UlTRA RUNNER. 9/11 SURVIVOR. EX-CONVICT. INSPIRATION

I don't know what to say about Kahlil other than he survived. He survived everything the world could throw at him. In fact, that wasn't enough for him. He decided to create his own chaos to survive.  Not only did he survive, he now thrives and is an inspiration. 

I became aware of Kahlil When Trail Runner Magazine ran a story about him in the September 2016 issue. The second I started reading his story I wanted it to have a happy ending. I had never met this person but I felt pride in him. I felt pride in being a part of his tribe. 

I thought a lot about why I felt that way and here is what I landed on. Regardless of background, runner's all have experienced the same pain. Running is the great equalizer and because of that, runner's are a tribe. if you say nothing else of runners, we are supportive of one another. 

Kahlil's father was  incarcerated when he was at a developing age. Like many kids in his shoes, the chip on his shoulder was pretty big.  Kahlil found comfort and passion in Skateboarding but at that time in America, Skating was branded as counter culture. Kahlil was branded as the bad kid. He embraced that and set out to prove them right. After getting involved in gangs and drugs Kahlil found him self bouncing in and out of the criminal justice system.

He ended up working at a brokerage firm across the street from the World Trade Center. He says that being a pot head saved his life on 9/11. After 9/11, he lost his Job at the brokerage firm. He soon identified an untapped market and started his own business. A Weed business in the financial district of NYC. 

After a spending some time in Jail, his Weed business dried up and Kahlil got into high end burglaries. Needless to say, Kahlil found his way to prison. Prison is where Kahlil found Running. Kahlil saved himself in prison with the help running. 

Talking to Kahlil was important to me. In my career as a police officer I caught a young man in the act of a home burglary. That young man got a very similar sentence as Kahlil did. I think about that young man a lot and I feel bad for him. Not to say that he was innocent because he wasn't. I feel bad because he was a good kid who made  a very dumb choice. I wanted to to talk to someone who had made those same choices and survived them. I feel some closure about that case after having talked to Kahlil. I don't think I'll ever find out what happened to that young man but because of Kahlil I know redemption is possible. I know that Kahlil is proof that you can survive and thrive after bad choices.