278toBoston.com:
Original Stories from My Blog
Some of the stories in The Road That Changed Me were first shared on my running blog, 278toBoston. These posts follow the running, the hidden struggle with alcoholism, the decision to get help, and the people who helped me keep going. Others are earlier versions of stories that later became part of the book.
The book looks back on the journey with the perspective of the years that followed. The posts preserve what I wrote at the time, so some details and wording differ.
Running & Racing · Alcoholism & Recovery · How the Book Took Shape
Running & Racing
A Finish Worth Remembering
The Mercedes Half Marathon was a day I shared with Tyler and Rider. This is the recap I wrote afterward, while the hills, the final push, and the joy of finishing were still fresh.
Read the original half-marathon recap →
Running with Memories
Beet juice became part of my marathon preparation—and part of my confidence. This training post records the difficult twenty-mile attempt and the stronger run that followed.
Don’t Stop: The Marathon
Valerie’s encouraging text, the runner who talked with me near the end, and my family cheering through FaceTime all appear in this account of my first marathon. I wrote it the day after the race.
Don’t Stop: The Rest of the Day
The wrong hospital, the medical tent, and the long wait for a shuttle made the day an endurance event beyond the race itself. Here is the original account behind that part of the book.
Read “The rest of the story” →
The Finish, As My Family Saw It
While I ran, my brother Jeff posted updates so readers could follow along. His finish-line announcement captures the moment from the other side of the phone.
Alcoholism & Recovery
The upcoming change in my life →
Admitting my alcoholism, telling the people at work, and deciding to get help.
Detoxing →
Preparing to step away from alcohol, work, and the constant connection to technology.
T minus 2 days →
The fears and hopes I carried in the days before leaving for detox.
Tomorrow will be the biggest day in my life →
On the eve of treatment, remembering Katy and facing the opportunity for a second chance.
Heading home →
When the treatment plan changed, Valerie and friends helped me find a way home.
The Shock and Awe of Detox →
My firsthand account of entering the hospital, the initial shock, and the kindness that helped me through.
The Best Laid-Plans →
Looking back on a frightening afternoon and recognizing the support I had around me.
Happy Again →
Thirteen days sober, reconnecting with Valerie, and beginning to enjoy life together again.
The Elephant in the Room →
Facing the question of how my Christian faith and my alcoholism could be part of the same life.
Sleep Problems →
An honest account of disrupted sleep during the early days of sobriety.
The New Normal →
Learning how different life could be without the hidden routine of drinking.
Falling into rehab →
How my recovery unfolded with the help and support of family and friends.
Help for Those in Secret Lives →
Writing openly about secret drinking and wondering who else might be struggling unseen.
Life is too short! →
Marking one month of sobriety and reflecting on the change that had begun.
Finally Another Half Marathon →
Returning to a half marathon after the injury, the years away, and the decision to get help.
How the Book Took Shape
These posts include earlier versions and reflections that helped the book take shape. They are preserved here as they appeared on the blog; the finished book has been revised and expanded.
The early years →
An earlier telling of the faith journey that began long before running.
I Can Fix You — The beginning of the Journey →
The unexpected conversation in a doctor’s office that helped start the change.
Part I: The First Miles →
Looking back on those first steps onto the neighborhood road.
Running with God →
How the miles became time for prayer and being with God.
Learning the Rhythm →
The hill, the lamppost, and the daily decision to go out after work.
The Heat That Broke Me →
An earlier version of the story about pressure, endurance, and the struggles beneath the surface.
Failing Forward →
Pain, setbacks, and the effort to keep returning to the road.
A Finish Worth Remembering →
A later reflection on the half marathon and what that finish meant.
The Battle at the Crossroads →
The contrast between outward fitness and hidden drinking, and the truth coming into the open.
Gratitude for the Journey →
Remembering the help, mercy, and presence of God along the road.
Bent Low, Called Higher →
The bent flower on a sidewalk that prompted a reflection on appearances, weakness, and hope.
More from the Road
These are a few places to begin. You can also explore the full blog and follow the running journey one post at a time.
