Finding Purpose on the Run: How the Mental Health Runner Program Helped Jimi Keirn Find His Stride

"It's not over."

Those three words carry more weight for Jimi Keirn than most people could imagine.

There was a time when he believed his story had already ended. Years of addiction, mental health struggles, and emotional pain had left him convinced there wasn't another chapter waiting for him. After surviving a suicide attempt in 2020, he spent three days unconscious in the hospital. Although he couldn't move or speak, he remembers hearing and seeing everything around him.

"It got my attention," he said.

Recovery didn't happen overnight. It took months before he became sober, and even then, he was left wondering what came next. He had spent decades numbing his emotions with drugs and alcohol. Now he had to learn how to live with them.

Today, six years later, Jimi is preparing to run a 100-mile ultramarathon.

The miles are impressive, but that's not the story he wants people to remember.

"For me, the bigger thing is about who I've become," he said.

Running Started as Weight Loss

After moving to South Texas, Jimi struggled to find work. During that time, he caught a glimpse of himself in a video and barely recognized the person looking back.

He weighed 300 pounds.

"I realized if I didn't do something, I was going to die of obesity."

He started small, spending 20 minutes a day on the elliptical. Eventually he lost about 40 pounds, and his wife challenged him to sign up for a 5K.

He had never been a runner.

"It was slow, but I didn't stop."

Crossing that finish line sparked something unexpected. Before long, he had registered for a half marathon. Then, only a month into training, he decided he might as well train for a full marathon instead.

"What I didn't realize until more recently is that I need that purpose. I need something to chase."

Like many new runners, Jimi learned some lessons the hard way. He pushed too hard, dealt with injuries, and realized he needed more structure. Joining a local running club and working with a coach helped him train smarter instead of simply harder.

After finishing his marathon, he surprised himself once again.

"It was hard, but it wasn't that hard."

Naturally, the next goal became an ultramarathon.

Finding Still I Run

Around the same time, Jimi came across Still I Run's Mental Health Runner Program on social media.

The program provides individuals facing financial barriers with a free pair of running shoes, educational resources, and a guided workbook designed to help participants intentionally connect running with their mental health.

At first, the shoes caught his attention.

What changed his life was everything else.

"The free shoes were great and all, but what really made a difference was the workbook."

Instead of focusing only on mileage and pace, Jimi began approaching every run with purpose.

"I started putting purpose to the runs and trying to meditate on the runs. I spent less time worrying about my pace and more time worrying about fixing my head."

Something unexpected happened.

"I didn't have to try to fix it. It just started somehow fixing itself. Somehow it's the discipline of the training schedule."

For someone who had spent years searching for relief, running became more than exercise. It became a daily practice of showing up for himself.

The program also encouraged him to look at his health as a whole. Along with consistent training, he improved his nutrition, began eating cleaner, and noticed he simply felt better.

Today, he's down to about 220 pounds and continues working toward becoming the healthiest version of himself.

Confidence That Carries Into Everyday Life

As Jimi prepares for his first 100-mile ultramarathon, something has changed beyond his physical fitness.

The fear is gone.

"I'm excited because I don't have any doubt anymore. As long as something doesn't break, I know I can do it."

That confidence didn't come from one race or one finish line.

It came from repeatedly proving to himself that he could keep showing up.

The Power of Community

One of the biggest surprises along Jimi's journey has been the people he's met along the way.

He found support through his local running club. He continued attending Alcoholics Anonymous, where community had already played an important role in his recovery. Then he combined those two worlds.

Today, he invites friends from AA to join him every Sunday for what they call a Gratitude Run.

Some participants run.

Others walk.

Everyone belongs.

"I've found a really strong support network here."

He's also helped introduce people to running who never believed they could do it. What starts as a walk often turns into several miles together.

For Jimi, helping others discover what's possible has become just as meaningful as chasing his own goals.

Running has even strengthened relationships with his family. His son is a competitive Ironman athlete, his father and brothers run ultramarathons, and his wife has embraced her own fitness journey alongside him.

Your Story Isn't Over

Looking back, Jimi says running has given him something he spent years searching for: purpose.

"Running keeps me sane."

His advice for someone considering running for their mental health is refreshingly simple.

"It's a lot easier than you think it's going to be. Just get out there and get moving. Start small and start slow, and it works."

At Still I Run, that's exactly what the Mental Health Runner Program is designed to help people do.

The program supports individuals who may not have the financial resources to begin their running journey by providing a free pair of running shoes along with guided mental health resources that help participants build healthy habits, reflect on their progress, and discover how movement can support their mental well-being.

For Jimi, it became the foundation for a completely different life.

"It's not over," he said. "I thought it was so many times. I even tried to end it myself. I thought it was over, but it's not."

If you're ready to take your own first step, applications for the Mental Health Runner Program are open now. You don't have to run a marathon—or even a mile—to get started. You simply have to begin.