The Race For Recovery: Why I Run

As you know, this is where I typically write about the Bruins.

Whether it’s to talk about how well they’ve been playing despite all the injuries or to talk about how the inconsistency continues with the NHL Department of Player Safety, I’m usually always talking about hockey on Couch Guy.

But this week I’m taking a step off of the rink because I want to take this time to talk about something that’s extremely close to my heart.

Addiction.

On May 20, I will be running in the Run for Recovery 5K in Boston to help support addicts, whether they’re struggling or in recovery.

I will also be running for the families of addicts and those who love them no matter how tough the struggle gets.

For essentially my whole life, addiction has been part of who I am. I’ve watched drugs and alcohol destroy close friends and family. I’ve even watched it take people from me.

I was madly in love with an addict for three years. But I watched drugs and alcohol turn him into a completely different person than the one I met.

The relationship had more bad times than good, but I was convinced because I took care of his son and our house, made dinner every night and did all the household chores while going to college full-time,that he would magically stop snorting cocaine or popping pills.

He didn’t. And the relationship became verbally, mentally and emotionally abusive.

During my relationship, I fell in love with running. I would run every day. I never saw it as an escape or running from my problems that I dealt with on a daily basis. I saw it as my way of dealing with addiction.

Even though it’s been four years since I left my ex-boyfriend, addiction is still very much present in my life. So I knew once I found the Race for Recovery, I had to sign up for it.

I’m choosing to run it for a lot of people — my friends who are recovering addicts and the ones who are still struggling. I’m running for my friends who are no longer here because they succumbed to addiction.

But the one person I’m truly dedicating this race for is my father … who is nine months sober.

My dad struggled with alcohol well before he told me when I was 12-years-old. As I got older, I struggled to maintain a relationship with him — mainly due to being so angry he couldn’t stay sober.

It was just last summer he texted me telling me he was going to enter an intense rehab facility. He had other rehab stints before so I was skeptical. But whatever happened during his time there has truly changed him.

After he checked himself in and remembering my friends, whether they were still here or not, who had struggled, I promised myself I would do anything I could to help.

And this is my way of helping because if addiction has taught me anything, it’s that sometimes you can’t do much to help at all.

Sports, especially hockey and baseball, was my outlet when times got tough in my life. Running became an outlet, too.

So on May 20, I’ll be running for not only my dad, but any addict — recovering or struggling.

If you’re still reading at this point, and thank you if you are, I’m collecting donations with all proceeds going to the Boston Bulldogs Run for Recovery.

By clicking this link, you can make a donation of any amount to my race. Any little bit helps and your donation can remain anonymous.

If you want to join me in running, reach out to me. I’d love for anyone to help support this cause that means so much to me.

And if you are struggling with addiction, or know someone who is and need someone to talk to, I will listen.

One day at a time.

-Lauren Campbell (@lalalalaurrrren)