Ashley’s Run to Remember: Overcoming addiction, 1 mile at a time

Reaching training milestones should be celebrated, but for some, real inspiration comes from simply lacing up and taking that first run, even if it’s just around the block.

For Ashley Wooliver, running wasn’t love at first stride.

"I think I turned around and went back inside after about a block…" she laughs.

But Ashley didn’t give up.

"I think that's why I just kept coming back to it — I wanted to know that I could do hard things."

Ashley’s journey wasn’t just about running; it was about overcoming a difficult past. She began struggling with addiction at a young age.

"My addiction started when I was about twelve. I started with drinking, but it just kind of progressed and ended up being hard drugs by the time I was 16," she shared.

As a teenager, Ashley found herself homeless, on the run with a boyfriend wanted by the law.

"Stinkin’ thinkin’, as we call it."

Her boyfriend was arrested, but Ashley kept using. She even found herself trusting strangers in dangerous situations.

"I decided it would be fun to meet someone random at a gas station, brought them in, and they decided to steal everything from me. So I would have to do worse things to support my habit or get sober."

But now, two and a half years sober, Ashley is building a new identity.

"You are building a whole new identity," she said.

With each run, Ashley’s recovery grows. "I love the honeysuckle," she said.

Despite the tough days, she feels accomplished.

"Most days I feel extremely accomplished," she admits.

At just 22, Ashley knows the hardest miles are behind her.

"I feel confident and proud of myself."

Ashley’s first 5K was last Halloween.

"I did try to go as a vampire, and my teeth fell out. I did have a shirt with fake blood," she laughed.

She’s found a sense of community in the running world.

"When you get in a race, everyone’s friends — that's what I love about the running community," she says.

On Sunday, she’ll run her longest distance yet — the new quarter marathon race.

"This one is more just about showing up and doing my best," Ashley explains.

But for Ashley, it’s also about showing others struggling with addiction that a new high is possible when you're not afraid of hard things.

"It feels very healthy; it’s a sense of ease and comfort — runner’s high is me."

"Recovery is possible, and not only is it possible — it’s very fulfilling. I've found more out of recovery than I could even imagine."

Ashley’s journey isn’t just about her own transformation. She’s also running in tribute to her grandfather, who was a police officer and first responder on April 19, 1995.