Heck yeah! I run in part because I stopped drinking (which was one of the best things that ever happened to me). My life now is so much more interesting than it was when I was drinking, fwiw. And you’re totally right about the way it can sneak up and take over. Loved this installment.
Thank you for sharing this journey! I am also giving up drinking to better focus on the person I want to become. Thanks for your support along the way so far and I’m excited for what’s next.
Terrell, Having been a brewer and married to not one, but 2 alcoholics, I have firsthand knowledge of what alcohol can do to one physically and mentally. I used to join in the "fun" until it no longer became fun. Quit making brew (I could do anything from beer to wine to mead!) and quit drinking myself, completely. I guess it has been several years, since 2005. I never looked for something to replace drink. Running just came along as something that I enjoyed, so I do it.
Congrats on stopping and letting us know. It is a good first step. You have a supportive group here to help you and hold you accountable.
No runs today. It was at least 90. The blackberries are in full swing. I picked more to freeze for pie this winter! :)
You couldn’t have known how much I have been struggling over the past few months with getting my passion back for running. This email could not have come at a better time. I’ve made enough excuses and I’ve wallowed in self-pity for unforeseen things that have brought me down. It’s time to get back to life and start running again. Thank you for your words.
You are so brave for sharing your story. I feel so many of us have had such similar stories, yet don’t allow ourselves to feel vulnerable enough to share it. Covid sucked for SO many reasons! I visited the liquor store more times in a month than I had in my entire existence. (Wine of course). I have always loved running, but would always hit a wall and make excuses to not do it. Lately, I’ve been pushing myself to just do it. My mantra is “run the mike you’re in.” It seems to help when you know you have more than 75% of your run to go. Thank you again for sharing a part of your story!!! Can’t wait to keep up with this!!
This was beautifully written. Thank you, Terrell. l started running because of the stagnancy and stress of the first year of Covid. My office never closed. I never took a day off because of Covid (until I got Covid in May this year). At a certain point, this transitioned into running because of my work’s stress. I had worked out in group classes at the gym before Covid, but those classes never touched the stress in the way running has. I’m in my mind for an hour focused on little but my heart pounding and my feet pounding. The work stress is still there, of course, but the way I deal with it is better. Running is great medicine for the soul.
I loved this! Your writing always resonates with me. I quit drinking 32 years ago because it was clearly a problem, and my dad died at 50 from cirrhosis. Now I try to remind myself that anything I ingest, smoke or purchase to numb my feelings interferes with my spiritual growth…it’s a good way to live and I am so grateful to have been given this gift.
Wow, I did not know about Peter Sagal’s book about running, so thanks. And thank you for sharing about the topic of quitting alcohol. I quit almost 8 months ago and I feel SO lucky that I figured this out so early and at the same time can’t believe I spent a decade doing that to my mind and body! You have a supportive community here if you need to talk about this.
I found running in 2016 and it slowly drew my energy until I was “giving up” things that contradicted with getting my runs in, but this happened gradually without my really noticing. What an amazing power it has to transform a person on every level. Yes, I would say that now the feeling of agency from running is starting to show up in other areas of my life. It can be hard to pinpoint but basically creates self respect and makes me think of myself as someone who gets things done, if that makes sense. 😂
Right on!! Brother, we’re in this together. I don’t drink either. I have in the past, and I don’t miss it one bit. The quotation you cited was great. I don’t have quite the speed or stamina as before I got Covid but I’m still out there regularly kicking it and enjoying it. Looking forward to running with all y’all!
Thanks for sharing! This resonated with me so much - as I've been thinking about quitting the drinks too...they really do sneak up on you. Reading about your journey (and all those others who have commented) has solidified my resolve to make this a reality for me too. I can't wait to continue to see who I can be in this next chapter!
My 2 year old decided to get the run started early after being up since 2 am this morning so I finally got myself together and took him on a 3 mile run at 4 am! So excited to be a member of this community :)
Such a timely article for me. I run for my mental health(yes, it’s therapy) but for many reasons including a long drawn out virus, in March I stopped and it’s been so hard to restart
Your post just reminded me again, I need to run, I have reasons to run and even reminded me that when I do get my butt out the door and make it happen how good I feel in so many ways.
Thanks so much for sharing this! I’ve been struggling with the wine creeping into my evenings as well and hearing your story as well as in the comments is so inspiring to stick to cutting out the drinking as well. I’ve been drinking less during the pandemic (because I typically wouldn’t keep it in the house but go out to bars and restaurants with friends) but still find myself drinking on weeknights and it just messes with my goals and it’s just not worth it. Excited to be going on this journey alongside you all!
When I was in the Marines and stationed in a war zone overseas, there wasn't a hell of a lot to do besides going to the club. Cigarettes were a quarter a pack so most guys smoked. Except for writing letters home, reading and or going to the make shift gym you could go stir crazy... I took up boxing and realized all to soon I had no natural talent ... the workouts were tough and no way I could smoke and or spend my nights at the club....
I like a drink once in a while but like a lot of you, I have know people who over indulged on a regular basis...I got the running bug in HS and it was always been there somewhere. A broken foot kept me away for a while and so did planters when I tried to skimp on shoes. It's been years but when I got my case of shin splints I realized I was human not a superman any more... At 72 I'm mortal and there are limits to what I can do.... As my bride tells me, you do something stupid and get bedridden, you're on your own. She didn't mean it, I hope anyway, But for me, there is nothing more satisfying than slipping on a pair of my favorite running shoes, grabbing my tunes and go out for a run and let my body dictate the distance and speed. I hope that never changes.
Terrell, Well done on the "burn the ships" method. It's a valuable method. Excited by the training schedule...have yet to decide the distance I want to cover...
