Hello all,

Well today was the first day back to school for our kids and probably yours.  I can’t believe how fast our “crumb crunchers” have grown up.

Below is an email that is highlighted that I wanted to share and I hope this is the last time I have to share this topic.  I posted in the last entry about keeping other people feeling the need to shove different support group meeting formats down my throat or say Racing for Recovery does not “do it” the right way.  I have never said we are the only way to get ad remain sober.  I have and will continue to promote everything and anything that helps people.  I wish I could say the same for other groups.  Remember our meeting format got started because people contacted me and said “Todd what do you have any type of support group that is not like the “traditional” meetings so we started our unique and cutting edge format of having the addict and their family in one environment so each side can understand what the other has gone through.  Other groups preach “Live and Let Live” and “Don’t Judge Without Prior Investigation” but it does not appear they do that themselves.  If you choose to attend other groups and they work for you awesome but please respect what we do here and let it be.

I took some literature. I brought it to an Naranon meeting and NA meeting up in Michigan to present another “tool” to facilitate recovery, where I was met with nothing but obstacles, in fact, the Naranon meeting showed me the charter language which prohibits introduction of “any other organizations or religions”……….Holy mackerel, I responded, what difference does it make, if it leads to another….or enhanced recovery?????? The NA people summarily dismissed anything but NA, scoffing at the material. In any event, I have been stewing about it for a few weeks, as I liked the meeting….I did manage to give out the website before I was sequestered. Maybe I will give it another go when I get back into town. Keep up the good work Todd, 

Sounds like some people need to have an open mind.

Todd
 

I had the great opportunity to meet Joe Elliott this past Saturday in Detroit with my daughter Skylar.  I have liked the band for years and has respected Joe for his determination to have a dream and a passion and achieving that by not letting anyone or anything stand in his way.  I talked to him about some business regarding Racing for Recovery and then just hung out and chatted for awhile.  He was extremely polite and and courteous with Skylar as well.  Thanks to my friend Nicole who I had not seen in 20 years for arranging the meeting.  Funny how life turns out sometimes eh?

Off to Ironman Louisville this weekend and all of my kids will be there with me.  I am looking forward to this as they have not all be at an Ironman race with me in years.

Time to address a couple things here as well regarding the blog.  I do not do other support groups nor do I need the comments regarding other types of support groups in here.  It is funny how certain people want to shove that message down my and other people’s throats simply because we choose to stay sober other ways.  Please do yourselves a favor and post those comments on other sites not this one.  Just an FYI I do believe in God and know he is the reason I survived that addition and have the life I have today.

Our 5k in Las Vegas is coming Sept 27 and our 7th Annual 5k, 10k here in Sylvania, Ohio is October 26.  Please support these events and this organization to the best of your ability.  We need financial assistance to put these events on and to keep our program running properly.

That is really all I want to talk about now the other stuff is to hard to discuss at the moment and I am not sure if I even want to discuss it at all.  I just want to say thank God for my kids, wife, Grandmother, Parents, friends and supporters of Racing for Recovery.

Enjoy your day.

Todd

Konor and I just returned from doing a speaking engagement, book signing and half ironman (finish time 5:27).  I had an amazing time traveling with my son and spending some quality father-son time with him.  I often feel very guilty being gone doing what I do and this time that guilt was gone and it was all relaxing because Konor was right there with me.  Each night as we layed in bed, I thank God for not only Konor but the rest of my great kids.  It is during times like that I fully understand what the meaning of love is.

We stayed with my friend Tom Dawson and his great family.  I want to thank Tom for all his does not only for me personally but Racing for Recovery in general.  He arranged all details for this trip and it is a big help for me.  Thank you to Jill his awesome wife for putting up with her 3rd kid (me) again.  

Congrats to Sandy and Andy Brackett who finished their first half ironman race.  Awesome job guys and I was honored to be there to witness the smile and hurt on your faces.  Welcome to the club.

Thank you to Chris Maroun from the Maroun family trust for making his financial contribution to Racing for Recovery and making this trip possible.

To the girl who came up to me and said “your book saved my best friends life” and the family that came specifically to meet me, thank you both and I hope I helped in some capacity as this is what I truly love to do.

Check out this months issue of Maxim magazine page 66 as Racing for Recovery has a nice article in there.  They talk about all the benefits of how exercise can help overcome addition.  I hope certain people from certain groups pay attention to this as there is more than one way to get and remain sober.

On Aug 31 I am doing Ironman Louisville and the whole Crandell family is going to be there.  I have not crossed the finish line with my kids since 2003 and never with Mason so this one is going to be a special finish.

Enjoy your day.

