Humans of HOKA: Shifting The Post Shift Culture with Chef Philip Speer

Philip Speer is a chef and restaurant owner whose journey to sobriety has sparked a wellness movement in his hometown of Austin, Texas, and beyond. While spending years climbing the ranks in kitchens, earning national recognition, and navigating intense pressure within the restaurant industry, Philip also battled with addiction. After his fourth DWI, he was faced with a pivotal choice. In rehab, Philip started running to transform his habits. “I had to figure out how to make changes for the positive and how to be an example for other people in this business that it can be different,” Philip says. With each step on the trails, Philip rediscovered a sense of freedom and empowerment through the recovery process. When he founded Comedor, an upscale Mexican restaurant in downtown Austin, Philip and a few chefs started running before their shifts. Soon, other restaurant workers joined in to share miles together. In 2019, the Comedor Run Club was created to “shift the post-shift culture,” in an industry known for its late nights and bar-fueled lifestyle. Today, Philip leads the Comedor Run Club three times a week and continues to crush personal bests while inspiring others along the way. “Running helps me show other people in this business, they can make a change and be successful no matter what,” he says. “We can recover visibly, loudly even, and we can be okay and continue to live amazing lives helping each other.” Read more about Philip on the HOKA blog: