Author, endurance athlete, wellness advocate, and recovering alcoholic/addict Spencer Newell calls being drunk a "comfortable place." Drinking was once an essential part of his day even though he knew that it was killing him and that his lifestyle-wild parties, strong drinks, and heavy drugs-was unmanageable. Something was going to break, and Spencer assumed that something was going to be him.
Luckily, he wasn't alone. For every friend who offered him alcohol and drugs, there was another who convinced him to get up and go running. And in the end, it was running that helped save him.
Endurance sports was Spencer's first love, and one of the worst things addiction did to him was sabotage his athleticism and the joy he had once received from training and racing. Eventually, Spencer reclaimed that joy, and now he is sharing his story to encourage others to remember what makes them truly happy-because it isn't drink or drugs.
In Appetite for Addiction, Spencer touches on everything that contributed to his own dependency: a carefully cultivated party-animal persona, suicidal depression, and toxic relationships. But he also shows how honoring his true passion is what allowed him to recover-and he hopes others will follow in his footsteps.
About the Author: Throughout his years of addiction, Spencer Newell never lost his childhood dream of attempting, at the age of thirty-eight, to become a an elite endurance athlete. He is now a Salomon-sponsored ambassador athlete in the sport of ultra-trail running.
Newell received his bachelor's degree in psychology from St. Lawrence University and spent twelve years in hotel management and resort development. He was inspired by his own recovery to create Novo Veritas, LLC, a lifestyle and wellness organization that focuses on significant and sustainable lifestyle changes for both individuals and groups.
Newell currently lives, works, and trains in Corvallis, OR.
