Our Approach

The Boston Bulldogs Running Club helps people recover from addiction through exercise, wellness, and community support. Our program started in 2015 and welcomes everyone affected by addiction. This includes people in recovery, their families, friends, caregivers, and healthcare workers. Recovery means more than just stopping drugs or alcohol. People need to build meaningful lives and healthy relationships.

Our Magic 7 approach gives people the tools they need:

Exercise – Overall physical training and development
Community – Participating in a gathering characterized by openness and unconditional acceptance that also engages in service yields meaningful and healthy relationships and joyful social activity
Productivity – Healthy and balanced activity leads to a deeper purpose and meaning in life without the obsessive and avoidant behaviors that bring about mental and physical burnout
Meditation – A commitment to self-awareness, compassion, and deeper wisdom
Self-Compassion – Love of others is vital but so too is love of oneself
Self-Leadership – Putting forth the necessary effort to maximize our physical, mental, emotional and social development
Core values – Patience, Forgiveness, Kindness, Truthfulness, Generosity, Compassion

Research shows why our approach works. When people exercise, their brains release chemicals called dopamine and serotonin. These are the same chemicals people crave during addiction, but exercise provides them in a healthy way. Just 30 minutes of exercise can reduce the stress and anxiety that can trigger relapse.

Studies prove that running helps with recovery:

A study of 175 patients found that running twice weekly for 24 weeks helped prevent excessive drinking ¹¹
Research with 109 people showed that a 14-week exercise program reduced drug cravings and improved health ¹²
Another study found that support from others and learning to control impulses helped prevent relapses ¹³
Another study suggested that running may be more effective for improving overall health among those with depression and anxiety than antidepressants.¹⁴

The impacts of addiction are also intergenerational. That is why the Boston Bulldogs provide support for young people affected by addiction through its Junior Bulldogs program. The program creates a safe space where kids can express their thoughts about their experiences. Regular exercise and team activities connect them with supportive people outside of addiction-related environments while building confidence and providing healthy ways to handle stress. The program helps at-risk young people develop tools through running and wellness that can support them when challenges arise in the future.

Our programming offers a powerful, holistic approach with benefits such as:

Rewiring the Brain – Regular exercise helps repair brain damage caused by substance use.
Sharpening Focus – Members strengthen their ability to concentrate and to make healthier decisions essential for recovery.
Building Accountability and Support – A strong, accepting community fosters commitment and encouragement on the path to sobriety.
Creating Meaningful Connections – Group activities with positive, lasting bonds replace isolating, addiction-centered relationships.
Healing Body and Mind – A mix of running and wellness practices supports both physical and emotional recovery.
Our program helps members direct their own recovery and wellness goals. In the Boston Bulldogs we call this Self-leadership. It is our first Principle.