Sometimes, even those who feel the most broken are able to find hope.
“I was a man that, to me, the difference between life and dying really was not existent,” said Todd Crandall, a one-time drug and alcohol addict.
Crandall said he turned to running to find hope of his own, and has since completed 28 ironman competitions in six out of the seven continents.
He said he is now looking for number 29 in Boulder, CO.
“I found running as a catalyst to not only improve myself physically, but I was starting to feel better emotionally, psychologically, socially,” Crandall said.
In 2001, Crandall started a non-profit called "Race for Recovery" to help those dealing with addiction start their own race.
“I am fortunate that I survived my addiction and I believe it’s my duty to give back and help other people. That’s why I’m proud to be a part of Racing for Recovery,” Crandall said.
“I was ruining my life and destroying everything around me,” said Jordan Weaver, one of those who found help through the non-profit.
Weaver said he fell into an addiction lasting seven years. Now, he’s eight months into his own race.
“This is the longest I’ve ever been sober,” Weaver said. “The program is teaching me to change so much. I changed my diet - I’m now vegan. I stopped smoking cigarettes. I do something active every day."
Weaver is one out of hundreds of thousands Crandall said he’s helped.
“I am humbled beyond words as to what I’ve been told this program has done for people,” Crandall said. “I wouldn’t trade this for a million dollars.”
