Coach Blu on The WASP (We Are Superman Podcast)Coach Blu on The WASP (We Are Superman Podcast)
Addict II Athlete Podcast
Coach Blu Robinson shares how Addict II Athlete grew from a small Utah group into a wider movement that replaces addiction with sport, service and community. In conversation with Coach Bill Stahl, he reflects on pain, trauma, the impact of the pandemic, and practical ways to build a sober life grounded in movement and connection.
1:23:17•3 Jan 2022
From Addict to Athlete: Coach Blu on Running, Recovery and the "Erase and Replace" Mindset
Episode Overview
- Movement can act as a powerful replacement for addictive behaviour, using the "erase and replace" idea to swap substances for meaningful activity.
- Running and walking can support trauma processing in a way similar to EMDR, helping shift experiences from constant fight-or-flight into manageable memories.
- Addiction is framed as a brain process rather than just a substance issue, applying equally to alcohol, drugs, food, gambling, pornography and more.
- Community, races and face-to-face contact are presented as crucial for recovery, with the pandemic’s emotional distancing linked to serious setbacks.
- Blu’s "champions challenge" emphasises service, respect and choosing a team – committing fully to sober living rather than staying half in, half out.
“If you’re thinking about using and you’re seriously going to go out and relapse… go run your 5k. Go put in 3.1. Give me a call when you’re done… not one person has done that and come back and been like, ‘Hey, I’ve done my five, I’m going to the bar.’”
Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey? This conversation brings together two coaches who live at the intersection of sport and recovery, as Coach Bill Stahl chats with Coach Blu Robinson from Addict II Athlete. You’ll hear how Blu went from being a court-ordered therapist frustrated with rigid 12‑step requirements to founding Addict II Athlete back in 2011 with just five “athletes” in Provo, Utah. His core idea?
Blu breaks down how running and walking can mimic EMDR-style healing: “If you’re thinking about using… go run your 5k… not one person has done that and come back and been like, ‘Hey, I’ve done my five, I’m going to the bar.’” They dig into pain too – the kind you feel at mile 40 of an ultra versus the pain of hearing a jail door slam – and why people in recovery are often surprisingly good at handling discomfort when it’s channelled into something positive.
“Erase and replace” – if you remove addiction, you’ve got to put something of greater value in its place. For Blu, that started with a mountain bike and grew into a movement of chapters, races and service projects. The pair talk about why movement is such a powerful tool in recovery. There’s plenty for families and non‑athletes as well.
Blu explains how addiction of any kind – from alcohol to gambling to food – taps the same parts of the brain, and why Addict II Athlete includes loved ones alongside those in active recovery. He calls out how the pandemic and social distancing quietly turned into emotional distancing, with tragic consequences for some of his athletes.
To wrap up, Blu shares his “champions challenge”: do things even when it’s not your job, treat people you don’t think you need with respect, serve when it’s inconvenient, and pick which team you’re really playing for – addiction or sober life. If you’re wondering how sport, community and honest conversation might support your recovery, this one might spark a few ideas. So, which small step could be your own “erase and replace” this year?
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