Here is a message from Steve Vallendar who is our race director for the Racing for Recovery 5k in Las Vegas.  I want to thank Steve for all of the work he does to make this event happen which you can see supports local programs.

I want to say thank you to Jeff and Kim King along with the entire New York Life staff for their countless support again this year.  The proceeds from their 3rd Annual golf outting to benefit Racing for Recovery was presented to me today and I am again truly humbled and appreciative of this gesture.  This group of people “gets” what I and Racing for Recovery do and we will once again utilize those funds to put on our 7th Annual Racing for Recovery 5k, 10k Oct 26.

I also want to say thank you to Sharon Lange and the Sylvania Advantage staff for their support over the years as well.  They allow us to utilize their office for 3 of our local support group meetings.  The impact this has on our members is awesome and could not be done with their help.  Thanks guys.

Our 2nd Annual Racing for Recovery 5k is tomorrow and I just want to say thanks to Steve Vallendar and everyone who helped make this event possible.

To all of you who support this program in your own way, THANK YOU.  

Enjoy  the weekend.

Todd

Just back from a speaking gig in Arizona for the Art of Recovery Expo.  God it was so nice to be in a place where people appreciate what I and Racing for Recovery do.  I absolutely loved this event and want to thank Barbara Brown for having me.  Barbara is the organizer of the Art of Recovery Expo and I must say she did an outstanding job.  She worked with me for a year on my participation and was nothing but professional and courteous throughout.  Traveling is rough sometimes with planes, cars and hotels but Barbara made this trip incredibly easy.

Also thanks to my friends Shannon, Clay, Susan, Laura and Darrin for their support.  Susan, Darrin and I (all sober) went for a run Saturday morning and saw many homeless individuals out as it was 6 am and we were in the park.  I could not help but think  of how I was once in that situation and I really wanted to stop and talk to the guys and simply say “there is a better way to live”.

I will be back there in 2 weeks and we are working on a Racing for Recovery support group meeting in addition to other r4r business.

Ok, I am bit jet lagged and need to relax a bit.

Todd

Not much to report but my friend Tom yelled at me for not having a new entry up so I will try and come up with something here lol.

Ultraman is around the corner so I am doing a ton of biking, swimming and running.  Was up at 4:30 for a 6 mile run then in the pool at 6:00 for a swim and now going for a 40 mile ride.  I am approaching Ultraman like I did my first Ironman in 1999 and that is wow this is going to be rough but I know I can and will do it.  I have had a couple people say to me “Can you really do that” or How are you going to run 52 miles in one day after doing all of that other stuff” and my answer is this “I would not have signed up and promoted this event if I was not going to complete it”.  

We are filming a documentary for this and other Racing for Recovery events and success.  If you would like to invest in this project email me at racing4recovery@aol.com and I will send you the proposal.

I took my Chemical Dependancy License exam last Friday in Columbus, Ohio.  I knew the material and I am looking forward to receiving the results so I can add more credentials to my list.  I have to wait 6 weeks for the results though, what a bummer.

I had a dear friend of mine who just sent me a text saying his stepbrother died as a result of drugs.  I am so sorry for his loss and my thoughts and prayers go out to the family.  This does not have to happen and again I am reminded of why I and this program do what we do to help prevent this from happening.

Ok phone ringing have to roll.  Pics are from Ironman Louisville.  The best was having all 4 kids run through the finish with me. 

Todd

Hey all just back from Los Angeles where I spoke to 200 5th graders which I loved doing and also racing the LA Triathlon.  The best part of my “job” is to share my experiences to make a difference in the lives of others. 

I have decided to pursue a PhD of Counseling Degree.  I have completed the application and will mail that in today.  If accepted, I would start this January for the Spring Semester.  When I went for my initial interview last week, I told the professor that “I could not believe I was actually contemplating doing this” and she just smiled.  I want to achieve this to further enhance my credentials and knowledge in this field to be of better service to others.  I have also applied to a few local re-hab centers so we will see how that turns out.

My son Mason starts pre-school today.  Wow does time fly.  This is our 4rth and final child going through Stepping Stones pre-school.  Melissa and I know all the plays and parties they will do by heart now.  

