A Fairfax native and former professional triathlete crossed the finish line of a 2,000-mile run at the Lincoln Memorial, capping a journey that began in Denver and ended with a fundraising push for addiction recovery. Collin Chartier, a graduate of Woodson High School and Marymount University, completed the run to raise money for the Herren Project, a nonprofit focused on addiction recovery and prevention.
Chartier discussed the physical and mental demands of running 2,000 miles and shared that the challenge was deeply personal, according to WJLA. He required discipline to stay on track and relied on a daily routine to maintain the run, the station reported. Chartier discussed his recovery journey during an interview on Good Morning Washington, telling viewers that resilience, growth, and second chances are always possible.
From Elite Triathlon to a Career-Ending Ban
Chartier's path to this run began with a dramatic fall from the top of his sport. In September 2022, he won the PTO U.S. Open in Dallas and its $100,000 prize, coming just weeks after a victory at IRONMAN Mont-Tremblant in Canada, according to TRI247. That peak did not last. In April 2023, Chartier accepted a three-year athletic ban through March 26, 2026, after testing positive for the banned peptide hormone EPO during an out-of-competition test, per the International Testing Agency.
Chartier publicly admitted to using EPO starting in November 2022, citing intense competitive pressure, injuries, and isolation, and he chose to walk away from professional sports permanently, as reported by SwimSwam. Breathwork and nervous system regulation became life-changing tools for him in the years that followed, according to WJLA's report. After stepping away from triathlon, he became a certified breathwork instructor and launched the wellness platforms GroundApp and Ground Coaching, according to a PR Newswire release announcing the run.
2,000 Miles From Boulder to the Lincoln Memorial
Chartier launched the cross-country campaign, titled Running Home, on June 12 at CU Boulder's Potts Field in Colorado, aiming to raise $100,000 for the Herren Project. He had on-the-road support from driver Kevin Murphy, a friend in recovery, and co-hosted events along the route with local chapters of The Phoenix, a free sober active community, per the PR Newswire release. Chartier maintains an ongoing recovery and wellness website at collinchartier.com/running-home, and viewers were encouraged to connect with his continuing work supporting recovery and wellness.
The Herren Project was founded in 2011 by former NBA player Chris Herren, who entered long-term recovery in 2008 following a 15-year struggle with substance use disorder. Between its founding and 2020, the organization assisted more than 7,000 individuals and families, placing 917 people into treatment facilities and securing over $3.8 million for treatment expenses, according to the Herren Project.
A Local Backdrop of Shifting Overdose Trends
Chartier's run home to the Washington area lands amid notable movement in Virginia's overdose statistics. State health data released in August 2026 show that fatal drug overdoses in Virginia fell 37% in 2024 compared to 2023, with preliminary 2025 figures showing a further 23% drop to 1,197 resident deaths, according to the Virginia Department of Health.
Closer to Chartier's hometown, the picture remains more mixed. In Fairfax, local health records tracked 56 fatal opioid overdoses in 2025 alongside 124 non-fatal emergency department and urgent care visits for opioid overdoses through July 31, 2026, according to the Fairfax County Health Department. That local data underscores why fundraising efforts like Chartier's carry weight even as statewide trends improve.
