Cool story: 6 yrs ago, he was a recovering meth/heroin addict who smoked 2 packs a day. Now he's a 2:16 OTrials marathoner

Perspective Have some wrote:

Honest Mike, I respect that you're so well adjusted in this world and life that you never went down this road and kept on a straight and narrow. But come on man, your self ritcheousness is truly naive, and with all due respect: Narrow. Also, your concept of addiction, addictive behaviors, coping, and early development is seemingly limited...at least in your writing and strong opinions.

Not saying that a recovering addict "deserves your praise" but please reserve your harsh judgement, because it isn't serving of anyone and most of all yourself. If addiction hasn't touched you yet, it will in some form or fashion in yourself or your circles, because it's pervasive and human. Suggest that you keep an open mind, compassion, and get to know the many manifestations and people around you who are achieving some badass things and overcoming obstacles that are truly inspiring.

Honest Mike wrote:

Perspective Have some wrote:

Honest Mike, I respect that you're so well adjusted in this world and life that you never went down this road and kept on a straight and narrow. But come on man, your self ritcheousness is truly naive, and with all due respect: Narrow. Also, your concept of addiction, addictive behaviors, coping, and early development is seemingly limited...at least in your writing and strong opinions.

Not saying that a recovering addict "deserves your praise" but please reserve your harsh judgement, because it isn't serving of anyone and most of all yourself. If addiction hasn't touched you yet, it will in some form or fashion in yourself or your circles, because it's pervasive and human. Suggest that you keep an open mind, compassion, and get to know the many manifestations and people around you who are achieving some badass things and overcoming obstacles that are truly inspiring.

What a crock of BS!

Look...I transcended a past that i didn't deserve, a university that broke my spirit, a post-graduate world that treated me like I didn't exist and a lifetime of anxiety and pain.

I'm 48 freaking years old you prick.

If i could have found drugs, I would have.

No...i found different physical outlets...basketball in college and afterward...distance running..tennis...and different games now with the kids i work with in our center

It's convenient for the people here to call me fat and out of shape as they do...but they are wrong.

I help others accomplish bada** things every day....and they.don't need drugs to do it.

So you can bite me. I try to improve society and you support the party.

I'll take my goal.

I'll do humanity my way...while you go support addicts.

Yoier wrote:

Honest Mike wrote:

What a crock of BS!

Look...I transcended a past that i didn't deserve, a university that broke my spirit, a post-graduate world that treated me like I didn't exist and a lifetime of anxiety and pain.

I'm 48 freaking years old you prick.

If i could have found drugs, I would have.

No...i found different physical outlets...basketball in college and afterward...distance running..tennis...and different games now with the kids i work with in our center

It's convenient for the people here to call me fat and out of shape as they do...but they are wrong.

I help others accomplish bada** things every day....and they.don't need drugs to do it.

So you can bite me. I try to improve society and you support the party.

I'll take my goal.

I'll do humanity my way...while you go support addicts.

Why is everything about you? Why is it always about you?

Honest Mike wrote:

K Dot wrote:

I’m a recovered alcoholic and crack addict as well.

I love stories like this. I’ve come back to running after years of struggling and then getting sober. You don’t wake up one day and say “I’m gonna become a crack addict.” There are many, many incremental mistakes along the way. Most are bad attempts at coping with greater problems at hand. By the time you arrive at heroin, you’ve already decided you don’t care about your life anymore. Many people refuse to try to understand because they can go have a few beers and have a completely different experience than me. Using alcohol to numb myself was a bad choice I made when I hated my life as a teenager, but becoming addicted to it was not a choice. It was like something else took over almost immediately for me. I hope it doesn’t ever happen to you or one of your loved ones. If it does happen to one of your loved ones, I hope that you’re able to change your way of thinking enough to help.

I ruined many relationships along the way and have also put in tons of time rebuilding those relationships since I got sober. They’re stronger than they were before I took my first sip of alcohol.

Also, as someone who had put heroin, cocaine, and meth into my body, I wouldn’t use EPO. I have to abide by a strict code of not using any substances like that now, and using EPO would cross that line for me. I get that this is guy much faster than me, and I don’t know him, but I just thought I’d share that perspective. It’s absolutely possible that this guy does, but just because he used to do drugs does not automatically mean that he must be using EPO now.

