Thanks to my friend Tony Armer we are going to be filming my participation at Ultraman Canada for a new DVD entitled “Running with Demons.  This is truly humbling and motivating for me to not only complete this grueling event but to know my finish will eventually benefit others and that is why I do what I do.  Some may say it is strange way to market Racing for Recovery but I love it.

Thank you to everyone who is making this possible including Melissa who will have to be a “single parent” while I am gone.

Speaking of being gone, I leave Monday for Ironman Germany and Switzerland.  This will be an awesome trip not only do I get to participate in 2 Ironmans in 7 days but also see 2 historic and beautiful countries.  Sobriety is good eh?

On an educational front, I have applied to Bowling Green State University for a Ph.D in Psychology.  The University of Toledo denied me again because my GRE score was not to their liking.  Of the 30,000 people that have come through our program not one of them ever asked me my GRE scores lol.  Point of this story is this, again if you want something you do not stop until you achieve it.  So UT said “no” to me, fine I move on until someone says “yes” because the end result more education for me means I am better to serve those I encounter.

Enjoy your day I am heading out on a bike ride then hang with family and dig some holes for my grandma so she can plant some flowers.

TC

Hey to all you dads out there just wanted to wish you all a Happy Father’s Day and hope all is well.   I did an Olympic Distance Triathlon today at Maumee Bay in Ohio.  Thanks to Shannon from HFP Racing for comping my entry.  The best comment I heard from my friend Andy was how he was happy to see me spending so much time with my kids during the last several months.  That means more to me than “hey I heard you did the Ultraman.  I then went with the kids and Melissa to our local pool and got some sun, swam and jumped of the diving boards with Konor.

My racing is to promote this worthy program of ours but it is not my life.  I do love to get out there and travel the world doing this crazy things but nothing comes before my kids.

I leave for Ironman Germany and Switzerland on the 29th and look forward to seeing those 2 great countries.

We are already working on the Racing for Recovery Half Ironamn June 6, 2010 and the Mentoring Program for January 2010.  Next up is our golf outting Aug 14.  If you need information, please email me at racing4recovery@aol.com.

Off to my parents house.

TC

On behalf of myself, Racing for Recovery and everyone who benefited from our event, I want to thank the participants, volunteers and 3D Racing for making it all happen.

 3D Racing has been the catalyst since 2005 for making not only our triathlons possible but our 5k, 10k run/walk as well.  They donate their time, resources and knowledge to our program and it is greatly appreciated.

 To our volunteers, I know it is an extremely long and sometimes grueling event for you all and I personally want to say THANK YOU for your support as we cant make the event possible without your support.  Always keep I mind that your effort not only makes the event possible but shares the Racing for Recovery Mission which is saving lives and that is why we all “do what we do”

 To the 350 participants from 16 states and 2 countries THANK YOU for choosing our race in 2009.  I know you have many options and we appreciated you adding us on your racing schedule.  I personally invite you to email me at racing4recovery@aol.com and let me know your comments and suggestions to make this event even greater for the June 6, 2010 race.  I also want to thank your families as I know firsthand how hard the training, traveling and racing can be on our loved ones.

Pictures can be viewed at www.carrpix.com.  Dee Carr is a member of Racing for Recovery and does a great job at capturing this event, please support him by ordering your finishing pictures.

 Please keep October 25, 2009 in mind as we have our 8^th Annual Racing for Recovery 5k, 10k run/walk at Lourdes College in Sylvania, Ohio.  Also our Mentoring Program begins January 2010 at the Francis Family YMCA in Temperance, Michigan.  If you want more information or learn more about our worthy organization, please visit www.RacingforRecovery.com.

 I invited you all to see the impact Racing for Recovery has made by reviewing the CNN.com lead story from last Friday here http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/06/05/triathlon.drug.addiction/index.html.

 Thanks again and see you all next year.

Todd

Hey everyone been a long delay since last post.  Well here is some news and thoughts.

1. Racing for Recovery has partnered with the Francis Family YMCA in Temperance Michigan to bring our successful mentoring program to their community.  This program has been utilized on Long Island, New York for the past 3 years with huge success and now it is time to bring it back locally.  Right now we are focusing on the Bedford Jr. High students but that is not set in stone.