Got a letter from a person who I and many folks in Racing for Recovery bent over backwards to help and were betrayed in the process yesterday.  She is in rehab now and felt compelled to write and apologize for what she has done and I have a ton of respect for that.  I certainly have no room to talk in this department as through my addiction I did some terrible things as well.  Forgiveness is a great thing to have for others and is much more productive than holding grudges on people.

Our second Annual 5k in Las Vegas is September 27 and our 7th Annual 5k in Sylvania, Ohio is Sunday October 26.  Please support these events. 

Next week I am off to Arizona for a big speaking engagement for the Art of Recovery Expo. 

Enjoy your week. The pic is me playing for the Toledo Storm 12 years ago.  Good God that was a blast. The other pic is before the start of Ironman South Africa.  I love the sun in this picture and that was an amazing place.

Todd

Ok 8:34 a.m. here on Monday morning the day after I completed my 15th Ironman in a time of 12:41 498th place out of 1975 participants.  I want to thank Melissa for having our 4 great kids ready for me to run with through the finish line (a mental picture that kept me going throughout the day)  It is very hard for spectators to weather the day and truth be told it is easier to race those crazy things than to deal with the kids for that amount of time.  Melissa was there with our tribe when I finished each stage of the event and that for me was great.  Also thanks for all the positive comments from my friends and family, I truly appreciate your support. The picture here is of me starting the run and seeing my kids on the side.  I ran up to them and gave them all a hug.  Tell me that is not the look of a dad who loves his little ones?

I am going to share a couple things here to help put a picture of what I deal with often.  Over the years I have battled with myself on do I keep racing for recovery or do I get a “real job” and join the rat race.  I am not looking for sympathy here it is just a struggle I have and the only real battle I have within myself because let’s face it folks pursuing your dreams is not always easy not only for us as the individual but for the ones around us who see us struggle.  I know in my heart of hearts God gave me that addiction and blessed me with my sobriety to do what I do today through Racing for Recovery.  So why the battle?  Well, when pursuing my dream starts to impact my finances personally and cause stress in a marriage, that is not good and that is the only obstacle that stands in my way.

On the way to the race yesterday, I talked with a friend of mine and after our conversation, I thought to myself “you have given all you can to get this program to where it is and now it is time to move on and do the “right” things and get a job that can support your family better financially.  As the race began and I swam the 2.4 miles in the Ohio river I just kept thinking ok I am done doing this for my job and I hope I have not lost my family in the process.  I was saying over and over in my head how sorry I was for putting my family through what I have and basically was begging for forgiveness.

During the week and prior to the race and during the run I had over 75 ( safe estimate) people cheering for me and Racing for Recovery.  Comments like “hey man can I shake your hand I just wanted to say your book saved my life” or “I read the article in the paper great story”, and “hey i saw you on tv keep up the good work” to “never give up what you are doing brother it is saving lives and is needed”  I was literally overwhelmed by the response and at times it brought me to a complete stop with gratitude and humility.  When I returned to the hotel the clerk at the front desk came up to me and said ” I just wanted to say I read your story and you have no idea what that did for me and my family”  I was stunned.  I told him my thoughts on pondering stopping this to get a real job and he simply said “you can’t bro too many people need you and this program and God put you here to do this there is no way you can stop now”  Once again the battle within rears it’s head.  I told Sean thank you and he probably saved a program tonight by his words.

I share this story because this is the only issue I have with this program is how I can do it and survive talking care of my family.  I did not start this to make a million dollars and again just so you all know I only make money when doing a paid speaking engagement.  All sales from books, merchandise etc go to fund the program.  I am blessed to do what I do and want to continue because I know the impact it makes I just dont want to sacrifice my own family in the process.  The term balance comes to mind which has always been hard for me as I know the “All or nothing” way of doing things” but is something I have to find when running this program and handling my family in a responsible manner.  I am pondering pursuing a Ph.D and I have applied for a couple counseling positions at local rehabs.  

I guess end in the end God makes up the decisions for us all eh I am just the student on the path to learn what the answers are.  I know in the end what is best for all parties will be done.

Time to pack up and head home then Thursday off to LA.

Congrats to my friend Brian K who finished 14 overall and first amateur.  Also congrats to all who finished that tough day.

Peace to you all.

TC