Hey buddy...can I bum a smoke...... (Read 1462 times)

.....well there are 7 words you'll never hear me utter....um....Ever again. Up until Jan 10th of this year you may have however. Ya see, having been an avid smoker for 27 years ( yes 27) I have bummed my share of butts. Smoking was THE impossible hurdle in my life. Until now. It was like a light went on...and boy was it bright. I feel stupid for not seeing it before, but whatever, I see it now. I'm 45, male, married...happily, dad to three great kids, all teens. But what I really want you to know about me that I am a runner. Except I had  forgotten that somewhere along the way. The fact that it took me 27 years to blink is either an indication of my own inner addiction tendencies and my inability to make the right choice or a testament to the addiction tendencies of nicotene and it's ability to make choices for you.  I'm sure it's varying bits of each.

So, as I said...I'm a runner and I always have been. It's not something that I feel one can "grow" to enjoy. You either are or you aren't. There is no grey area. I used to run a lot. But I was much younger, in high school. Cross Country, Track, road races etc... I never really stopped runnning...per se'. Even as a pack a day smoker, every now and then I would get up and hit the road for 3-4 mile run. Just like that. I certainly would not include those runs into the category labeled "gratifying" or "fun" but they were runs none the less. So here I am,  today,  training for a half marathon this April. I'm commited. And once your commited, only then can you have a chance at success. I've logged over 40 miles in the last 3.5 weeks and will be at or over 200 quality miles the day of the race. Short miles, long miles, tempo miles, walking miles and some cross training on the really snowy days. I will run this 13.1 miles and I will be on cloud nine every step of the way. I never thought that this was something I would ever do again in my lifetime. So take it from this old guy...this runner...it aint over till it's over.

Good job Donn! I smoked at least a pack a day for twenty years. I gave it up a little over three years ago after many failed attempts. I think I got it beat this time. I haven't smoked once since I gave it up and I don't have any cravings.  Every so often, a smoker will sit next to me on the bus during my commute home and smell like a chimney. I can't believe I use to stink that bad.

Way to go!  Good luck with the butt-kicking and with your training for your half.

 

I still need to quit (I had quit once for 8 months - about 2 years ago - but started up again).  Quitting seemed easy (used the patch) - but for me , I just fell back into it one day.  I want to try again to quit for good - I want to do my first full marathon this Fall - and that's provided some new motivation again to kick the butts.

Donn:  I love this post of yours & your honesty!!  Although never been a smoker, I do understand the addiction issue much more than I would like to because of being a "co-dependent"  to certain addictions with family members (mine & wifes"s) over last several years.  Your words really hit home in a way too real way.  But you are proof that there can be victory!   Also,  I have discovered over last 2 yrs that I am a runner, always have been, always will be, does not matter that I am not an "elite" runner.  There was a period of several years that I got away from running, working out, & being physically active.   Now at 54+  I am in better fitness condition & healthier (have got "perfect health" assessement last 2 exams from doctor) than over last 20+ yrs.   Stay strong & watch out for those "triggers".

As the daughter of 2 former smokers, can I thank you?  Nearly 3 years ago my dad suffered a stroke on Easter at the age of 62.  I was scared for his life, but also f'ing pissed.  It took a STROKE for him to quit.

My mom quit cold-turkey when I was about 10, but before then both of my parents smoked in the house and in the car.  I have asthma and pretty much continuous battles with lung issues and likely will until the day I die.  Running helps my overall lung function, but at the same time exacerbates asthma issues that I didn't have before I started running.  My mom also has asthma bordering on COPD and they both have chronic coughs.  I have a very difficult time feeling pity for them, since my own breathing issues are almost certainly the result of being exposed to their smoke for the first decade of my life.

You have done a huge favor to yourself AND to those around you.  I hope you find that your run quality improves greatly now that you've laid aside the cancer sticks.

"to kick the habit, we must commit fully to our choice. Unless we can fully commit, we stand little chance of success"

 

Well-said, and I couldn't agree with you more! When I quit, a little over 20 years ago, I was ready and committed, and it was easier than I thought it would be (not that it was easy - but easier). It was one of the best decisions I ever made, and there is just no way that I will ever go back.

 

Enjoy being a runner and an ex-smoker. You will never, never regret having made the decision and the commitment to quit smoking.

 

Good luck in your April half!

 

Jay

As a former smoker I only have one little reminder for you. No matter what you may think , you will be ,for the rest of your life, one puff away from total addiction. Please don't ever forget that.

 

+1 to that! I quit 3 years ago and feel great. I run everything from 5k's to marathons and all sorts of tris' but am constantly looking over my shoulder for that "monkey" that got off my back.