TC

Ok yesterday was one of those days where I was just basically down and questioning what I am doing with my life.  Yes I have those at times not everyday is peachy.  After a 40 mile ride (which made me feel a bit better) I met my friend Scott at the pool for a swim and just as we were about to get in the water I looked at him and said “what am I doing with my life”?  We talked for a bit and I told him I was struggling a bit with some issues regarding Racing for Recovery like there is no money to pay the bills this month and should I be doing something else with my life.  I ended the conversation by saying “I have been through this before and I always receive a phone call or email from someone who basically says “you and your program have saved my life”  Well sure enough later in the day I received the following email.  Now before you read this and then some comments from others who I shared the email with, let me say this, although I was struggling with some issues, I did not drink nor was it an excuse to drink or use drugs.  So this post is a message to all of those who think that when times get tough a drink or drug will “fix” the situation and that is simply not the case.  I also want to say thank you to Dave who wrote the email and Scott and Amy for their comments regarding it.  This is what friends do that they have no idea how important just some simple words can make a difference in somone’s life.

You may know me…..I’m pretty sure you know my wife Rebecca…she may have mentioned me once or twice.
 
She has been working diligently to raise the funds to get you here to speak, and those of us on the “team” at our church are looking forward to October.
 
I just wanted to drop a note.  You sent me my own signed copy of your book (thank you, by the way).  In it you wrote that you hoped I could get “some form of inspiration” from reading it.  Dude, the whole story is inspiring…and I myself am not fighting to overcome some daunting adversity, but yet it gave me another push in my daily effort to live a “healthy” lifestyle, to LiveStrong.  Which, by the way, was quite timely on the heels of my injury earlier this year.
 
Rebecca mentioned our friend, who was “hung-up” on the apparent lack of a “Christian” message…your whole story is a “testament” to something greater than oneself…you shouldn’t even be alive, but you are!  YOU made a choice, the choice to turn around, to persevere, to be better than you were the day before.
 
If you were only ever to help ONE person, you would have done more than many of us who sit by and turn a blind eye…..and you no doubt have helped many more people than one.
 
Kudos to you, man!  Your picture is definitely going on my wall of who’s who who’s had some shape or form of impact on my life.  Keep it up.  Things will unfold as they should.
 
I’m looking forward to meeting you.

Awesome Todd, just awesome!  This stuff says it all and why you should NEVER think about doing anything else!!!

Good things happen to good people. There are few in this world as good as you. Stay strong bro. A few of my favorite quotes for ya….

See ya bro!! Good luck in Timberman! 

  I am off to do a ride and a run then enjoy my day working on Racing for Recovery and being with my family.  Konor and I leave at 4 am for New Hampshire where once again I will be surrounded by people who have my and Racing for Recovery’s best interest in mind.

TC

Today was our local Sprint and Olympic distance triathlon and the 10th year in a row for me.  I had my standard 2 hour 26 minute Olympic race 8th out of 33 in my age group (not bad after an 18 hour training week) and Melissa did 1 hour 17 minute Sprint race and finished 3rd in her age group which is awesome.  Our kids were there and my parents which I must say thank you to because if they did not watch our kids we could not race.

Also great job to Darrel Cousino who runs our spirituality meetings for doing his first Olympic distance triathlon and Mike Strezinski who is responsible for making our recovery house a reality.  It is awesome to watch my friends and members of Racing for Recovery doing this crazy stuff.

 Also thanks to all of the people who yelled out words of support as I went along the familiar course.  One of the police officers who was directing traffic yelled as I passed him “hey Todd you should be up front” and my response was “only if I was in the back of your police car”.  This type of stuff is comical to me and reminds me of simply how awesome my life is today and I thank God for all I have.

To those who raced today great job.  I do not care what your times were but the fact that you got out there and did the event is what counts.

I have 3 days of training then Konor and I are flying to New Hampshire as I have a half ironman and a book signing this weekend.  I guess this is a boys getaway and I am looking forward to it.

Enjoy what is left of the weekend.

Todd

First of all I want to send a speedy recovery to my friend Lisa J who was injured on her bike the other day while on vacation.  Lisa is training for her first half ironman and I hope this accident does not set her too far back.

Our family went to Cedar Point the other day and had a complete blast.  My son Konor was big enough to ride some of the roller coasters and he was in heaven.  He loves this place and can’t wait to get back there again.  I wish I could take the family there more often but when we do go it is truly a great time.  There is nothing better than seeing your kids smile with joy and just enjoying life.  It is kind of like being sober.  

Speaking of Konor, he passed his swim test and was able to go off the diving boards today.  Of course his first ever time on the diving board he goes on the highest one.  God love that kid.

