This post, in part, inspired me (Dec 12?) to Stop. (Adam PT did the rest). Just stop. No negotiating, no phase out plan, no I'll do it tomorrow, no I still have beer in the fridge. Just a solid no. Now, nearly three weeks in, I feel I am still in detox. Everything hurts. Joints. Ugh. The "fog" still hasn't lifted, but I know it will. I gave up a running plan for now, taking the time to let the system reset. No race on the calendar until June, I can take some time to let my system recover. I am most surprised at the Neurological responses. Random spasms, random "shocks" in extremities. I get them and think, my gosh, this is what poison does to you..
I didn't consider myself an "Alcoholic", but like a lot of runners I thrive on routine. So my issue wasn't dose, it was frequency. Two beers a night, Two beers and a whiskey, one beer and two whiskeys. But EVERY day.
I don't use the word "sober" because I was rarely "Drunk". I even stopped counting "how many days", because it doesn't matter. It's just something I "don't" do.
Thank you for sharing, and congratulations on your three weeks.
It can be rocky to start (maybe "destabilizing" is a better word), but really does become less effortful and more a way of being over time. Like you, I was careful not to add too much new stuff. There's a temptation to "replace" old habits with new, but at the end of the day, it's still you in there. If you're not spending time sitting with the discomfort because you're too busy distracting, you'll have trouble when the shine wears off the new stuff.
Thanks Mike. I have a post coming, related to the mind set of sticking with it. Every day is a "zero" day. Its not day 3, day 27, it's just today. You're right, the sitting with it is important.
I am curious now. Curiosity has replaced any feeling of loss.
I forget where, but I was reading on substack about "thin" Vs. "thick" desires. Thin is very short term, and multiple thins can replace or derail our thick desires.
I know new years resolutions are still popular, but I am trying not to "Bookend" improvement with a calendar, or timeline. I am trying, in small ways (think 1%) to do the things NOW, even if they are not perfect.
(Rambling comment, but it's early).
Thank you for the offer and inspiration as always.
Cheers to 5 years! Sobriety is a super power, and you're clearly seeing the magic of it. I excited to be coming up on 3 years and running faster than I ever have in my early 40s. 2026 is about to be magic!
Thank you for sharing that. Running helps us carry and express many of the things that alcohol did (before it stopped working). Congrats on 16 years. Inspirational!
As you know, you and your wife inspired me 6 months ago to stop drinking. I did not think I drank that much. But I felt it was junk calories and I feared the alcohol would someday destroy my liver......not sure how that works. But when you start to get older, you start thinking about what you eat, drink and do each day. How that impacts your health and longevity. Five years is a long time and both of you should be blessed that could do this together.
Thanks for the kind words. Half-decade sounds more impressive than five years, doesn't it? Cheers... I subscribed to your 'stack and look forward to reading.
This post, in part, inspired me (Dec 12?) to Stop. (Adam PT did the rest). Just stop. No negotiating, no phase out plan, no I'll do it tomorrow, no I still have beer in the fridge. Just a solid no. Now, nearly three weeks in, I feel I am still in detox. Everything hurts. Joints. Ugh. The "fog" still hasn't lifted, but I know it will. I gave up a running plan for now, taking the time to let the system reset. No race on the calendar until June, I can take some time to let my system recover. I am most surprised at the Neurological responses. Random spasms, random "shocks" in extremities. I get them and think, my gosh, this is what poison does to you..
I didn't consider myself an "Alcoholic", but like a lot of runners I thrive on routine. So my issue wasn't dose, it was frequency. Two beers a night, Two beers and a whiskey, one beer and two whiskeys. But EVERY day.
I don't use the word "sober" because I was rarely "Drunk". I even stopped counting "how many days", because it doesn't matter. It's just something I "don't" do.
Thanks for the post and inspiration Mike.
Thank you for sharing, and congratulations on your three weeks.
It can be rocky to start (maybe "destabilizing" is a better word), but really does become less effortful and more a way of being over time. Like you, I was careful not to add too much new stuff. There's a temptation to "replace" old habits with new, but at the end of the day, it's still you in there. If you're not spending time sitting with the discomfort because you're too busy distracting, you'll have trouble when the shine wears off the new stuff.
I'm so glad my story helped. Reach out any time!
Thanks Mike. I have a post coming, related to the mind set of sticking with it. Every day is a "zero" day. Its not day 3, day 27, it's just today. You're right, the sitting with it is important.
I am curious now. Curiosity has replaced any feeling of loss.
I forget where, but I was reading on substack about "thin" Vs. "thick" desires. Thin is very short term, and multiple thins can replace or derail our thick desires.
I know new years resolutions are still popular, but I am trying not to "Bookend" improvement with a calendar, or timeline. I am trying, in small ways (think 1%) to do the things NOW, even if they are not perfect.
(Rambling comment, but it's early).
Thank you for the offer and inspiration as always.
Cheers to 5 years! Sobriety is a super power, and you're clearly seeing the magic of it. I excited to be coming up on 3 years and running faster than I ever have in my early 40s. 2026 is about to be magic!
Congrats to you on 3. It really can feel magical at times… A secret unlocked. Have a great 2026!
I leaned into running when I first got sober 16yrs ago. That and AA saved my life. I’m still running and still sober.
Thank you for sharing that. Running helps us carry and express many of the things that alcohol did (before it stopped working). Congrats on 16 years. Inspirational!
Congrats! Been sober (and running) for almost 8 years. Just. Keeps. Getting. Better.
Keep going!
Yes it does! Thanks for reading 🤙
As you know, you and your wife inspired me 6 months ago to stop drinking. I did not think I drank that much. But I felt it was junk calories and I feared the alcohol would someday destroy my liver......not sure how that works. But when you start to get older, you start thinking about what you eat, drink and do each day. How that impacts your health and longevity. Five years is a long time and both of you should be blessed that could do this together.
🙏
A wonderful milestone to mark. Interesting and rewarding insights - thanks for sharing 😊.
Thank you!
A powerful piece of writing Mike - congrats on the half decade. Really interesting to hear all the ways it has boosted your running.
Thanks for the kind words. Half-decade sounds more impressive than five years, doesn't it? Cheers... I subscribed to your 'stack and look forward to reading.
What a beautiful and vulnerable share. So proud of you, my love. ❤️
Not possible without you. ❤️
You write about it beautifully. Congrats to you and your wife on 5 years! 🙌🙌
Thank you, Scott. Appreciate that! Now, I'm off to get us a piece of cake. Or maybe an entire cake. 🎂