Second marathon 6 weeks away, training issues... should I still race?

Not 2:20.... 2:29 and 2:27 half times.

I apologize for this reply, and I am not proud of it. Running helps me with emotional problems I have and that is why I do it. I feel better when I run, but in a way I do it to balance other issues in my life.

I have substance abuse problems.

The vein infection was due to a 7 consecutive day relapse on injection heroin. (clean for 1.5 years before the week relapse). I overdosed on the first shot. I relapsed on heroin due to depression from becoming homeless because I moved out of my house after my roommate gave me scabies.

Details: I got scabies for the second time in my life from a roommate who didn't tell me he got it from his Canadian girlfriend. I used the medicine the doctor gave me and I thought it went away and I ran my half marathon in 2:29. Then a few weeks later I realized I still had scabies and moved out of that house and lived in a car, parks, and later a hotel room when I made some money. I got really depressed and went to the park where the marathon was starting to do a 22 mile long run on the course. I started chatting with some other homeless people and ended up buying heroin and skipping my 22 mile run and going on a 7 day bender. Scabies makes it hard to sleep and heroin makes it easier. After the 7 days I cleared my mind and resumed training.

So the 4 or 5 weeks after the 2:29 included some notable substance abuse, in addition to the scabies-- which really suck when you're running because they become more active when the body warms up... I would be on 19-22 mile long runs with the damn things crawling all over my body. 1/10, would not recommend. I fixed the scabies issue about 2 weeks after the August marathon... so I did run the marathon with scabies though it wasn't too bad at that time.

Since being in Japan I have been mostly substance free, hence why my 10K time improved. Also, I tend to be better at shorter, faster races than longer one. I ran track and xc in high school too, so I have some previous experience.

Also, I didn't mention it but I also run 5K races whenever I can for fun. I didn't mention it because I run them somewhat often, but those are essentially my speed work. Other than the 5Ks about once a month I do tempo runs or strides for speed work.

I still have substance abuse problems, but since being in Japan they mostly consist of drinking alcohol, which doesn't seem to effect my running too much and most people would consider it normal amount of drinking... maybe 1-2 drinks a couple week nights, and 5 drinks on Friday or Saturday night.

/r/running Thread