Meet Duran, Team Sally Alumni Member
When Duran first joined Mile in My Shoes, he wasn’t sure he could run a mile. On October 4th, he crossed the finish line of the Twin Cities 10 Mile alongside his Run Mentor, Kerri, who ran that very first mile with him.
“I didn’t think I’d be able to do a mile when I first started,” he says. “I was glad I could run one mile. Then, this year I started going up in miles and getting faster.”
Duran joined MiMS in April while participating in Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center’s long-term, residential addiction recovery and rehabilitation program. He had come to Minnesota from Nebraska determined to make a change after years of drinking, selling drugs, and cycling in and out of jail. His decision to enter the program was inspired in part by his brother, who had gone through it before him. “I made a promise to my brother that I would come up here and get in the program,” Duran says. “I knew that to get out of that cycle, I had to get out of the environment around me back in So. Sioux City.”
Once he arrived at the Salvation Army, Duran noticed the guys running outside. Another Member encouraged him to give Mile in My Shoes a try so he signed up during the first team orientation in the spring.
That first mile left Duran wanting more. “I was so proud of myself and wanted to keep that feeling going.”
Running was only part of what kept him coming back out each week. Duran quickly found a team where he could connect with people, build friendships, and simply be himself. “With the team, I got to go out there and be myself. I got to run with almost every Mentor and get to know them. It was fun!”
Duran’s growing confidence and connection to the team led to another meaningful opportunity: giving the land acknowledgment at the Run More, Judge Less 5K. “I called and told my mom I’d be speaking and read her what I was going to say. She was so proud.”
Duran says he joined because he wanted to get back in shape. He had played basketball in high school and ran cross country as conditioning, but over the years, he had gotten away from running. Duran explained he wasn’t sure what to expect when he showed up for his first MiMS run. “At that first run, I was like, ‘What did I get myself into?’ But I surprised myself and ran that first mile with Kerri.”
His Team Leaders and Mentors at Team Sally quickly saw Duran as a natural leader. He was nominated to Team Captain, leading the team with warmups and motivating his teammates at each run. Duran’s determination to prove to himself, and especially to his kids, that he could make positive change became an inspiration to his entire team. “Duran has a confidence and eagerness to connect that makes him a natural leader,” says Mentor Kerri. “You can tell he’s motivated to improve his circumstances and driven by his family which has been a model for everyone on our team.”
Since graduating from the Salvation Army program, Duran has moved into sober housing, begun working at a store, and continued participating in a sober support group. He’s building a new life and a healthy network he wants to keep.
“I’m just trying to make a better life, get myself well for my kids,” he says.
For Duran, one of the things he’s most proud of is simple: he follows through on his commitments. Duran showed up for an impressive 56 runs with Team Sally leading up to the TC 10 Mile. In the days leading up to the race Duran shared, “I feel nervous and excited about running the race, but I’m ready. The races are my favorite part. I get to take on a new challenge and show myself what I can do.”
Just as Duran has approached other challenges this season, he’s driven by the promise he made to himself. “I made a commitment to myself and this team,” Duran says. “I want to finish it and see the challenge through.”
And he’s not done. Duran plans to keep running with Team Sally and the MiMS Trail Team, staying connected to the people and community that have become part of his new life.