About Me.. Gary Herbert
I am Gary Herbert
I’m currently 43 and live in Northampton, England. I am married to the wonderful Lexi who is incredible and the most caring and selfless person I have ever met. She always thinks of others before herself and I am a very lucky man to have her as my wife. We have been together for 25yrs and she has always been there for me and fully supported me in anything I’ve done, no matter how crazy!. Lexi is my love and soulmate and I couldn’t have got through the past 18 years without her. We have been through so much together and I love her with all my heart, and always will.
I have three wonderful children, Lewis (18), Kira (15) and Oscar (8). My children are my world and keep me going on a daily basis.
I enjoy sport, especially cricket and rugby. I was lucky enough to play cricket at a reasonable level for 25+yrs and I made some wonderful and loyal friends throughout this period.
I’m now a coach for a local cricket team where I manage the U10’s. I’m really enjoying coaching and giving something back to the game which has given me a lot. As previously mentioned I really enjoy my running and try to get out 2-3 times a week if I can.
Alcohol..
Alcohol has always been my Achilles heel. I have always struggled to manage my drinking, especially since Lewis’ diagnoses 18 years ago.I have and continue to struggle to manage my alcohol consumption. I have used it as a temporary fix to take away the pain of day to day life with everything which surrounds Lewis, his care, and the massive impact it has had on all aspects of our lives.
Drinking numbs the pain for a while, but it obviously only a temporary fix and simply doesn’t work in the long term. Drinking has a massive detrimental affect on my depression and completely changes my way of thinking, and it makes me feel absolutely awful and even more of a failure the next day. It really is a vicious circle. I have twice gone completely sober for two 1 year periods to raise money for Lewis and I felt so much better. I was able to be more productive, and it really helped my physical and mental wellbeing.
I’m still searching for the will power and strength to stop drinking completely, but in the meantime I'm trying to manage it as best I can (lockdown due to COVID19 hasn’t helped matters!).
Running..
Running has really helped me massively with my depression, it helps me clear my head and then I can manage things and daily challenges with more clarity (especially during the periods when I haven’t been drinking).When I run I’m in my own zone and head space, it’s peaceful (I never listen to music) and it’s just me with my thoughts. After a run it also gives me that feeling that I have achieved something and done something worthwhile.
Running has been a vital coping mechanism for me during the past 4 years (I started running in 2016), I just wish I would have started earlier in life.
I’ve managed to complete various running challenges for Lewis (1600 miles in 10 months and 27 marathons in 26 weeks to name a few) and have also done some marathon and half marathon events. It really does give you a buzz once you’ve finished a challenge or a race, and a sense that you have accomplished something which has been worthwhile.
About Myself (Gary Herbert) Alcohol and Running..
The Journey of a Special Needs Father by Gary Herbert