After rising up as an athlete and outdoorsman, former Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez reached 300 kilos earlier than having an awakening for his well being, which catalyzed his ultrarunning ardour.
Jonathan Nez grew up within the small, rural group of Shonto, in Navajo County, which occupies the northeastern nook of Arizona and the western portion of Navajo Nation. As we speak, the general public servant lives in Flagstaff.
Whereas rising up, Nez was a runner on the cross-country staff to get in form for basketball, which was his main athletic focus. “In Indian nation, basketball is massive. As I grew up, I went to highschool 20 miles away in Kayenta, Arizona, which is the gateway to Monument Valley. I performed for the Mustangs of Monument Valley Excessive College, the place I graduated in 1993,” says Nez, who additionally spent loads of time enjoying in and connecting with the outside.
Jonathan Nez talking in his function as Navajo Nation President. All photographs courtesy of Jonathan Nez.
“Once I was rising up, we did loads of outside actions. We additionally did loads of sheep herding, overseeing the flock, driving horses, and driving cattle, so I grew up with animals. As a teen, I did loads of dry farming in a rural space, and that basically set the stage for my future by way of public service, well being, and wellness,” says Nez, who was the youngest of three sisters and one brother, who has handed away.
Whereas rising up, his elders inspired him to get the next schooling and expertise the world, after which carry that info dwelling to assist the group and their folks. Nez was impressed by the tales of his grandfather, H.T. Donald, who was a lawmaker and the previous Navajo Nation Council Delegate for the Shonto Chapter.
“If you’re introducing your self, you share your clans and inform of us who your grandparents and oldsters are. Individuals could be amazed after I launched my grandfather, as a result of he helped so many individuals when he was in workplace. It actually impressed me, and that’s the rationale why I went into public service, to be recognized for serving to folks and to assist folks,” says Nez, who accomplished a Bachelor of Science in political science and a grasp’s diploma in public administration from Northern Arizona College. Whereas engaged on his Ph.D., “a name got here from my group to grow to be an elected chief. I grew to become a Shonto Chapter Vice President,” says Nez, which began his political profession. He stayed within the function for 2 years.
Jonathan Nez (heart) having fun with a hike along with his household.
“My purpose was to be like my grandfather and grow to be a lawmaker. I reached that purpose, after they then elected me as their Council Delegate, which is equal to a lawmaker. We now have our personal legislative physique, and it’s like a state consultant or congressman for our nation,” says Nez. After greater than eight years serving on the Navajo Nation Council, the then 32-year-old served as Vice President for 4 years. He stepped in as Navajo Nation President from 2019 to 2023.
“In the course of the early levels of my elected place, I didn’t actually deal with myself. From the place I lived in Shonto to Window Rock, the Navajo Nation capital, it’s a three-hour, one-way drive. I had loads of time behind the wheel and quick meals, which is prevalent on Navajo Nation,” says Nez. Whereas quick meals is perhaps handy for fast pick-ups and street trippers, a meals desert exists on Navajo Nation and wholesome meals isn’t available even for locals.
Nez gained weight throughout his first time period as a Council Delegate, ultimately reaching 300 kilos. “I’m a lawmaker, telling and inspiring folks to do wholesome issues and deal with themselves,” he recollects.
At a youth occasion, he was presenting to youngsters on the subjects of self-care, consuming well-rounded diets, and train, when a pupil raised his hand and requested, “‘Council Delegate Nez, you inform us to deal with ourselves, eat proper, and train — however each time we see you, you’re getting larger and larger,’” recollects Nez.
“Younger individuals are daring and let you know the reality. Your first response is you’re feeling offended and unhappy. After you recover from that, you assume … you may not acknowledge it your self since you’re residing within the physique, however others see it. I made a dedication to myself to be lively as soon as once more and to deal with my physique,’” says Nez.
After the interplay concerning his weight, in 2012, he began strolling — he couldn’t but run — and created a listing of progressive targets. Purpose one: Run one mile with out stopping. Purpose two: Run a five-kilometer run nonstop. Purpose three: Run a marathon.
Jonathan Nez (entrance and heart) in his early operating days.
Inside one month, he misplaced 10 kilos. After a full yr, he obtained all the way down to 200 kilos. After that first yr, the kilos had been shed even quicker, particularly the extra he ran.
In 2013, his political agenda paralleled his private effort to grow to be wholesome, just like the Wholesome Diné Nation Act, a 2% tax on unhealthy meals.
“We now have excessive charges of diabetes, most cancers, and coronary heart illness. This tax was one method to elevate the necessity or the self-reflection of our personal well being. The taxes generated from the communities return to the chapters,” says Nez.