We have our local triathlon this weekend and Melissa is doing the sprint and I am doing the Oympic.  Our kids will be there to run through the finish line with us which will be a blast.

Train is going well but tiresome for Ultraman.  Yesterday was a nice 90 mile bike ride then 4 mile run.  This is the stuff I have neglected to do over the years and now that I am doing them my races have been more enjoyable.  You know what they say “you have to put in the work to get the results” and that goes not only for triathlon but sobriety and life as well.

Registration is already open for the 5th Annual Racing for Recovery Triathlon on June 7, 2009 and also for our 7th Annual Racing for Recovery 5k on October 26, 2008

A good friend of mine, David, from Racing for Recovery did a bunch of painting for us and now I have to get the furniture put back.

Enjoy your weekend.

TC

Hey everyone,

I just returned from Los Angeles where I did some training (actually swam 2 miles in the ocean) and some business as well.  Yes Motley Crue was fun also.  Here is an update ,the television show is still in progress, a first draft of our second book is done and we are beginning to work on a second documentary.  Special thanks to California Animal Rehabilitation, Scott S., Chris C., John B. and all of the producers, writers and camera guys for all of their work for their awesome support of Racing for Recovery.

If you are in the Northwest Ohio or Southeastern Michigan and like golf, please join us for the Racing for Recovery 3rd Annual golf outting on Friday, August 22 at Giant Oaks Golf Course. This event is made possible by New York Life  along with Jeff and Kim King.  They are generous supporters of Racing for Recovery and their support is greatly appreciated.

Congrats to my friend Barb N who completed her first triathlon last weekend.

Family fun day at Cedar Point Amusement Park.  We do this every year and I am not looking forward to those roller coasters ha.

Ok that is it for now guys as I just finished a swim workout and now back to work.

Have a great day.

TC

Hey everyone hope all is well.

I went to see Motley Crue in Detroit last Tuesday (I think it was my 57th time) and they were awesome. I have been a fan of this band since 1984 and have had the pleasure of meeting them several times over the years. I must say this show was right at the top for a variety of reasons. First of all, I took my friend Greg who attends our Racing for Recovery meetings and who also is the biggest Nikki Sixx fan of all time and secondly my old friend Bob who has been a friend of mine since my freshman year in high school. Bob was discussed in my book and lived with me during the dark years. I must say it was so much fun to be sober and watching my fav band with some great friends. Once again, I was reminded of how good life is without drugs. Here are a few pics of me meeting the guys. Some of the pictures were early in my sobriety and I look like a bloated mess lol.

On a sad note and I probably should have put this in another post, we lost another great person to drug addiction and now the family and friends are left dealing with the loss. Brent V. who I have known as the older brother of my good friends Todd and Mark lost his life due to a drug overdose and overall bad health. I am so sorry for Brent’s dying and pray for peace for his family and friends. Todd came to our support group meeting over a week ago and shared what he was feeling and it was truly an emotional experience.

Sobriety and drugs are both real folks. One brings complete joy and a promise of a great life the other brings devastation and a complete waste of life. You decide which one you want and always remember that I and Racing for Recovery are here to help.

I hope it stops raining I have a 12 mile run to do.

TC

Happy 3rd b day to my son Mason. I love you with all my heart and thank God for you everyday.

I just returned from Rhode Island 1/2 Ironman where I finished in a time of 5.09 which is my best ever at that distance. More importantly than that was hanging with my friend Tom and his family along with Sandy and Andy who participated in our Racing for Recovery 5k in Las Vegas last October. I want to thank you all of your for your support, friendship and encouragement over the weekend as it was a huge motivator for me out there.

Thanks to each and everyone of you who help me do what I do for this program and my personal life.

I am tired and going to bed.

TC

Hey everyone,

Ok you want an example of how good sobriety is, well here ya go. As I was running today, I passed a detective as he was directing traffic (we have a big golf outing in town this week) and said “hey Detective how are ya? He replied “hey Todd do not knock over any of my cones” and he waived and laughed. As I continued on my run I thought this guy came to my parents house 23 years ago arrested me and took me to jail for what could and possibly should have been an 8 year prison term and now look at our relationship. Also when I was in a car accident last year (that was not my fault) he was on the scene and was talking to me about the ESPN segment (as they were in town filming at the time) and then gave me a ride home in the police car and jokinly said “how do you like our new seats they are different since you were in there the last time”

Bottom line is this people, as a direct result of my drinking I faced serious legal problems with this guy and as a benefit of my not drinking look at how things change. Now look at this photo and tell me that I did not make the best choice of my life which was to stop drinking and using drugs. If you are questioning if you can have a better life if you choose to stop, the answer is simply YES.

Enjoy your day.

TC