The path to creating a healthy relationship with alcohol can be windy for many people. The bumps and turns it takes to figure out how booze fits into your personal and social life can lead to revelations about what you need to keep your body healthy, as well as your relationships, sleep, We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back.
Why Do I Taste Blood When I Run, Runner’s World+ Best Big City Marathons Why Do I Taste Blood When I Run. They’ve shared what experiences have encouraged them to reassess how alcohol fits into their lives, and what has made them cut back on booze or stop drinking completely. Plus, they’ve shared how they’ve stuck with that shift toward sobriety.
In the video above, deputy health and fitness editor, Mallory Creveling, sits down with members to chat about the turning points that brought their relationship with alcohol to the forefront and how they made (and keep making) changes.
Health and Wellness:
- Many realized that they needed to take better control of their lives—and alcohol took that control away.
- Unhealthy (and unpleasant) side effects like tiredness, poor running performance, relationship changes, and generally not feeling good after nights of drinking propelled some runners to want to quit alcohol.
- Reflecting on what they wanted from their lives, their days, or simply just their run helped members decide if alcohol fit into that picture. Jason Magennis offered the quote, “remember tomorrow.” Will alcohol negatively affect how you feel or what you want to accomplish the next day?
These runners also shared tips for how to maintain a better relationship with alcohol:
Find support
It’s difficult to make a life change without the help of others. Whether you turn to groups like Alcoholics Anonymous or Sober Sis (like the members mention), or you rely on your family, it’s key to lean on those around you. As Tommie Runz says, “stepping into a room with strangers, just like stepping into a race with strangers—it just feels amazing to be in a group of people that you don’t know, but have so many similarities with.” Likeminded individuals can act as a sound board for your struggles and offer a way to keep you steady.
Be vulnerable
Give those around you a heads up that you’re not drinking at a party or other event so others know ahead of time and you don’t have to explain yourself in the moment. Also, aim to speak openly with loved ones about how you stopped drinking, letting them know about this new change and the support you need.
Try mindfulness or meditation
Published: Oct 20, 2022 2:40 PM EST. Sales & Deals and mindfulness We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back.
Take it one day at a time
You don’t need to look months ahead or think about how you’ll deal with sobriety years from now. Just like a marathon, you accomplish your goals by moving forward, one step at a time.
If you or someone you know is suffering from alcohol abuse, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at 1-800-622-HELP (4357). If you’re suffering with issues with alcohol yourself, you can also find an A.A. meeting Running Shoes & Gear you’re worried about someone else’s drinking, Al-Anon What Runners Should Know about Their Blood Work.
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Mallory Creveling, an ACE-certified personal trainer and RRCA-certified run coach, joined the Runner's World and Bicycling team in August 2021. She has more than a decade of experience covering fitness, health, and nutrition. As a freelance writer, her work appeared in Women's Health, Self, Men's Journal, Reader's Digest, and more. She has also held staff editorial positions at Family Circle and Shape magazines, as well as DailyBurn.com. A former New Yorker/Brooklynite, she's now based in Easton, PA.