There are 110 chapters in Navajo Nation, which make the most of the tax fund for well being and wellness initiatives of their communities for constructing trails, farming initiatives, or internet hosting runs and walks.
“We began runs throughout Navajo Nation. Our nation is so lovely, and a few areas are closed to the general public. We opened it up for races and will carry guests out to get pleasure from our homeland,” says Nez. He additionally helped reauthorize the Particular Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) grant program, hosted meals summits, organized farmers markets, and total started to see a lower in diabetes charges.
“Navajo Nation is a job mannequin for different tribes by our wellness initiatives. Being the most important nation within the nation, we are able to embrace our sovereignty by regrowing our vegatables and fruits and feeding ourselves. With 27,000 sq. miles, we are able to develop loads of crops. I’ve had a imaginative and prescient to be the most important producers of Indigenous meals within the Southwest. Not simply wholesome or natural meals however legacy seeds which have been handed down from technology to technology,” says Nez.
Ultimately, the servant chief and politician reached the purpose of operating back-to-back marathons, then a 50k, 50 miler, and 100k. A handful of his favourite races embody the Silverton Alpine Marathon 50k — the place he completed thirteenth total — in addition to the Moab Crimson Sizzling Extremely and the Behind the Rocks 50 Mile.
Jonathan Nez (proper) at his first extremely.
He was signed up for the September 2014 Flagstaff to Grand Canyon Stagecoach Line 100 Mile, however twister exercise led the race to be downsized to a 55k. “I used to be in the very best form of my life, and that was the closest I’ve ever been to a 100 miler, from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon,” says Nez.
Work obtained even busier and extra committing because the President, and he couldn’t sustain with the 100-mile coaching blocks.
“I used to be attending to the 100 miler after which life simply took a distinct flip and politics, which is perhaps an excuse: You may put runs in, however being the nation’s chief doesn’t assist you to do lengthy distance operating — hours and hours of operating,” says Nez.
Throughout that section, he additionally met ultrarunners like Scott Jurek, who he grew to become associates with and discovered a few plant-based food regimen, inspiring Nez to grow to be vegan greater than 5 years in the past. The food regimen helps him get well faster and subsequently run additional, as a result of he can do extra back-to-back coaching days. “I used to be transferring round higher,” says Nez.
Now 48 years previous, Nez retired from his political function this yr, and began a session enterprise along with his spouse Phefelia Nez, known as Nez Consulting, to assist with a spread of nationwide, statewide, and tribal initiatives from federal funding proposals to talking engagements for company variety coaching.
Being out of workplace permits Nez to coach for extremely distances once more, and his purpose is to finish a 100 miler. As we speak, his coaching is as much as 20-mile lengthy runs every week and 40 miles per week. He goals to run 50 miles per day by September. He’s additionally serving to to movie a documentary, operating 400 miles from Fort Sumner to Window Rock, which he’s coaching to finish.
The sentimental, historic route commemorates the signing of the 1868 Treaty, which allowed the Navajo folks to return to their homeland. Previous to that, greater than 10,000 Navajo had been compelled emigrate east on the Lengthy Stroll to Fort Sumner’s Bosque Redondo reservation, the place many Navajo folks perished from hunger and illness.
Jonathan Nez (second from left) throughout a 400-mile commemoration run.
“It was a tragic time in our historical past. [Our people] went from Navajo Nation to Fort Sumner, greater than 400 miles, the place we had been in captivity for 4 years and we got here again to our homeland. 5 years in the past, a few of us lengthy distance runners ran 400 miles to commemorate this on the a hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the treaty. We adopted the identical route as our ancestors, getting back from Fort Sumner,” says Nez. He ran your entire distance in 50-mile segments daily.
Just lately, Nez supported, paced, and cheered on a number of Indigenous runners on the Cocodona 250 Mile: Eli Neztsosie, Greg Secatero, and Kellen Lomayestewa.
Jonathan Nez (left) stops for a fast selfie whereas pacing on the Cocodona 250 Mile.
Past his private and bodily well being, Nez is motivated to run by the enjoyment of the outside and self-reflection on the path. For him, motion helps catalyze new concepts, a few of which he might implement in politics and authorities. “Operating in Navajo Nation, I obtained to see locations that not many individuals have seen earlier than, and operating opens up your yard and may present our kids how lovely our land is,” he says.
As he transitions out of presidency, he stays passionate concerning the function that Navajo Nation performs for the nation and tribes. Nez says, “Navajo individuals are reinstating our native lifestyle — operating is in our tradition and ceremonies, and maintaining a healthy diet meals is part of our nation. I’ll proceed to advertise well being and wellness all through the remainder of my life.”
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