Prineville, Ore. – The Crook County Health Department is introducing a new program aimed at supporting people in recovery through fitness and community connection.
The agency announced it is piloting a 12-week Recovery Run Club in Prineville, designed for individuals recovering from addiction or substance use disorder. The initiative blends structured physical activity with peer support, emphasizing encouragement, routine, and social connection — elements health officials say are often critical during recovery.
“There are a lot of health benefits, obviously, to running, but when you’re in recovery and you’re in kind of more of a challenging period of your life, it’s really helpful just to have a community around you, supporting you along the way,” said Haley Morris, the department’s Overdose Prevention Coordinator.
Organizers say the program focuses on both physical and emotional well-being, helping participants build healthy habits while forming supportive relationships with others facing similar challenges.
The run club will conclude with participants taking part in the Conquer the Canyon race on June 6th. Those enrolled may choose to compete in the 5K, 10K, or half-marathon distances based on their comfort level and training progress.
To help remove financial barriers, the department will provide free running shoes to the first 10 people who register.
Community members interested in joining can sign up through the program’s online registration page. For additional details, the Crook County Health Department can be reached at 541-447-5165.
Mr. Alderman is an investigative journalist specializing in government transparency, non-profit accountability, consumer protection, and is a subject matter expert on Oregon’s public records and meetings laws. As a former U.S. Army Military Police Officer, he brings a disciplined investigative approach to his reporting that has frequently exposed ethics violations, financial mismanagement, and transparency failures by public officials and agencies.
