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. Right this moment, the general public servant lives in Flagstaff.
Whereas rising up, Nez was a runner on the cross-country workforce to get in form for basketball, which was his major athletic focus. “In Indian nation, basketball is huge. As I grew up, I went to high school 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 a whole lot of time enjoying in and connecting with the outside.
Jonathan Nez talking in his position as Navajo Nation President. All pictures courtesy of Jonathan Nez.
“Once I was rising up, we did a whole lot of out of doors actions. We additionally did a whole lot of sheep herding, overseeing the flock, driving horses, and driving cattle, so I grew up with animals. As a teen, I did a whole lot of dry farming in a rural space, and that actually 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 training and expertise the world, after which carry that data residence 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.
“Whenever 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 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 out 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 position for 2 years.
Jonathan Nez (heart) having fun with a hike along with his household.
“My aim was to be like my grandfather and turn out to be a lawmaker. I reached that aim, 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.
“In the course of 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 a whole lot 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 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 children on the matters of self-care, consuming well-rounded diets, and train, when a pupil 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 larger,’” recollects Nez.
“Younger persons are daring and inform you the reality. Your first response is you’re feeling offended and unhappy. After you recover from that, you suppose … 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 concerning his weight, in 2012, he began strolling — he couldn’t but run — and created a listing of progressive objectives. 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 working days.
Inside one month, he misplaced 10 kilos. After a full 12 months, he received right down to 200 kilos. After that first 12 months, the kilos have been shed even quicker, particularly the extra he ran.
In 2013, his political agenda paralleled his private effort to turn out to be 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 strategy 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 tasks 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 carry guests out to take pleasure in 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 task mannequin for different tribes by means of our wellness tasks. Being the biggest nation within the nation, we will embrace our sovereignty by means of regrowing our vegetables and fruit and feeding ourselves. With 27,000 sq. miles, we will develop a whole lot of crops. I’ve had a imaginative and prescient to be the biggest producers of Indigenous meals within the Southwest. Not simply wholesome or natural meals however legacy seeds which were handed down from era to era,” says Nez.
Ultimately, the servant chief and politician reached the aim 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 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 one of the 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 received 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 possibly can put runs in, however being the nation’s chief doesn’t mean you can do lengthy distance working — hours and hours of working,” says Nez.
Throughout that section, he additionally met ultrarunners like Scott Jurek, who he grew to become pals with and realized a few plant-based weight loss plan, inspiring Nez to turn out to be vegan greater than 5 years in the past. The weight loss plan helps him get better 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 12 months, and began a session enterprise along with his spouse Phefelia Nez, referred to as Nez Consulting, to assist with a spread of nationwide, statewide, and tribal tasks 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 aim is to finish a 100 miler. Right this moment, 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 entire distance in 50-mile segments day-after-day.
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 means of 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 received to see locations that not many individuals have seen earlier than, and working opens up your yard and may present our youngsters 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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