In this episode of Tattoos & Torah, Rabbi Iggy talks to global ultra-endurance athlete and the founder of the 5.8 Global Adventure Series, Charlie Engle. Charlie shares his story of extreme resilience – which includes running across the Sahara Desert – and how suffering can lead to extraordinary growth.

Charlie offers tangible steps toward recovery so you too can practice more mindfulness and not just check the AA Meeting box for the sake of it. He gets real about his relationship with running and how important it is to lessen the noise, so you can connect with your true self.

Charlie’s memoir, Running Man, became a bestseller shortly after it was published in 2016. While the book details his inspiring life story, it is about more than just running. It is about facing demons, overcoming impossible odds, keeping your sense of humor, and discovering the redemptive power of putting one foot in front of the other, even when you feel like you can’t keep going. His motivation to run and tackle extreme adventures stems from his battle with addiction to drugs and alcohol. Charlie has been in recovery since July 23, 1992, and he credits a large part of his recovery to the purposeful devotion and emotional release he experiences while running. He has said that “Drugs and alcohol were my way out. Running was my way through.”

Charlie is a dynamic speaker who has enthralled audiences around the world, from keynotes at the Boston Marathon and Google to the National Geographic Society, the United Nations, and the deck of a nuclear-class U.S. Naval aircraft carrier. He’s been featured in the New York Times, National Geographic Weekend, Outside, Runner’s World, NPR’s All Things Considered, Men’s Journal, and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He lives with his wife, Astacianna Hatcher, in Durham, North Carolina. Charlie’s Areas of Expertise: Ultra-endurance athletics, addiction, and recovery overcoming adversity.

Follow on Instagram @charlieengle

www.charlieengle.com

Author of RUNNING MAN

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