alcoholic runner

When you say you find it hard to function, do you mean that you drink before and/or during school?

With me, I find it hard to get through a night without a few beers, but I still do it almost every week. I typically drink Thurs-Sun. That said, I wait until dinner time and typically only have a few (although stronger in ABV) beers (2 or 3).

I also run high mileage, race well and appear in good health medically.

I used to be just like you, but eventually, it caught up with me. Alcohol was having such an effect on my nervous system, my muscles started locking up all the time. I was pretty far gone by that point -- very very high functioning and very few people were aware I was drunk all the time. But I was routinely downing 12 beers a day and sometimes way more. Eventually, it got in the way of everything and I had to stop.

Everyone's different, so don't let anyone tell you what you should or shouldn't do. Just pay attention if the downsides of alcohol start to outweigh the positives. I went about four years where I felt really trapped by alcohol and was afraid I'd never get away from it. That may never happen to you, but just be conscious of it, so if the balance starts to tip the other way, you're not lying to yourself.

I tend to get up early and knock some miles in before work but I have to confess that I will often have a drink around about 10:30 - there are quite a few teachers also who do this. I know it's not good but it's never over the top and it just relaxes me.

Then I will prob have another one mid afternoon and of course have at least 2-3 at night. Like you, mostly beers but if it's social then wine or whatever is fine also.

It's true what they say that most alcoholics are working professionals. The bum on the street is just one end of the spectrum.

Thanks for sharing and well done for kicking it.

I know I have a problem so I need to monitor it closely and know it's wrong to do while working but it's become socially acceptable at my work.

I run 75-90 mpw on average and realized in the last year or so that I was looking forward to drinking on the weekends a bit too much. I started relying too much on booze to relieve the anxiety I was feeling when my wife and I started having some trouble with our marriage. I never drink more than three nights/week, but my addictive personality freaked me out a bit.

Other than easing my anxiety, drinking really has no benefits for me. So, I just decided this week to completely stop. It will be tough for me when the weekend rolls around, but I have concrete plans to help me fight the urges. I've relied on this site a bit for support and guidance:

http://www.hamsnetwork.org/

Not sure that you want/need to reduce your drinking, but I know how things can creep up on your. My father was an alcoholic, but quit drinking after AA over 30 years ago. I don't want to fall into that deep hole, so I'm trying to knock it off at the pass right now.

Good luck.

You need to get into a treatment program. If not for yourself, then for the good of the children. Won't anyone think of the children?

Thanks for the tip and all the best with staying on the wagon.

Yeah, I know I need some help so I'm looking into ways that are inexpensive but work.

My pupils are just fine and the best performing class in my school. It might sound crazy but I'm a very good teacher and have witnessed a number of my former pupils go on to gain scholarships at prestigious colleges.

As for my actual kids, then they're all grown up and doing just great thanks.

It's not your pupils that I'm concerned about, it's you! Take care of yourself.

Thanks again for the advice.

Sorry, the latter part of my last comment was directed at another comment.

Likewise, look after yourself!

I'm intrigued, how do you drink a beer at school without someone noticing?

I rarely miss a day myself. Unless it's the weekend, and even then usually, I don't have my first drink until ~6:00 -8:00 and then drink steady until around midnight. I don't want to spend a fortune on booze, so I usually drink two to four shots of cheap vodka followed by two tall cans (24 oz) of malt liquor (8.1% ABV). Occasionally, I'll just pick up a pint of vodka and drink that.

I run about 90-100 mpw. I haven't really noticed that it affects my life all that much: I'm rarely hungover, and I haven't noticed any change in my running. My wife goes to bed early (8:30 or so), and the kiddos are usually in bed at 8 and around 10. It's just sorta my time to kick around in the garage and work on projects and listen to podcasts, B.S. if a buddy stops by, dig out my LPs, journal ideas or write, etc.

I enjoy it and don't really have any desire to quit. Sometimes I'll go a week or so, but that just makes me want to smoke pot, which my wife HATES, so I just stick with the booze. As an aside, after this regimen it makes it nearly impossible to catch a buzz from light beer.

Just my $.02.

Ha, well it's all rather easy. Like I said, I'm by no means the only one drinking at my school so myself and my fellow drinkers tend to come into my lab where almost no one else visits.

As for the empties, then the janitor who joins us ensures they are discreetly shipped out without a trace.

I know how it all sounds.

90 mpw alcoholic teacher? C'mon man you gotta try harder than that.

Are you suggesting that I'm not running enough miles per week or not trying hard enough to curb drinking?

I'm suggesting this thread was started by a troll.

Never on the wagon wrote:

Ha, well it's all rather easy. Like I said, I'm by no means the only one drinking at my school so myself and my fellow drinkers tend to come into my lab where almost no one else visits.

As for the empties, then the janitor who joins us ensures they are discreetly shipped out without a trace.

I know how it all sounds.

Stop with the bullshit.

Well that's your opinion but it's off the mark here my friend.

Alcoholic here. There's a certain type of person who never feels satisfactory drunk. Recently blew a 0.22 and face up to 2 years in jail. What's surprising is that I felt below average in drunkenness when I was arrested. This suggests my normal level of drunkenness on a Saturday night is around 0.3. As a condition of my bail the judge has banned me from every bar in the state.

I trained with a talented guy who had a major drinking problem. He consistently ran 31:xx for 10k and 2:25 for the marathon. We ran 13x/wk. We'd pick up a couple of 20 oz Sam Adams at the corner store after the a.m. run and we'd hit the bars most evenings after work and the afternoon workout. It was an awesome few years in my mid 20's. I didn't drink nearly as much as he did. I often wonder how fast he'd been if he took better care of his drinking and diet - and if we programmed more rest into our training.

I visited him recently, 20 years later. He has wicked high blood pressure, has gained about 40 pounds and still drinks like a fish. I wish he'd get help but he doesn't think he has a problem. Alcohol destroys careers, talents, marriages, you name it... I'm not a teetotaler - I enjoy a beer or two every now and then. In fact, I had a nice glass of wine with my steak tonight. But I wish some people would see how much alcohol can ruin their lives and hurt those around them...

Please try to get your drinking under control now before it starts to interfere with your life. You don't sound like an alcoholic, but if you feel you need a drink or two to function you may be heading down a slippery slope. It's a crutch and you don't need it. I know I sound like Sam Dee from The Olympian, but I've seen too many friends make dumb mistakes due to alcohol.