September 1, 2001
Triathlete Magazine
A Healthy Addiction
Todd Crandell is your typical addict-a quick sweep of his life proves that.
At age 13, he became addicted to alcohol, then his addiction progressed
to heroin, cocaine, and crack cocaine-all of which ruled his day-to-day
activities from age 13 through 26. But for eight years now Crandell has
been sober, and has found what is arguably a much healthier addiction:
triathlon.
This
recovering alcoholic and drug addict did his first triathlon two years ago, at
the age of 32. When he decided to become involved in the sport, he jumped in
full-throttle, signing up for three Ironman-distance events before even
completing a sprint-distance race. And, yes, you guessed it-after one sprint
race, it was Ironman all the way. "I signed up for three Ironman
because I was so excited to be a part of this great sport," Crandell said.
"And I like to have at least Ironman that I'm signed up for so I
always have an Ironman to prepare for."
Although competing
in multiple Ironman races is a marked accomplishment, it is Crandell's life
before triathlon that punctuates his current achievements.
Crandell
remembers watching the early TV coverage of the Hawaii Ironman while in a
drugged-out haze and thinking that he wanted to do that race one day.
"Even though I was completely out of control, in the back of my mind
I knew I wanted to be a part of the Ironman experience," the
Sylvania, Ohio, resident said.
Crandell,
now 34, took his first sip of alcohol as a junior high student and didn't sober
up for a full 13 years. "I think I became addicted so quickly to
alcohol and drugs simply because that is the way my body is made up,"
Crandell said. "Every time I drank, it was to the level that I
blacked out or passed out." He remembers days when he would wake up,
vomit blood and start drinking again. He would average over a fifth and a
half of whiskey a day, usually coupled with an"8-Ball," which is the
equivalent to about three-and-a-half grams of cocaine.
Crandell
supported his habit with a random smattering of jobs-everything from delivering
ice to working construction to sweeping floors. He said he always managed
to fill his system with any chemical or alcohol he wanted, and when he peppered
that daily base with bouts of Quaaludes, tranquilizers, prescription
medications and Valium, Crandell says his life became mayhem. "With
my drinking and drugging, I lost my family, my friends, myself," he
remembers.
Although
living in Ohio at the height of his usage, Crandell found himself in Florida,
not remembering how he got there, and wound up living out of his Buick Regal
off and on for seven months. He tried rehab at ages 13 and 23, but it
never stuck. That is, until he received his third DWI on April 14, 1993.
It was noon when Crandell was pulled over, and his blood alcohol was
measure at 3.6 on the field sobriety test. A reading of 4.0 renders a
person comatose.
On April
15, Crandell sobered up. He decided that after 13 years of drug abuse, he
was ready to clean up-for himself first, for everyone else, second. He
attended AA meeting, but other than that, there was very little outside help to
his recovery. His focus now was to get healthy.
Crandell
began to play hockey, a sport he had participated in when he was younger, just
to see if some of his old talent remained. He soon found his skills, and
was invited to play in the semi-pro Eastern Conference Hockey League. He
played for about a year, which gave him the confidence he needed to pursue an even
greater dream: triathlon.
Crandell's
step mother had ran in their town's local triathlon when he was young, and he
had always admired the sport-even when he was at his sickest. So,
Crandell registered for his first triathlon-a sprint-distance race-and went
ahead and registered for Ironman Florida, Ironman California and Ironman Canada
at the same time.
Crandell
said thta is first Ironman scared him to death. When he registered, he
had little experience with the three disciplines of the sport.
"When I told my dad I was going to do a triathlon, he said, 'But you
can't even swim for Christ sakes."
Not to be
discouraged, Crandell went out for his first training ride, and was hit head-on
by a car. "My bike was totalled and I had to wait for a few months
before I collected my money from the insurance company," Crandell said.
"Consequently, my training and competitions were over for that
season."
Crandell
rallied, and because the race fell after the main tri season, he completed
Ironman Florida only four months later. "I didn't have any idea
about a heart rate monitor or that you need a plan when you train,"
Crandell said. "I just did it." He finished the race in
14:12.
Crandell
went on to compete in Ironman California, Canada, New Zealand, USA Lake Placid
and is scheduled to race Ironman Florida again this year-all with a little more
knowledge and a training plan that requires about 15 to 20 hours of his week.
His current Ironman PR is 12:42. "The Ironman, to me, is like
a way of life," Crandell says. "I inspire myself when I am out
there."
Crandell
has been married since 1996 to his wife Melissa, and they now have two
children, three-year-old Skylar and newborn Konor. Crandell says Melissa
thinks he is overly obsessive with Ironman, but she agrees that it is better
than being addicted to drinking or drugs. and Crandell thinks his
training helps with his family life. I'm showing my kids and wife that
the Ironman promotes good clean living through exercise and the commitment it
takes to compete," Crandell said. "My family and I are getting
the chance to travel the world and meet great people all because of
Ironman."
Irony of
ironies, Crandell now works as a pharmaceutical rep. He has an
autobiography in the works base on his life and recovery, due to be released in
the spring or summer of 2002. Before he finishes his triathlon career,
his goal is to race and complete every Ironman on the globe. Is Crandell
being too ambitious? Perhaps, but at least his focus is on a healthier
addiction