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Mindful Miles: Running for Recovery and Mental Health

TUESDAY, MAY 27 @ 6 - 7:45 P.M.

Mindful Miles will explore the powerful connection between running and mental health. This program brings new and experienced runners with lived experiences to discuss how running and other forms of movement can support mental well-being, build emotional resilience, manage stress and provide an outlet for those in recovery.

The panelists will share personal stories to break the stigmas surrounding mental health and addiction struggles. Mental health professionals will also be supporting the program. 

View the full list of panelists below!

Tuesday, May 27

  • 6pm - Group run/walk starts - all paces welcome with short or longer distances (optional)

  • 6:45pm - 7:45pm - Panel discussion

Twin Cities Motion Center
355 Randolph Ave. Suite 200
St. Paul, MN

This program is hosted by members of Twin Cities In Motion, Mile in My Shoes, and Still I Run. 

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Jewls Hieggelke (She/her), Moderator
As a Psychiatric Associate with M Health Fairview and the Minnesota National Guard, Jewls supports patients undergoing mental health care and addiction services treatment, ensuring patient safety in specialized mental health environments, emergency departments, and medical units. Her patients have a wide variety of backgrounds, with housing being a profound difficulty for the most acute population. Jewls has also run with Mile in My Shoes as a Run Mentor and Core Team Leader for over three years. 
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Makara Fairman (She/her), Panelist
Makara is a RRCA Certified Run Coach and social worker by education. In both professional and volunteer capacities, she has provided direct care with sexual assault survivors, people living with HIV/AIDS, and traumatic brain injuries. Markara is actively engaged in the Twin Cities running community, serving as a Mile in My Shoes Run Mentor and Ambassador for Twin Cities in Motion, Still I Run, and Girls on the Run. When she’s not running, she hangs out with her dogs and occasionally fosters a puppy.
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Lee Formella, Panelist
After 15+ years of rock bottoms, blackouts, gambling, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, and failure, Lee Formella was diagnosed with Bipolar 2 Disorder, Generalized Anxiety, and complex PTSD.  Lee's background has led him to mental health advocacy where he currently serves as Director of Education and Community Outreach for NAMI Southeast Minnesota. He is also a contributing writer for the International Bipolar Foundation and Health Union, while sharing his story on his personal website, benefitsofbipolar.com. Lee graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 2008 with a double major in History and Political Science and is looking forward to beginning a Master's Program in summer 2025 for Clinical Mental Health Counseling. 
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Sean Miller (he/him), Panelist 
Sean works as a Rating Veterans Service Representative with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs- Veterans Benefits Administration where he makes disability compensation determinations for Veterans transitioning from military service, many of whom are navigating service trauma, housing instability and recovery. An avid distance runner, Sean serves as a TCM Ambassador and long-time Mile in My Shoes Run Mentor/Team Leader. Before coming to Mile in My Shoes, Sean served as the President for Minneapolis- St Paul Frontrunners, which was originally the first Twin Cities LGBTIA run club. When Sean isn’t running you can find him catching up on true crime documentaries/docuseries, binging on all reality tv shows (mainly Bravo), traveling (most recently to Iceland) or trying new food. This June, Sean will be celebrating six years of sobriety.
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Earl Skrip, Panelist (He/his)
In addition to 20 years of experience in Retail Operations at Best Buy Corporate, Earl is a TCMbassador and StillIRun Ambassador, works with Twin Cities Running Company and is a frequent storyteller at Moth Storyslams. Earl began running to lose weight in 2010, and ran on a treadmill for two years and was then invited by a friend to run the Victory Races and became an every-day outdoor runner after that day until Christmas Day 2022, and again from January 20, 2023 to present day. He is a 3 time suicide survivor who now runs 20 plus miles a day to combat Borderline Personality and Bi-Polar Disorder symptoms. Earl is well known throughout the Twin Cities and Duluth as the guy they see running daily, often being chased by some bird, usually a goose. He lives in Mahtomedi and Saint Paul with his partner of 14 years who he’s known from age 10. They have raised 4 children and 2 puppies, and his son is a recent graduate of UMD.

The TCM Motion Center

Twin Cities In Motion operates from the TCM Motion Center.

355 Randolph Avenue
Suite 200
St. Paul, MN 55102


651-289-7700

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