Finding His People: How Running Helped Edgar Zepeda Open Up About Mental Health

After years of pushing through stress and anxiety on his own, Edgar Zepeda found a new way forward through running, friendship, and the Still I Run community in Reno, Nevada.

For most of his life, 49-year-old Edgar Zepeda believed that dealing with stress and anxiety meant finding a way to push through. Like many men, he wasn't accustomed to talking openly about his mental health. When difficult feelings came up, he did his best to manage them on his own and keep moving forward.

It wasn't until he started running that he began to look at his health, both physical and mental, a little differently. What started as a way to address a medical diagnosis eventually became something much bigger: an opportunity to better understand himself, build meaningful friendships, and become the kind of man and husband he wanted to be.

Today, Edgar is a member of the Still I Run Reno Run Chapter and a participant in the self-guided Mental Health Runner Program. His journey has included health challenges, surgeries, and plenty of moments when he wasn't sure what his future as a runner would look like. Along the way, he's discovered that taking care of his mental health doesn't have to be something he does alone.

A Health Scare That Changed Everything

Edgar's running journey began after he received a prediabetes diagnosis. At the time, he was starting to notice other men around his age dealing with the long-term consequences of health challenges. Seeing their experiences made him think seriously about his own future and the changes he could make while he still had the opportunity.

He began running on and off, mostly by himself. At first, his motivation was primarily physical. He wanted to improve his health and avoid some of the complications he had seen others experience.

But the people around him soon helped him discover another side of running.

Edgar works at a health clinic, and several of his coworkers were runners who began encouraging him to join them. With their support, he gradually built up his endurance and eventually worked toward completing a 5K.

In July 2025, he crossed the finish line of his first 5K. By then, he was hooked.

As he continued training and participating in races, Edgar started noticing changes that went beyond his physical fitness. Running gave him opportunities to reflect on how he was feeling and how he was handling stress. He began recognizing a connection between movement and his mental health that he hadn't fully appreciated before.

He also started paying attention to something else at races: the running community.

At events, Edgar would see groups of runners greeting one another, cheering each other on, and celebrating their accomplishments. There was a sense of familiarity and belonging that caught his attention.

He described seeing "tremendous joy and community, and encouragement with everyone."

As someone who considered himself a slower runner, Edgar initially wasn't sure where he would fit in. But he began noticing running groups that welcomed people of different abilities and paces. The idea of finding a group where he could run comfortably, make friends, and feel accepted started to appeal to him.

He didn't know it yet, but some of the runners he was seeing would soon become an important part of his life.

Finding Still I Run and a Community That Understands

While Edgar was discovering the physical and emotional benefits of running, he was also doing some personal reflection.

For years, he had pushed through difficult emotions without giving himself much space to understand them. Now, he was thinking more intentionally about his mental health and the person he wanted to become.

Seeking support wasn't an immediate decision. It took time for Edgar to become comfortable with the idea of opening up about his experiences. But as he reflected on the positive changes running was bringing into his life, he began looking for resources that could help him continue growing.

That search eventually led him to Still I Run.

Around the same time, a new Still I Run Run Chapter was getting started in Reno, Nevada. Chapter Captain Cora had launched the group in March, and Edgar discovered the organization toward the end of April.

To his surprise, some of the familiar faces he had noticed at local races were members of the Still I Run community.

He decided to give the group a try, joining his first chapter runs in May. From the beginning, he felt welcomed.

Edgar quickly began making friends, connecting with runners who took the time to learn about one another and encourage each other's progress. There was no expectation that he needed to run a certain pace or reach a particular milestone to belong.

"The acceptance is my favorite part of the run chapter group," Edgar shared.

For someone who had spent much of his life handling difficult feelings privately, that acceptance meant a great deal.

Over time, the friendships extended beyond their weekly runs. People he initially knew through Still I Run became friends he could spend time with outside of running and work.

And perhaps most importantly, they became people he could have honest conversations with.

Edgar recognizes that his fellow runners aren't mental health professionals, and they don't have all the answers. But they have something meaningful in common: personal experiences with stress, anxiety, and the challenges that come with everyday life.

Knowing that the person running beside him might have experienced similar feelings makes it easier for Edgar to share what he's going through.

Those connections have helped him understand that talking about mental health doesn't have to be uncomfortable or intimidating. Sometimes, it begins with getting to know someone during a group run and realizing you have more in common than you expected.

"It's time to start having those conversations," he said.

Learning to Start Again After Surgery

While Edgar was finding his place in the running community, his physical health presented some challenges.

After completing his first 5K in July 2025, he underwent hip surgery. He recovered well enough to return to running and began participating in races again, eventually earning a spot in a half marathon.

But with another surgery on the horizon, Edgar faced the possibility that the half marathon might be his last race.

For someone who had only recently discovered how much running meant to him, that uncertainty was difficult. Running had become a meaningful part of how he cared for himself, and the thought of losing that outlet was hard to imagine.

Following his most recent surgery, Edgar spent four months recovering before beginning his return to running.