And as free as you are to exonerate yourself, there are people who had worse that didn't choose the dirty path. Just because we as a community here are runners doesn't mean we have to support your lifestyle choices.

Having said this, I don't care that you recovered because you started in the first place.

You're not owed deference nor respect because in the general populace, addicts are a minority.

You had, as many did, many chances not to say yes. There exists no direct correlation from a difficult life and the consumption of cocaine or crack, etc.

In order to have it, you have to be around it tangentially at some juncture.

You don't have the right to use the fact that you hated your life as a teenager as fodder to explain addiction or even started.

Brass tacks: You don't become bad without associating with bad people.

Guess what dude? I hated my life as a teen and used it to get involved in school, a city youth commission, and even a part time job. I enjoyed life because of all of this. I didn't need alcohol, drugs, cigarettes or anything.

What you won't admit is that you're a rebel and it caught up to you, and many of the square nerds and dorks you all with the ripped jackets, goth faces and blue hair never needed that outside affirmation to know themselves.

So I don't care about your recovery, prowess as a runner, or what career you have.

I'm just one of the few that will candidly say I don't accept addicts and their stories and why.

i don't care if you care what I've said...but it is something I could not live with myself for not saying.

Tl;dr: you did the dope in the first place. Why should we care?

choccymilklife wrote:

Honest Mike wrote:

And as free as you are to exonerate yourself, there are people who had worse that didn't choose the dirty path. Just because we as a community here are runners doesn't mean we have to support your lifestyle choices.

Having said this, I don't care that you recovered because you started in the first place.

You're not owed deference nor respect because in the general populace, addicts are a minority.

You had, as many did, many chances not to say yes. There exists no direct correlation from a difficult life and the consumption of cocaine or crack, etc.

In order to have it, you have to be around it tangentially at some juncture.

You don't have the right to use the fact that you hated your life as a teenager as fodder to explain addiction or even started.

Brass tacks: You don't become bad without associating with bad people.

Guess what dude? I hated my life as a teen and used it to get involved in school, a city youth commission, and even a part time job. I enjoyed life because of all of this. I didn't need alcohol, drugs, cigarettes or anything.

What you won't admit is that you're a rebel and it caught up to you, and many of the square nerds and dorks you all with the ripped jackets, goth faces and blue hair never needed that outside affirmation to know themselves.

So I don't care about your recovery, prowess as a runner, or what career you have.

I'm just one of the few that will candidly say I don't accept addicts and their stories and why.

i don't care if you care what I've said...but it is something I could not live with myself for not saying.

Tl;dr: you did the dope in the first place. Why should we care?

My god. You are a monumental jacka**. I truly hope none of your loved ones ever fall into addiction, because clearly you will cast them aside. You will leave them behind as you strut through your little world where everyone is either all good or all bad (with you as the morally unimpeachable arbiter, I imagine), and where no one can ever inprove or redeem themselves.

Honest Mike wrote:

Perspective Have some wrote:

Honest Mike, I respect that you're so well adjusted in this world and life that you never went down this road and kept on a straight and narrow. But come on man, your self ritcheousness is truly naive, and with all due respect: Narrow. Also, your concept of addiction, addictive behaviors, coping, and early development is seemingly limited...at least in your writing and strong opinions.

Not saying that a recovering addict "deserves your praise" but please reserve your harsh judgement, because it isn't serving of anyone and most of all yourself. If addiction hasn't touched you yet, it will in some form or fashion in yourself or your circles, because it's pervasive and human. Suggest that you keep an open mind, compassion, and get to know the many manifestations and people around you who are achieving some badass things and overcoming obstacles that are truly inspiring.

What a crock of BS!

Look...I transcended a past that i didn't deserve, a university that broke my spirit, a post-graduate world that treated me like I didn't exist and a lifetime of anxiety and pain.

I'm 48 freaking years old you prick.

If i could have found drugs, I would have.

No...i found different physical outlets...basketball in college and afterward...distance running..tennis...and different games now with the kids i work with in our center

It's convenient for the people here to call me fat and out of shape as they do...but they are wrong.

I help others accomplish bada** things every day....and they.don't need drugs to do it.

So you can bite me. I try to improve society and you support the party.

I'll take my goal.

I'll do humanity my way...while you go support addicts.