I have really enjoyed “JUST BEING ME” lately.  What I mean by this is simply being a dad and taking my kids to soccer or the skateboard park, running for the joy of running and not having a huge event I am doing (Although I am running the Syndey Australia Marathon on September 20) counseling people (which I love and worked hard to be licensed to do so) and being the Executive Director of Racing for Recovery.  I am proud of the fact that I did not copy off of any existing organization but rather created (with the help of others) the awesome program that we have.

I am looking forward representing Ohio at the A and E Recovery Rally in New York City this weekend.  It is an honor to be chosen for this worthy event and I look forward to meeting many people who have walked in similar shoes.

Our 8th Annual Racing for Recovery 5k, 10k  is October 25 and registration is available on www.racingforrecovery.com.  I have been doing all I can to promote the event locally and hope the community supports the mission of our program.  We are always looking for volunteers, sponsors and participants.  Please contact me at toddcrandell@racingforrecovery.com if you are interested in any capacity.

As always, I have my mind pondering many projects both personally and professionally.  I never know where I am going to end up but just knowing that God will eventually place me where I need to be is comforting.  Life is not always easy but that does not mean I have to drink over it but rather but my faith in high gear and know all will be ok?

To those who support me and this program in your own special ways, do not ever think for a moment that I do not appreciate all you do.

Peace to you all.

TC

To anyone who is currently using drugs to make their lives better I simply want to say there is a better way of living.  The pain and suffering that results from a choice to use does not have to exist any longer.  You do NOT have to drink ever again if you choose not to.

I am not saying all of lives problems will stop because you are no longer using but I will say you will be able to deal with your issues in a more productive way by being sober.  There is such a better way of living than the hard work that comes with being addicted and I pray you all find it soon.

I have 7 orders for the Racing for Recovery race uniforms by Louis Garneau.  They are $210.00 for shorts, tops and shipping.  We need 12 to get the order started.  If you are interested, please send your check to 6936 Clare Ct. Sylvania, Ohio 43560.

I have been reviewing footage from Ultraman Canada that will be a part of the new documentary Running with Demons and I must say it is going to be extremely beneficial to all who witness it.  I do not have a time of release yet and as soon as I can provide more information I surely will.

My kids start school tomorrow and specifically Skylar starts Jr. High.  This is the same school where things went wrong for me and you can make sure I will do all I can to keep her on the right path so she can have a sober and productive life.

Peace to you all.

T

I want to thank everyone who made my finish at Ultraman Canada possible.  Special thanks to Stevin Groth for my flight and Amy Kramer for Scott’s flight.  I could not have done the event without my coach Scott H

orns and Darwin Holt who has done both Ultramans as well.  To my friend who left comments on Facebook thank you very much as it helped me make it and to Melissa and my kids thanks for keeping together at home.

It is hard but nice to rest but I am doing it as it is just as important as training.  I will be running the Sydney Australia marathon on September 20 so will start running again soon.

Our Racing for Recovery golf outing is this Friday and the 8th Annual 5k, 10k is Oct 25.

Please support these events in any capacity you can.

Lastly, I am going to vent here.  It is sad to see another professional athlete go back to booze and drugs again after being in the media with a book talking about his sobriety.  I pray he gets sober again but let this be a message that it takes more than not using for a year or 2 to write a book and get out there in the media and talk about sobriety.  Putting yourself out there comes with  a tremendous amount of responsibility and that should not be taken lightly.  When you choose to drink again after telling the world how sober you are it sends a message to the nay sayers that “see they can never get sober and stay that way”.

T

Hello from Ultraman Canada,

Dear God,

I just want to say Thank You for the amazing life you have provided to me.  I thank you for giving and maintaining my drug free life as that is what everything I have is based on.  I thank you for maintaining my marriage as it has been a struggle at times mostly due to the lifestyle I lead.  I can’t imagine being a wife and having the “normal” and then having that get turned completely upside down must be hard to handle at times.  Don’t think for a minute that I do not understand what I have done to our family financially and emotionally and that I do not appreciate what you as my wife have done to maintain the homefront.    I thank you for the 4 healthy, intelligent, beautiful and loving kids that remind me of what life is all about on a daily basis.  I thank you for the education and credentials I have as I utilize them to aid others achieve their potential. I thank you for the physical abilities you have given me as they have enabled me to do extroidenary things all are geared to not only personal gains but carrying a message of HOPE to the world. Last but not least, I thank you for Racing for Recovery and all the goodness this program has  brought to thousands of lives.  I know this is my purpose and it is humbling to be the Founder and Executive Director of such a worthy organization.

I am tired physically now and have one more major physical test of endurance with Ultraman Canada on Aug 1,2 and 3.  I have nothing to prove at this point to anyone including myself about what I can accomplish on a physical level so that is not the purpose of this adventure.  I am doing this because there is an opportunity to capture not only this event but the personal struggles I face and the benefits Racing for Recovery has had on other lives.  That is the purpose of me doing this event.

I have done all I can financially, physically, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually to get Racing for Recovery to where it is today.  I also want to say this program would not be where it is without the assistance and support of many people and you all know who you are.  Having said that, I am giving this whole thing up and putting it in your hands because I simply do not know what else to do.  I do not view this as a bad thing but rather a very positive action of understanding my faith in what you have in store for me in the years ahead.  I am tired of going going going to achieve more more more and simply want to enjoy the process and the ride of it all.

What I ask from you is Peace of Mind along the way and simply have my mind slow down a little bit.

Thanks for your time and now I will enjoy my day.

TC

Happy B day to my boy Mason who turns 4 on July 14.  I will be home later today (yes it is July 14 here in Switzerland) to see your smiling face.

Daddy loves you buddy.

To everyone else who has supported me during the past 2 weeks thank you.

TC

I just want to say that anything I want to achieve in life I WILL.  That includes finishing an ironman, being a good family person, finding answers to personal questions I have, education, Racing for Recovery etc.  The bottom line is never underestimate me in anything I am striving for.  That is a broad subject guys read it as you wish.

Ironman number 19 tomorrow.

Hope all is well and thanks for supporting Racing for Recovery 

TC

Hello from Switzerland where I am finally getting normal again emotionally and somewhat physically from Ironman Germany.  I met some amazing people there and that to me is what this stuff is about.  Mike, Patricia and Scott you guys are awesome and I appreciated your support.  The gift of sobriety has enabled me to do amazing things and I take that to heart and live it to the fullest.

I also want to thank my wife Melissa who is at home with our 4 great kids being a solo mom while I am out doing this stuff.  I bet it is hard and I do appreciate what she does and do not take it for granted.  I miss being home and after a race like the Ironman alot of emotiions come pouring out.  Yes it is a blast to be here but also lonely as hell at times but in the end it is a “part” of what I do.

To everyone else and you know who you are who sent me emails of kind words you have no idea how much I appreciate and need that.  I think of what you say all day long and believe me it gets me through.

Ok enough for now I am beat and want to sleep.

TC

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