Hi Terry: You're not just a runner, you're quite a writer too! Like so many here you're able to put in print what all you went through before and during your quit. Stories like yours gives 'others' hope when they feel the most vulnerable and humbled by their addictions. It was writing like yours that helped me to stay quit 7 years ago when I stood on the brink like you did.
I was terribly ill with a cold and had just come in from standing out on the patio in awful winter weather to suck down a cigarette; I was propped up in bed trying to breathe when I noticed my running shoes that had been in a corner for sometime. I started to cry knowing I'd never feel the freedom of running if I didn't quit and the rest is history. I found this site the following day and like you, am a runner today. I don't do the half marathons but do 4 miles a day and never, but never while I'm on the road to I take my quit for granted. I work the program still every day, just like I did in the beginning because I'm old enough to know how fragile some things in life are.
I come to this site every Sunday and recharge my batteries, which letters like yours does.........thanks for takign the time to write and remind all of us of where we once stood.
"Your patio would be pretty crowded wouldn't it?" image
Now its almost dawn, my well worn shoes are in the corner and I'm set for a wonderful cruise though the little town near by. Take care Terry! You've reached a lot of people today.
Your Quit Sis, Dionne free since Oct. 2000.