Our 5th Annual Racing for Recovery Triathlon is a week from today.  Are you participating, volunteering or sponsoring this worthy event?  Thanks to all who make it possible.  We at r4r appreciate your support and could not do it without you.

I will be heading to Germany and Switzerland for their respective Ironmans July 5 and 12 before participating in Ultraman Canada Aug 1,2 & 3.  I will be doing a pro bono speaking gig for the Penticton community and look forward to sharing the Racing for Recovery program and racing that grueling event.  Please support this effort http://firstgiving.org/toddcrandellultraman.  

Personally, I am doing my best to realize that all things happen in God’s time not mine.  I am pursing a Ph.D in Counseling and also in the negotiation stages of our tv show and both of these will come to fruition when they are supposed to.

As always, I am receiving requests to implement Racing for Recovery in other states because the “traditional” ways are not the answer for everyone battling addiction.  I hope to deliver our program to everyplace and everyone that is in need.

Our 2008 taxes have been filed and if anyone has a request to look at our financial statements, please let me know.

I apologize for the state of our website over the past year.  We have paid a considerable amount of money and have yet to have the site fully operational.  I hope to have this changed in the next week.

Enjoy your week and know there is a better way to live than being addicted to substances.

Todd

Once again Racing for Recovery is sponsoring the local triathlon club Team Toledo.  This is a way to share our mission and also illustrate another way we “give back” to the community.

Speaking of giving back, we are pleased to bring the Racing for Recovery Mentoring Program to the Francis YMCA in Temperance Michigan starting in January 2010.  This program has been very successful in New York for the last 3 years and now we will have it here.  

One of our “projects” is progressing in a positive manner.  Contracts are in the works and I hope to close the deal soon.  This has been almost 3 years in the making but will be well worth the effort on many levels.  It is a reminder that sobriety comes first and then anything else you want can be achieved.  What I have realized is things happen on Gods time not when I think or want them to happen.  That realization is nice to have as it eases my mind and takes a lot of stress away.

The weather is officially changed in Sylvania, Ohio.  I did my first shirtless run yesterday and we left our windows open last night. 

Our triathlon is approaching on June 7 in Monroe, Michigan.  Please participate, volunteer or sponsor this worthy event.

Enjoy your week.

TC

I just want to say AGAIN how blessed I am for the life I have today.  Yes, I have struggles at times but when I look at the big picture this is what I see.  I have a beautiful family, I am physically capable of doing extremely challenging events, I have improved on my education and credentials, I am able to counsel others (licensed to do so) and provide speaking engagements to share the Racing for Recovery program and for that and many other things I have grateful for.

Returned home yesterday from St. Petes Florida where I had an amazing time with Madison along with old and new friends.  I was reminded once again of the true meaning of living a sober life.

I want to thank Tony A for arranging my trip and all the work he put into the showing of ADDICT and my participation in the St. Anthony’s Triathlon.  Tony knew me back in the day and I have not seen him for 16 years but we basically picked up where we left off which was just 2 friends laughing a lot. Also his brother Keith was there and I do not think I have laughed that much in my life and to their friend Brad aka WAR great to see you as well.

I also want to say how great it was to see my old friend Griffen and his wife Tonya.  Also Tony D who again I have not seen in years and lastly a new Toni who brought her son Ryan to the showing of ADDICT.  Toni had contacted me years ago about Ryan who was struggling with an addiction in Seattle and felt helpless about him and his situation.  It was great to see them both happy and realizing “With Sobriety Anything is Possible.  Thanks to Rob and his family for coming and all the hard work he is putting into our “project” and I am telling you all now this is going to hit on a big level.

Here is a photo of all of us in the “green” room before the showing of ADDICT.  I must say this room at the Fort Harrison Hotel was awesome.

Overall the time spent in Fla with Madison and friends was great and I hope to be back down there again soon.

We are getting ready for the 5th Annual Racing for Recovery Triathlon June 7 with the kids race on June 6.  I look forward to another amazing event that shares our mission and helps people in the process.

In closing we are in need of funding.  If you have benefitted from this worthy program in some capacity, please support us.  I know the times are hard but we need to support this program to do the work we do.

On the media page, check out the new radio interview on Ron and Ian WDAE 1120 AM from Tampa.

Enjoy your week.

