Goal

Hi Fraze,

I'm going to jump in here and do the opposite to Steve, I'm going to be harsh (I hope you don't mind :)) I was also training 5 days a week, kickboxing, smashing life in every way except for my smoking habit but you know, even though I didn't like it I thought that my training was kinda making me healthy anyway. I'm afraid that was all in my delusional, smokers mind. I was not healthy and I was not able to train to my potential, smoking holds you back. When I smoked I even regularly ran 5km races, and that just made it harder to see the real harm I was doing. Anyway, let me just tell you straight, I was a fool. After what is now, 937 days smoke free I am a marathon runner, I can actually run, even over shorter distances I can just run, I don't fight for every breath, I am not fooling myself anymore and I did all this after quitting at the age of 36, I'm now 38 and ran my first marathon on the Gold coast this year. Smoking does not let you body build, its tears your body apart. I am also a nurse so while I understand the addiction, completely understand, I also see the damage and I am so thankful that I no longer hide my own head in the sand. One more thing...my new achievements have come from being a non smoker, not the easier breathing bit but the strength you gain from being able to quit. You don't know strong until you achieve it and them my friend you will be unstoppable. Good luck, you can do it!