Throughout that time, his connection to the Still I Run community remained important. When he was finally able to return, seeing familiar faces and reconnecting with the people who had encouraged him meant a great deal.

The Reno chapter had become a family he genuinely appreciated, a group of people who showed up for one another through setbacks and new beginnings.

"I can't believe that I finally have the help that I've been waiting for," Edgar shared. "Running is in my life now…I have so much gratitude and so much appreciation."

His experience has also changed how he thinks about progress. Recovery doesn't always follow the timeline we want, and rebuilding endurance after time away requires patience. Edgar has learned that starting again is part of the running journey, and that progress can happen even when it feels slow.

It's one reason Still I Run's message resonates so deeply with him.

"I love that Still I Run promotes 'forward is a pace,' because that's really what I've learned to promote in the healthcare field."

Building Confidence Through the Mental Health Runner Program

One of Edgar's biggest goals after surgery was to return to something he once thought might be out of reach: running another half marathon.

Through Still I Run, he found an opportunity to work toward that goal while continuing to prioritize his mental health.

Edgar enrolled in the self-guided Mental Health Runner Program, and the Still I Run Reno chapter sponsored his race entry for an upcoming half marathon. The opportunity gave him something meaningful to work toward as he rebuilt his strength and endurance.

The Mental Health Runner Program helps participants develop a sustainable relationship with running while exploring the connection between physical activity and mental well-being. Through structured training, goal setting, education, and reflection, participants are encouraged to approach running as a tool for supporting their overall health.

For Edgar, the program has helped him think about running and his personal growth in new ways.

"[The Mental Health Runner Program] has given me the opportunity to think from a different perspective," he explained. "Goal setting is a big thing. Thinking about different aspects of running."

At the time of our conversation, Edgar was in week five of the program and steadily building his running consistency after surgery.

He's also developing habits that support his mental health outside of his training. One of those habits is journaling.

Through the program, Edgar has become more intentional about recording his thoughts and feelings, giving himself time to recognize what he's experiencing rather than automatically pushing through it.

For someone who spent much of his life avoiding difficult emotions, this represents a meaningful change.

He understands that improving mental health takes ongoing attention, much like building endurance as a runner. There will be setbacks, days when things feel harder, and moments when progress isn't immediately visible.

But he's learning to appreciate the process and recognize how small, consistent efforts can make a difference over time.

That mindset extends into how he sees his future. Edgar feels more connected to who he is today and has a clearer understanding of the person he wants to become.

He's learning to set goals that reflect those values, while giving himself the patience and grace to work toward them.

Showing Up for the People Around Him

As Edgar reflects on how much has changed since he first started running, one of the things he's most grateful for is the support he's received from other people.

His coworkers helped him discover running. Fellow runners showed him what a welcoming community could look like. And the Still I Run Reno chapter gave him a place where he could feel accepted, build friendships, and become more comfortable talking about his mental health.

Now, he wants to offer that same encouragement to someone else.

"My overall goal is to show up for other people," Edgar said. "You never know what you can do for them."

He knows firsthand how much a simple invitation can matter. If his coworkers hadn't encouraged him to join them for a run, his journey might have looked very different. If he hadn't noticed those welcoming groups at races, he might never have found Still I Run.

And if he hadn't taken the chance to show up at a Reno chapter run, he might still be searching for the kind of community he now considers family.

For Edgar, giving back doesn't require a grand gesture. It can be as simple as encouraging someone who's struggling to get started, welcoming a new runner into the group, or making space for an honest conversation.

He hopes that sharing his story will encourage other people, particularly those who have spent years keeping their feelings to themselves, to take their physical and mental health seriously.

He also wants people to know that they don't need to have everything figured out before they begin.

Running and mental health are both ongoing journeys, and Edgar is still learning as he goes. He's working toward another half marathon, continuing to build healthy habits, and finding ways to become more comfortable expressing his feelings.

He's also recognizing how experiences that once seemed small have shaped where he is today.

"Every new chapter that I open, has at some point, been a seed that has been planted," he reflected.

For Edgar, those seeds were planted through a health diagnosis, an invitation from coworkers, the encouragement of strangers at races, and a running group that made him feel like he belonged.

Each experience helped him take another step toward the life he wanted to build.

And now, he's hoping to help someone else take that first step, too.

Find Your Community with Still I Run

Edgar's story is a reminder of the difference that community can make when we're working toward better mental health. Finding people who understand, encourage, and accept us can make it easier to keep showing up, even when the journey gets difficult.

At Still I Run, we believe everyone deserves that kind of support.

Our Run Chapter Network brings people together through free, welcoming group runs that encourage connection and open conversations about mental health. Every story and every pace belongs, and you don't need to be an experienced runner to participate.

For those looking for additional structure and support, our Mental Health Runner Program offers opportunities to build a consistent running routine while learning how movement can support mental well-being.

Edgar found both a community and a renewed sense of purpose through these programs. His story is still being written, and he's looking forward to the miles, friendships, and conversations ahead.

Ready to take your next step? Explore our Run Chapter Network or learn more about the Mental Health Runner Program to find an opportunity that's right for you.