Chris Luna has been running for about four years, using the sport to achieve physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional balance.
Running has also seen him embrace ultra distances, including competing at the Saddles 100 in Prescott, Arizona - described as an act of endurance that passes through dust, pine, and shifting stone.
Despite not reaching his 100 mile goal, he still managed to rack up 100km at the challenging event.
But for Native American Chris, who has Coahuilteco and Lakota heritage, running is about far more than his own health.
As the founder of Native Men Run, he is aiming to encourage other native men to stay active and live healthy lives.
The ongoing impact of colonialism means many members of the indigenous population in America suffer from health problems and socio-economic challenges.
Chris' aim is that Native Men Run can attract donations in the form of gear, race entries, and coaching scholarships, thus helping more people to enjoy running and find fitness.
In this episode of Running Tales, we spoke to Chris about the benefits running brings for the Native American population, how the birth of his son inspired him to start moving more, and why colonial challenges aren't confined to the past.
Follow Native Men Run on Instagram.
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