020 RUNNERSWORLD.CO.UK JUNE 2018
THERE ARE SOME DATES
Liam Withnail never
forgets including family
birthdays his wedding day
and April 22 (this yearâs London
Marathon â his irst). June 29
2015 is another date that will
always stick in his mind.
âThat was the day when
I broke down crying while
speaking to a bunch of
recovering alcoholic people
about my drinkingâ recalls
Liam. He was 26 and it was
the irst time heâd attended a
meeting for people trying to
overcome a drinking problem.
âThey had diferent lengths of
sobriety ranging from a few
months to 25 years. I wasnât
sure Iâd have deined myself
as an alcoholic; I just knew I
wanted to stop drinkingand
after failing I needed help.â
His journey to that point began
at the age of 13 when he would
drink lager with mates in the
local park. At 15 he was getting
served in pubs; this often led to
him sleeping of the efects of
eight pints by curling up for the
night in a shop doorway.
âAt that time I wouldnât have
said Iâd a drinking problemâ
says Liam now 28. âIt only
got bad when my friendsSTAND UP
AND BE
COUNTED
How swapping booze for
running helped comedian
Liam Withnail hit his stride