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 neighborhood of Shonto, in Navajo County, which occupies the northeastern nook of Arizona and the western portion of Navajo Nation. Immediately, 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 large. 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 Faculty, the place I graduated in 1993,” says Nez, who additionally spent plenty of time taking part in in and connecting with the outside.
Jonathan Nez talking in his position as Navajo Nation President. All photographs courtesy of Jonathan Nez.
“Once I was rising up, we did plenty of outside actions. We additionally did plenty of sheep herding, overseeing the flock, using horses, and driving cattle, so I grew up with animals. As a teen, I did plenty of dry farming in a rural space, and that basically set the stage for my future when it comes to 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 a better schooling and expertise the world, after which convey that info house to assist the neighborhood and their individuals. 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.
“While you’re introducing your self, you share your clans and inform people who your grandparents and oldsters are. Folks could be amazed once 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 individuals and to assist individuals,” 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 neighborhood to turn into an elected chief. I turned a Shonto Chapter Vice President,” says Nez, which began his political profession. He stayed within the position for 2 years.
Jonathan Nez (heart) having fun with a hike together with his household.
“My purpose was to be like my grandfather and turn into a lawmaker. I reached that purpose, after they then elected me as their Council Delegate, which is equal to a lawmaker. We’ve 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.
“Through the early levels of my elected place, I didn’t actually maintain 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 plenty of time behind the wheel and quick meals, which is prevalent on Navajo Nation,” says Nez. Whereas quick meals may be handy for fast pick-ups and highway trippers, a meals desert exists on Navajo Nation and wholesome meals is just not available even for locals.
Nez gained weight throughout his first time period as a Council Delegate, finally reaching 300 kilos. “I’m a lawmaker, telling and inspiring individuals to do wholesome issues and maintain themselves,” he recollects.
At a youth occasion, he was presenting to youngsters on the matters of self-care, consuming well-rounded diets, and train, when a scholar raised his hand and requested, “‘Council Delegate Nez, you inform us to maintain ourselves, eat proper, and train — however each time we see you, you’re getting larger and greater,’” recollects Nez.
“Younger persons are daring and let you know the reality. Your first response is you are feeling offended and unhappy. After you recover from that, you assume … you won’t acknowledge it your self since you’re dwelling within the physique, however others see it. I made a dedication to myself to be lively as soon as once more and to maintain my physique,’” says Nez.
After the interplay relating to his weight, in 2012, he began strolling — he couldn’t but run — and created a listing of progressive objectives. Objective one: Run one mile with out stopping. Objective two: Run a five-kilometer run nonstop. Objective three: Run a marathon.
Jonathan Nez (entrance and heart) in his early working days.
Inside one month, he misplaced 10 kilos. After a full yr, he bought all the way down to 200 kilos. After that first yr, the kilos have been shed even quicker, particularly the extra he ran.
In 2013, his political agenda paralleled his private effort to turn into wholesome, just like the Wholesome Diné Nation Act, a 2% tax on unhealthy meals.
“We’ve excessive charges of diabetes, most cancers, and coronary heart illness. This tax was one solution 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 stunning, and a few areas are closed to the general public. We opened it up for races and will convey 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 general started to see a lower in diabetes charges.
“Navajo Nation is a job mannequin for different tribes by way of our wellness initiatives. Being the most important nation within the nation, we are able to embrace our sovereignty by way of regrowing our fruit and veggies and feeding ourselves. With 27,000 sq. miles, we are able to develop plenty 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 were handed down from technology to technology,” says Nez.
Finally, the servant chief and politician reached the purpose of working 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 general — in addition to the Moab Purple Scorching 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 perfect 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 bought 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 may be an excuse: You possibly can put runs in, however being the nation’s chief doesn’t can help you do lengthy distance working — hours and hours of working,” says Nez.
Throughout that section, he additionally met ultrarunners like Scott Jurek, who he turned pals with and realized a few plant-based eating regimen, inspiring Nez to turn into vegan greater than 5 years in the past. The eating 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 position this yr, and began a session enterprise together 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 range coaching.
Being out of workplace permits Nez to coach for extremely distances once more, and his purpose is to finish a 100 miler. Immediately, 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, working 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 individuals to return to their homeland. Previous to that, greater than 10,000 Navajo had been pressured emigrate east on the Lengthy Stroll to Fort Sumner’s Bosque Redondo reservation, the place many Navajo individuals 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 have 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 complete distance in 50-mile segments day-after-day.
Not too long ago, 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 way of the enjoyment of the outside and self-reflection on the path. For him, motion helps catalyze new concepts, a few of which he may implement in politics and authorities. “Operating in Navajo Nation, I bought to see locations that not many individuals have seen earlier than, and working opens up your yard and might present our kids how stunning our land is,” he says.
As he transitions out of presidency, he stays passionate concerning the position that Navajo Nation performs for the nation and tribes. Nez says, “Navajo persons are reinstating our native lifestyle — working 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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