Heck yeah! I run in part because I stopped drinking (which was one of the best things that ever happened to me). My life now is so much more interesting than it was when I was drinking, fwiw. And you’re totally right about the way it can sneak up and take over. Loved this installment.
Thank you for sharing this journey! I am also giving up drinking to better focus on the person I want to become. Thanks for your support along the way so far and I’m excited for what’s next.
Terrell, Having been a brewer and married to not one, but 2 alcoholics, I have firsthand knowledge of what alcohol can do to one physically and mentally. I used to join in the "fun" until it no longer became fun. Quit making brew (I could do anything from beer to wine to mead!) and quit drinking myself, completely. I guess it has been several years, since 2005. I never looked for something to replace drink. Running just came along as something that I enjoyed, so I do it.
Congrats on stopping and letting us know. It is a good first step. You have a supportive group here to help you and hold you accountable.
No runs today. It was at least 90. The blackberries are in full swing. I picked more to freeze for pie this winter! :)
You couldn’t have known how much I have been struggling over the past few months with getting my passion back for running. This email could not have come at a better time. I’ve made enough excuses and I’ve wallowed in self-pity for unforeseen things that have brought me down. It’s time to get back to life and start running again. Thank you for your words.
You are so brave for sharing your story. I feel so many of us have had such similar stories, yet don’t allow ourselves to feel vulnerable enough to share it. Covid sucked for SO many reasons! I visited the liquor store more times in a month than I had in my entire existence. (Wine of course). I have always loved running, but would always hit a wall and make excuses to not do it. Lately, I’ve been pushing myself to just do it. My mantra is “run the mike you’re in.” It seems to help when you know you have more than 75% of your run to go. Thank you again for sharing a part of your story!!! Can’t wait to keep up with this!!
This was beautifully written. Thank you, Terrell. l started running because of the stagnancy and stress of the first year of Covid. My office never closed. I never took a day off because of Covid (until I got Covid in May this year). At a certain point, this transitioned into running because of my work’s stress. I had worked out in group classes at the gym before Covid, but those classes never touched the stress in the way running has. I’m in my mind for an hour focused on little but my heart pounding and my feet pounding. The work stress is still there, of course, but the way I deal with it is better. Running is great medicine for the soul.
I loved this! Your writing always resonates with me. I quit drinking 32 years ago because it was clearly a problem, and my dad died at 50 from cirrhosis. Now I try to remind myself that anything I ingest, smoke or purchase to numb my feelings interferes with my spiritual growth…it’s a good way to live and I am so grateful to have been given this gift.
Wow, I did not know about Peter Sagal’s book about running, so thanks. And thank you for sharing about the topic of quitting alcohol. I quit almost 8 months ago and I feel SO lucky that I figured this out so early and at the same time can’t believe I spent a decade doing that to my mind and body! You have a supportive community here if you need to talk about this.
I found running in 2016 and it slowly drew my energy until I was “giving up” things that contradicted with getting my runs in, but this happened gradually without my really noticing. What an amazing power it has to transform a person on every level. Yes, I would say that now the feeling of agency from running is starting to show up in other areas of my life. It can be hard to pinpoint but basically creates self respect and makes me think of myself as someone who gets things done, if that makes sense. 😂
Right on!! Brother, we’re in this together. I don’t drink either. I have in the past, and I don’t miss it one bit. The quotation you cited was great. I don’t have quite the speed or stamina as before I got Covid but I’m still out there regularly kicking it and enjoying it. Looking forward to running with all y’all!
Thanks for sharing! This resonated with me so much - as I've been thinking about quitting the drinks too...they really do sneak up on you. Reading about your journey (and all those others who have commented) has solidified my resolve to make this a reality for me too. I can't wait to continue to see who I can be in this next chapter!
My 2 year old decided to get the run started early after being up since 2 am this morning so I finally got myself together and took him on a 3 mile run at 4 am! So excited to be a member of this community :)
Such a timely article for me. I run for my mental health(yes, it’s therapy) but for many reasons including a long drawn out virus, in March I stopped and it’s been so hard to restart
Your post just reminded me again, I need to run, I have reasons to run and even reminded me that when I do get my butt out the door and make it happen how good I feel in so many ways.
Thanks so much for sharing this! I’ve been struggling with the wine creeping into my evenings as well and hearing your story as well as in the comments is so inspiring to stick to cutting out the drinking as well. I’ve been drinking less during the pandemic (because I typically wouldn’t keep it in the house but go out to bars and restaurants with friends) but still find myself drinking on weeknights and it just messes with my goals and it’s just not worth it. Excited to be going on this journey alongside you all!
When I was in the Marines and stationed in a war zone overseas, there wasn't a hell of a lot to do besides going to the club. Cigarettes were a quarter a pack so most guys smoked. Except for writing letters home, reading and or going to the make shift gym you could go stir crazy... I took up boxing and realized all to soon I had no natural talent ... the workouts were tough and no way I could smoke and or spend my nights at the club....
I like a drink once in a while but like a lot of you, I have know people who over indulged on a regular basis...I got the running bug in HS and it was always been there somewhere. A broken foot kept me away for a while and so did planters when I tried to skimp on shoes. It's been years but when I got my case of shin splints I realized I was human not a superman any more... At 72 I'm mortal and there are limits to what I can do.... As my bride tells me, you do something stupid and get bedridden, you're on your own. She didn't mean it, I hope anyway, But for me, there is nothing more satisfying than slipping on a pair of my favorite running shoes, grabbing my tunes and go out for a run and let my body dictate the distance and speed. I hope that never changes.
Be strong everyone!!!!
Terrell, Well done on the "burn the ships" method. It's a valuable method. Excited by the training schedule...have yet to decide the distance I want to cover...
Terrell, you can do this!!!