, while Ferry works as a behavioral health coordinator. Ferry said she sees referrals of people struggling with addiction and mental illness every day, and has lost many of her classmates to addiction.
Although they are relatively new to running – Ferry only started in May – they both enjoy 5k runs and plan to run more for different causes. They also both plan to take part in next year’s Fitness In Recovery race.
“It can happen to anyone, so you want to show your support,” Ferry said. “You never know what struggle the person standing next to you is going through, whether it’s alcohol or drugs.”
Lena Ferry runs toward the finish line at the second annual Fitness in Recovery 5k in Pittsfield on Sunday.
Gillian Jones Heck — Berkshire Eagle
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