Think I have mentioned in another post, that I am an ex smoker.
Smoked for 17 years with a few failed attempts at stopping. I said I would stop when I was 30, which was in 2002, and from then till last year I had an on/off (mostly on) relationship with the evil weed.
I started going to the local gym near the end of 2004 to loose a bit of weight and get fitter and in March '05 I decided to train for the Glasgow half marathon (september that year). If I was going to run it properly I was going to have to stop smoking.
I stopped at the end of March '05, but it was tough. I always had problems when I was out for a drink. Stag weekends were a nightmare. My last lapse was in July this year, so this is the longest I have gone without smoking for 17 years. Since July I have PB'ed at 5K, 10K and half marathon. My 10 mile split times in both the half maras I have done this year were two minutes quicker than my current 10 mile PB.
Running has changed my focus on life I suppose. Before running, I enjoyed a night out, probably too much, I had a pretty unhealthy and lazy lifestyle. I still enjoy a night out, I just don't drink as much, my diet has improved and I no longer smoke. Running, I believe, has saved me from an early grave.