Sober in the Capitol

I went to a state school for college, one of the largest in the nation. I partied like what I thought a 'normal' college girl did. There were serious incidents that happened purely because I made poor choices and put myself in dangerous situations, but I must say, for the most part, I made it through safely. By the grace of God.

And He continued to protect me, mainly from myself, for 10 years of drinking after college.

This past weekend I returned to the town of my college days to run in a half marathon. We stopped at the grocery store on the way to where we were spending the night so that my husband could buy a 6 pack of beer. {We have been adjusting and compromising and figuring out what works for us regarding his drinking.....} We walked into the beer and wine section of the store and my head started spinning.

I realized two things. One- I equate this town to margaritas and a good buzz. Two- Any type of mini get-away from my kids and my job meant I could buy and drink alcohol with freedom not usually enjoyed in my hometown.

That was true until 14 months ago when I quit drinking. When I sobered up. When I realized that indeed, I was an alcoholic.

I sent a text to my sponsor and to Em asking their opinion of nonalcoholic beer. Both said no. {Props to me- I had already decided it wasn't a good idea before they texted back}

I discovered that this town was going to have to come to mean something new to me. That mini vacations were going to have to trigger something else in me. That I had the opportunity to redefine who I was in that city. In any city.

After I ran the half marathon on Sunday, I said to my husband, "I now have a healthy connotation with this place. I have done something good for me here, instead of my usual self destructive behavior."

And for that I am so thankful. What are you thankful for?
Happy Thursday!

What I do instead-

After my first babe I tried to run a little. I was following a walk to run program and just couldn't stick with it. Then I found out I was pregnant with #2. Yep, #1 was 3 months old.

After #2 I ran a bit. Pushing a double jogger really ups the ante!

After #3 I ran a bit more. A bit further. About a month before my last black out I ran a 5K with two friends. I then decided to run a half marathon.

13.1 miles.

Seriously.

I printed off a twelve week training schedule and started running. And running. And running some more. I was blessed with 2 friends who shared a 1.5 hour window of free time with me and we committed to running together. 12 weeks later we ran 13.1 miles together.

Running was such a great focus for me to have besides drinking. And because I was no longer ingesting hundreds of calories from sangria and I was running 15 or so miles a week, I quickly lost weight. I liked the attention I was getting. I couldn't come out and say I was getting sober, but I could share the fact that I was running, training for a half marathon.

The morning we ran 9 miles in training was the most accomplished I have ever felt. It was 2 months after my last drink. I still remember sitting in church and just basking in the complete joy I felt.

No guilt. No headache. No regrets.

I still run. I am not fast. I am not consistent. I like a little walk mixed in with my run. The same way I like a little cream mixed in with my coffee and the same way I used to like a little sprite mixed in with my vodka.

Yep, running is helping me out.

Now I am training for a race in February......

What do you do?