In the ever-evolving world of sobriety and endurance athletics, have you ever wondered what it takes for someone to continue pushing the limits while staying alcohol-free? Enter James Gwinnett, our beacon of motivation and ultra-marathon magic, who has been navigating life sober since 2016. His secret? A mix of determination, laughter, and a good dose of mental fitness (Read: not a fuel on sugary sports drinks, but actual headspace management).
Find Your Motivation and Run with It
James’ story is one for the sober history books. You’re probably familiar with that moment when you realize beer isn’t the best recovery strategy after a rough rugby match. James stumbled upon that epiphany after a significant neck injury sidelined his rugby days. Host of the Sober Curator Podcast, Alysse Bryson, was keen to dive into James’ journey, but let’s face it, we’re mostly here for James’ tales of meeting Prince Harry, exchanging rugby stories, and all things ultra-marathon.
An Ounce of Sobriety is Worth a Lifetime of Vitality
As James tells it, his rehab was less about 12-steps and more like 100 miles—often literally. Upon discovering the marathon, he switched from sobering melodies to the symphony of sneakers on pavement, signing up for his first London Marathon in 2017. Queue the Rocky montage theme; this man was ready to take on the world with mental fortitude, proving that shredding your liver isn’t the only way to celebrate victories. Getting out and walking or running in supportive men’s shoes helps you move forward and keep yourself on track.
Running with Royals: When Prince Harry Became Part of the Narrative
Let’s pause to appreciate the royal bash alert about a chance meeting and, dare we say—a Heineken Zero with Prince Harry. Of course, this was pre-sobriety James, but still, it only ups his aristocratic street cred. His anecdote left us pressing the ‘rewind’ button. Tamar Medford, another host at The Sober Curator, gushed about James’ humor-filled tale of meeting a prince over Dutch beer. Yawn, right? If your yawns are somehow followed by chuckles.
Bookish Pursuits: Sharing Wisdom in ‘Ready, Set, Life’
James’ autobiography-slash-advice book, ‘READY. SET. LIFE,’ weaves insightful commentary with his wicked humor, inviting sober folks and aspiring athletic prodigies alike to navigate the chaos of modernity with optimism, resilience, and a superpower called mental fitness. The book’s title alone is like an advent calendar — each chapter a new (albeit metaphorical) chocolate treating you to pearls of wisdom gathered from sobering experiences and adventures.
The Sobees #QUITLIT Score: 4 out of 5 Sobees
Infinite Possibilities (Minus a Cold One)
James’ transformation into a sober endurance athlete not only fuels his runs but inspires readers, many of whom reached out after his book’s release (is that tear glistening in your eye, James?). It’s the unraveling of how sobriety can coincide with leaps into the unknown, reminding us mere mortals that everything you want is on the other side of fear—or a 145-mile endurance run from London to Bristol, semantics.
Connect with James Gwinnett
- Website jamesgwinnett.com
- IG @jamesgwinnett
- linktr.ee
Hosted by Alysse Bryson & Tamar Routly, and produced by Podcast Impact Studio, The Sober Curator Podcast brings sober lifestyle, pop culture, & recovery to the mic. Alongside Alysse & Tamar, rotating global contributors join as co-hosts to explore zero-proof drinks, sober travel, quit lit, entertainment, & mental health. This is sober media with personality, perspective, & a glitter bomb of honesty. Sober-curious or living alcohol-free, we’ve got you! We’re not here to help you get sober. We’re here to help you live sober: and love it.
It starts in a hotel lobby in Orlando. It ends with an invitation to Scottsdale. In between: inflatable walkers, a steam-filled hotel bathroom, Dollywood in full Dolly drag, sumo suits bought in bulk, and every sober travel hack we actually use.
Alysse and Tamar are joined by ride-or-die Sober Curator Amy Liz Harrison (50+ articles, 8 kids, airline-executive husband, carry-on always over the weight limit) for a masterclass in traveling sober and loving it. Because here's the thing about sober travel: you remember everything. Including the reason you got kicked out.
In this episode:
The Golden Girls incident at PodFest Orlando, and how Amy steamed an entire hotel bathroom trying to inflate a walker (ADHD time blindness is real, friends)
Dressed as Dolly at Dollywood. You would think there would be more of us. You would be wrong.
The airport hack every sober traveler should know: asking the gate agent to page ”a friend of Bill W.” Tamar has done it three times. People showed up.
Amy's research on 26 airports with interfaith prayer rooms, meditation spaces, and sensory-friendly quiet rooms, born from wishing recovery had its own USO
Why wearing sober merch while traveling turns strangers into your people (it's a team jersey, and your team is sober)
Travel hacks: Amy's secret-compartment vest, Tamar's carry-on conversion, and the time we got kicked out of the Neon Museum gift shop with our arms full of merchandise
THE BIG ONE: Cover Story, The Sober Curator's first-ever retreat
Cover Story Retreat: October 15 to 18, 2026
You didn't get sober to sit in the back row. Four days and three nights at the brand-new Kimpton Miralina Resort & Villas in Paradise Valley (Scottsdale), Arizona, in partnership with Evolve Retreats. All meals and NA beverages included. A 30-minute on-location photo shoot with photographer Barbie Hull. B-roll captured for you all weekend. A costume outing (it's Sober October, we will deliver). A group-built Sober in Scottsdale city guide. A live podcast recording. Sound baths and hikes for the wellness people, shopping and art galleries for the rest of us.
$3,299 single / $2,700 double. Prices go up August 21. Small group, think dinner party, not conference.
➤ Details + booking: https://evolveretreats.co/cover-story
Sober Shots from this episode:
”I've never had so much fun traveling as I have as a sober person because, wait for it, I remember everything.” (Alysse)
”What do we feel like doing today? Let's get in sumo costumes.” (Amy)
”It's the same thing as wearing a jersey. It's just your team sober.” (Amy)
”We don't need a lot of reason to do something dumb. Very little runway and we're taking off.” (Alysse)
”You didn't get sober to sit in the back row.” (Alysse)
Links + Goodies:
Cover Story Retreat: https://evolveretreats.co/cover-story
The Sober Curator luggage line (40% off for Backstage members): https://shopthesobercurator.com
Amy's 26 Airports article: https://thesobercurator.com/sober-travel-airport-quiet-rooms/
Golden Girls outing reel: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTjw5wpjUzB/
Inflatable walkers affiliate link, because of course: https://amzn.to/3S2r85s
The Sober Curator Rolodex: https://thesobercurator.com/the-sober-curator-rolodex/
The Sober Sip newsletter: https://www.thesobercuratornewsletter.com/
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Keep it real, keep it fun, and keep it sober.
Music Credits: Positive Vibes, Artist: MoodMode – Storyblocks https://www.descript.com/terms-storyblocks
RECOVERY PODCASTLAND & NETWORK: Tune in and let your ears experience the audio haven for all things sobriety and recovery. Buzz into the sobriety soundscape at The Sober Curator. Here, we delve into the world of our favorite sober and recovery-based podcasts. Picture us as your bee-zy, sober podcast enthusiasts or the lively guardians of an alcohol-free audio oasis. Our digital archives are neatly categorized into TSC Recovery Podcastland & Network.
SOBER SPORTS: This section promotes sobriety and wellness through sports and fitness. The section features articles, interviews, and personal stories from athletes and fitness enthusiasts committed to a healthier, alcohol-free lifestyle. By highlighting the benefits of sober living and the role that sports, and fitness can play in achieving and maintaining sobriety, Sober Sports is changing how we think about wellness and encouraging a more positive and empowering approach to recovery.