Todd

Hello everyone,

The 5th Annual Racing for Recovery Triathlon is on June 7 with the kids race on June 6.  We are asking for volunteers and any sponsors to please contact us ASAP at racing4recovery@aol.com or 419 824 8462.  We can’t put this worthy event on without your help and it means the world to those who are competing.

Todd

I hope you all had a blessed Easter.  I enjoyed being home and spending a great day with the family.  It is awesome to see the joy on our kids faces as they received their Easter Bunny gifts and finding eggs.  It is a reminder of what is important in life.

I also had the pleasure of seeing my friend Stevin Groth out running yesterday.  This guy has lost over 80 lbs and is a true inspiration.  He said to me it was only a 5k he was running and I reminded him that it is not the distance that counts but the fact that he was out there “doing”

I also want to say thank you to Shelby Nacho aka Darwin on many levels.  He is crewing for me at Ultraman Canada and is also covering our hotel expense while we are there.  I am very thankful for his kind support.  He has completed both Ultraman Canada and Hawaii and is doing the Western States 100 mile run.  More importantly it his personality and way of living that is inspiring to me.  I see how Karma plays here as I am donating a speaking gig to the community while there and it comes back by Darwins support.  If you would like to help us out please consider donating to http://www.firstgiving.com/toddcrandellultraman?ref=facebook&type=app

Racing for Recovery will once again have our softball team this summer.  We had a blast last year and look forward to do it again this year.

Our half ironman and sprint triathlon are coming on June 7 with the kids race on June 6.  This is the 5th year for this event.

Ok enough for now.

TC

Just returned from New Orleans Ironman 70.3.  I did a 5:28 race and had an interesting “moment” before the swim start.  For some strange reason, I had a “panic” attack as we were getting ready to enter the water.  I kept telling myself “relax you have done this many time” but that was not working.  I took it off, got myself together and then put it back on as our wave was getting ready to go.  I continued to go over in my head everything will be ok just do your thing but that was not working and I finally decided to take the wetsuit off and just swim with my race uniform.  Thankfully a volunteer Suzanne was there and I pleaded with her to take my wetsuit and somehow get it back to me (keep in mind there were 3000 racers) and I got in the water and started the swim.  I remember getting “cold” and checking my watch wondering how far I was into it and noticed the time of 22 mins.  Hmm just like Ironman Australia when I began to tremble as my body was freezing.  I made it out of the water in 40 mins which was about 7 mins slower than usual but was happy to be done with it.  The point here is to relate it back to substance abuse.  You do not quit just because things get rough at times, you somehow manage to hold on and get through your task not matter what it is.  As many of you know I use the term “Ironman” as a metaphor for any goal we are pursuing.  Yes, Suzanne called me after the race and is sending me my wetsuit back in the mail.  Thank you my friend that is very kind of  you.

Eddie was there and it is great to see him doing so well.  He did a 6.28 and our new friend Robert did a 6:30 for his first half Ironman.  Robert allowed us to stay with his family and I want to thank not only him but the rest of his family for their unbelievable hospitality.  This sport is expensive and their support was a big help in that department.  See how this game works, people help me and I take that assistant and help others.  

I was reminded several times during the event by people that Racing for Recovery is a great thing and to keep up the good work.  Thanks for all of your kind words.  To my new buddy Rick thanks for the hockey laughs mate and I will see you in Germany eh?

Thanks to Andrew from The Times Newspaper for covering our program.  It was great to see you at the finish.

It was awesome to get home to the family yesterday and just have one of those Crandell circus days that included getting sports stuff, crafts and dinner.  I miss them dearly when I am gone and thank God they are supporting me when I know it is hard at times.  Melissa has signed up for Ironman Augusta 70.3 so we both will be doing that one in September.

Today I am on my way to Los Angeles for a meeting with VH-1.  I am only going to be gone until Thursday night.  Perseverance is key to life and I am practicing that with this project.

If you are reading this and having a problem with booze and chemical, know there is a better way.  I watched some of Intervention last night and my heart ached for the addict and her family and I just thought to myself “God please allow the Racing for Recovery mission and lifestyle reach as many people as possible”.  I am not saying we are the answer but I am saying we have helped thousands and I am thankful for that and simply want to do more.

Have a great week.

TC