TRI-CITIES, Wash. – The Ironman Triathlon is set to return this weekend, bringing athletes from around the globe to the Tri-Cities. Competitors will tackle running, cycling and swimming against the scenic backdrop of the Columbia River.
Among the participants is Todd Crandell, a unique competitor with a powerful story of personal transformation. Crandell described himself as a “living, breathing example of what sobriety looks like and feels like.”
Crandell grew up in what he calls a self-destructive family environment. “I’m a survivor of my mom’s suicide from drugs and alcohol, my uncle’s suicide from drugs and alcohol and my aunt’s suicide from a food addiction,” he said.
Despite having material necessities while growing up, Crandell felt something was missing emotionally. “But emotionally, there was something missing. And then that’s when my life derailed. When I made a choice to use drugs myself at the age of 13,” he said.
Crandell’s journey through addiction lasted 13 years, marked by struggles and hardships. “For the next 13 years, it was just a bullet train of misery, suicidal ideation, jails, arrest, homelessness,” he said. After receiving his third DUI, Crandell realized he needed to change. “Getting that third drunk driving charge was the best thing that ever happened to me at that point, because that was the catalyst to everything that I’m doing now,” he said.
Now, with over 30 years of sobriety, Crandell has turned his life around and has competed in Ironman races across 22 countries. “I’ve always been determined, I persevere even in my drug days. I persevered to constantly get the drugs going. That is just translated into a self betterment journey now,” he said.
Crandell’s determination led him to establish Racing for Recovery about 10 years into his sobriety. The organization now supports nearly 80 people living in recovery housing, with about 30 employees, most of whom are former addicts. “We’re taking people literally who are coming off the street with nothing and helping them to understand the impact of their trauma. That led to a choice to use drugs and alcohol, and then assisting them in building the lifestyle that they thought was never possible,” he said.
Additionally, Crandell is the author of over a half dozen books and features in multiple documentaries. All spreading the message of recovery through fitness.
Crandell’s journey is a testament to his commitment to moving forward and inspiring others. “I’m doing it to show that other person who is currently living the way that I used to. You can change your life, and that’s as simple as it is. I’m just doing my best to be an example of what can be when people get off of drugs,” he said.
For more information on Racing for Recovery, you can visit their website. They hold free online video calls, where anyone can listen in anytime.
