I wonder if there is such a thing as fit alcoholics? Sounds absurd and it is all relative. But one thing for sure is that Jane is running in a charity race tomorrow and it is a 5 kilometer race. Jane has been training for it and I (the world's master trainer :-) have been supervising nutrition and training!
Jane can certainly run much further than me. She can do the 5 k distance in about 35 minutes. Now that is pretty damn good for an alcoholic!! I actually think that the purpose and target that training for a race such as this imposes on the person is good for an alcoholic. It injects a distraction and a focus. These are very important as in my experience alcoholics (and non-alcoholics of course) can tend to drift a bit and think negatively. A more positive outlook and a goal helps to clear the mind and drive out the demons. It also helps to delay or at least put a temporary break on alcoholic binges.
This is particularly the case if the race is a charity event with people sponsoring the runners. There is a responsibility to turn up and do ones best.
Anyway, just as an update, Jane is doing not bad. She had a minor binge about a week ago but it was about half the duration of previous binges and this seems (touch wood) to be a bit of a trend. She binges for 4 days where once it was 7 - 10 days. The shorter binges have much shorter recovery times while a ten day binge can damn nearly kill her. She has been close on occasions.
Shorter recovery times means a greater likelihood of retaining a job, which is all very positive. It is not utopia but she could be said to be one of the few fit alcoholics! Certainly fitter than me if the measure is how far you can run.
So one little element in the recovery of an alcoholic is training for a charity race.
Jane can certainly run much further than me. She can do the 5 k distance in about 35 minutes. Now that is pretty damn good for an alcoholic!! I actually think that the purpose and target that training for a race such as this imposes on the person is good for an alcoholic. It injects a distraction and a focus. These are very important as in my experience alcoholics (and non-alcoholics of course) can tend to drift a bit and think negatively. A more positive outlook and a goal helps to clear the mind and drive out the demons. It also helps to delay or at least put a temporary break on alcoholic binges.
This is particularly the case if the race is a charity event with people sponsoring the runners. There is a responsibility to turn up and do ones best.
Anyway, just as an update, Jane is doing not bad. She had a minor binge about a week ago but it was about half the duration of previous binges and this seems (touch wood) to be a bit of a trend. She binges for 4 days where once it was 7 - 10 days. The shorter binges have much shorter recovery times while a ten day binge can damn nearly kill her. She has been close on occasions.
Shorter recovery times means a greater likelihood of retaining a job, which is all very positive. It is not utopia but she could be said to be one of the few fit alcoholics! Certainly fitter than me if the measure is how far you can run.
So one little element in the recovery of an alcoholic is training for a charity race.
I guess I'd say yes and no. Personally, I do Yoga at an intermediate level. And when I am 'there' I am 'there' very well. But I get mysterious bruises on my body and I don't know how I got them. Yet I do headstands/ handstands. There is the age factor as well. This is hard to deal with. Best in the charity race
ReplyDeleteGo Jane!! Let us know how she did in that race, Freddie.
ReplyDeleteLinda
Hi Linda
ReplyDeleteHi Linda. Thanks for asking. She did fine. I actually made a video which I can't show here, of course. I hope and there is a glimmer of belief that things are or maybe just beginning to turn around. But it is a long term process (10-15 years) to unlearn the habitat of alcoholism. I live day by day and in hope.
I think your blog is very important and I am glad you have written it. It has made me feel tremendously sad to read what you (and the rest of us who have loved ones with alcoholism) have gone through. I really hope that she is able to get through this but only time will tell. To be honest, I don't know how you can bear this type of situation but I can easily see how it happens, especially for someone you truly love. Best of luck to you both.
ReplyDeleteWishing you and Jane a very Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteHope you're doing well.
Linda in Pa.