That was almost 18 years ago and the last day I drank alcohol.
When I made thedecision to get sober, I sought the help of a recovery program.
It helped me to find a sober community of people who were living the life I wanted.
Arno Images/Getty Images
A year into my sobriety, I startedrunning.
I found a positive, healthy community where I began to feel accepted and confident.
With every run, I left behind pieces of shame and believed in myself just a little bit more.
I had found my new high.
After being lost for so many years, I felt like I had finally found myself.
Fitness became my life, and it helped me bridge the gap from early recovery to long-term sobriety.
When I got sober, I didnt have any friends who were healthy.
When I started running, I discovered a whole new community of people who were health-orientated.
My rock bottom included rock bottom self-esteem.
I had to rebuild everything.
As I floundered through early sobriety, I also struggled to find a new identity and purpose.
Before, in my drinking days, I really didnt have any directionso this was new and exciting.
I started to take on an identity of someone who had ambition, which was all new to me.
Running gave me something constructive to focus on.
Running and going to the gym gave me a tool that would help me cope with hardships.
Through my drinking, I had become quite unreliable.
And my new responsibilities showed me exactly why and how to strive for accountability.
Fitness communities can be the places where people finally feel accepted, build confidence, and find hope.
While recovering from drug and alcohol addiction, Strode found self-confidence and a new identity in sports.
Since 2006, The Phoenix has served over 24,000 individuals.
Three times a week, residents have the option to attend the local CrossFit gym for a workout.
I was looking for something and I couldnt quite figure it out, so I started the CrossFit program.
On March 2, I celebrated two years clean and sober, she says.
To donate to The Phoenixs program, now in nine states and growing,click here.
