Long before he was breaking ground in search of new ore deposits, Ryan Yazzie was blazing trails as one of the long-distance runners featured in a 2012 documentary.
Earlier this year, Yazzie, Supervisor Geological Field Operations-Tucson Exploration, was featured in a retrospective panel looking back at his youth as a long-distance runner and his role in a celebrated film that documented it more than a decade ago.
That documentary, “Racing the Rez,” followed the journeys of Native American teens who turned to running to connect to their heritage, their health and their hopes for the future. Through the lens of two rival teams in the 2008 and 2009 seasons of their high school track team, “Racing the Rez” shined a light on the struggles of Native American communities, as well as the perseverance of their youngest members as they struggled to rise up and define themselves.
In the recent retrospective panel, Yazzie joined some of the original filmmakers and now-adult athletes to reflect on how that experience shaped their lives—and the lives of others.
“We were all out there together, but we followed different paths,” Yazzie said. “It was interesting to see where we all ended up, but also the impact the film had. I hope it continues to inspire people.”
From team player to team lead
And Yazzie's own journey is nothing if not inspiring.
A chess player throughout his childhood, Yazzie’s family pushed him to take up something more physical. After trying out for several sports and not finding the right fit, he eventually was convinced to stick it out with long-distance running—a decision that would prove a turning point in his life.
Following months of training that culminated in the victory at the high school state championship documented in the film, Yazzie earned a scholarship and went on to complete his bachelor’s degree.
Originally, Yazzie went to college with the intention of returning to the reservation and working with a school there, but his horizons started to expand when he joined Freeport as a core technician.
Once traveling to sites to help them extract, split and document core samples, Yazzie now is a supervisor. Seven years into his career, his role involves directing a team that handles the logistics of collecting, transporting and cataloging those same cores at Tucson’s XCE, the Exploration Center of Excellence—a crucial step in the company’s long-range planning.
Although his life may have taken a different direction than he expected, Yazzie never left running behind. These days, he still gets in 20 to 30 miles a week, mostly participating in endurance obstacles and relays.
He also has never stopped looking for ways to give back to his community. For now, though, he settles on sharing a small piece of hard-earned wisdom that has served him well both on the track and on the job: Learn patience.
“So much of life is just like being out on the field,” Yazzie explained. “There are times when you have to push, but there’s also times when you hold back and take the time to make sure you’re still on the right track. The ones who know how to pace themselves are the ones who go the distance.”
“Racing the Rez” can be viewed on the PBS website.