DRYing OUT

Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Race 2011
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 We are Rowing the Atlantic .......because "we are focused individuals who want to acheive" Jamile and Tom

 
From the Drunk to the Drink!
 
My Name is Tom and this is my story.....
 
.......At the beginning of 2006,  I couldn't run down the road and would have laughed if anyone had suggested that I would be running marathons, but I have and in April 2010 completed the Marathon des Sables. 
 
I was an alcoholic, I once went to the doctors, he asked me how much I drank,  I answered about 13 - 14 pints, the doctor said 'a week?' my reply was 'no ,every night.'  My drinking career started as a teenager and by the time I had reached my 30's I was proud to be at the top of the game!
 
 I had tried to stop drinking before but convinced myself that I was good at drinking, and a better, more interesting person because of it, I didn't always see the loud, sometimes aggressive, unhealthy person I had become.
 
 At one of my lowest points in 2005, I took difficult step to get 'help'.  Unfortunately for me and my family 'help was not there.  My GP gave me a number for a Alcohol counselling group who offered me an appointment in '2 weeks'.  That was it, I got a job working away from home, never went to the group again and my drinking went from bad to worse. 
 
 Shortly after the birth of my son in January 2006, I finally realised what I had to lose, my partner, four children and career.   It was around at this time  I received the email  that literally saved my life.  Men's Fitness Magazine were promoting their first Roughtrack Duathlon event  that September  and so I made the decision to enter and began training for the event.  Since receiving that email I have lost 5 stone, competed in numerous 10k races, half marathons, duathlons and completed 8 marathons.  In 2008 I qualified as a personal trainer and set up ' Effort Personal Training,  but most importantly have been Alcohol Free for 2 years.
 
I am passionate about sharing my story and being open and honest about alcoholism, and needed a big challenge to show how an alcoholic can turn their life aroung and to inspire and give hope to others suffering from the illness of Alcohilism .  I chose the Marathon des Sables, a 250km footrace through the Sahara desert, As a result of this race my story was covered by both local and national press, radio and TV.
 
I met Jamile during an ultramarathon event, we got talking and supported each other through the event, by the end of day 2 we knew we had both found a good friend.  After completing  the MDS I started weighing up the options for my next challenge, I had heard about rowing the atlantic and  as I could'nt swim let alone row, decided that was the challenge for me, I now had to find a partner.  I planted the seed with Jamile, and he came back with the answer I wanted.....Yes.    GAME ON.
 
If by completing events like the MDS and the Woodvale Challenge I can inspire just one alcoholic to take control of their life it will have been worth every stroke and every step.
 
Slowing Down a Life in the Fast Lane
 
My Name is Jamile and this is my story.....
 

At the beginnning of 2009, I lived my life at full speed, a high pressure job, and a big expense account had meant I had spent the last few corporate years eating and drinking my way into ill health.

I was 18.5 stone, clinically obese, hypertensive and had a  resting heart rate of 110BMP and I was brutally aware I  was a classic candidate for a stroke and heart attack. 

Then, one day I took a plane journey that would change the direction of my life forever, I met the parents of two terminally ill young girls, through their illness they had discovered that Eire had no Childrens Hospice, and in their daughters memory decided to build one. This moving and inspiring story made gave me the push I needed, and right then and there I decided to help.  I was going to raise money and get fit at the same time. 

I looked for something epic and settled on the ATD Namibia Ultra-Marathon; a 24 hour , 126Km self supporting race across the Namiba Desert.  Strangely I had always dreamt about running across a desert, now I had a year to turn my life around and become an Ultramarathon runner. No one I told took me seriously or believed that I could do it; I hadn’t run at all in over a decade and had never even run a Marathon before.

 I was fully committed to the challenge I had set myself I changed my diet and kept to a gruelling training program of three gym sessions a week, as well as running, over the year I ran a total of 1,500 miles in preparation.  I found that I had an ability to get into the 'zone'  and just keep going.  My resting heart rate went from 110 BPM at the start of training to 47 BPM, my  blood pressure returned to normal and I dropped four stone, I was feeling like a serious runner and the non-beleivers were now right behind me.

I ran my first marathon and then several more. Then I  met Thomas during my first Ultramarathon event,  (a 45 mile run on day 1 followed by the same on day 2) We just clicked, we got on well and made a good team.

 

After a long year of training I found myself one morning standing side by side next to the very people whose inspiring blogs and articles I had read a year ago.  The same people 23hours and 50mins later were there to cheer me over the finish line.  I had achieved my goal, from non runner to Ultra-runner in one year. 

I have now left the corporate world and now work as a Radiographer, I am also studying for a Masters degree in  Exercise for Health.  I want to help others in danger of developing chronic lifestyle diseases to reclaim their lives & health.  Being regularly exposed the danger of alcohol abuse in society while working in A&E and having experienced the effects on my life first hand; I feel strongly about the work that Addaction does.