As Liam Colebrook’s addictions spiralled out of control, he considered suicide. But tri gave him a new focus…
WHY I TRI
I went to watch a friend of mine compete at Ironman Bolton. There was a real buzz to the event and I thought, ‘I want to do this’. My swim history was zero but, not long after, I finished my first event, a sprint, and then in 2016 I finished Ironman Bolton.
From the outside it looked like I was flying. I was a senior manager of a PLC traveling the world. I had a wife and two beautiful children. But for years I’d been struggling.
During Covid, I went to the doctors and told them, ‘I’m struggling here and I’m thinking about ending my life.’ He put me in touch with a therapist, but I convinced them, and myself, I was fine.
I was drinking more and gambling. Things spiralled. I was gambling to stay awake at night. I’d set my alarm for 20-minute intervals. If I fell asleep, then tomorrow would come quicker and it’d be horrendous.
Depression, anxiety, gambling, drink, money problems… It was horrid. Looking back, things worsened as I grew inactive. I’d gone from playing football (albeit badly!) to doing triathlon all the time. But then I stopped.
My irrational side was out of control. I nearly bought a tent as I thought I could be homeless. It never entered my head that my family or friends would ask why I was living in a field.
I’d been introduced to a gambling therapy charity called ‘Gordon Moody’ and ended up going to rehab. But I’d convinced myself I didn’t have a gambling problem and had a bet on the way there. On arrival someone asked how much I’d lost. I asked them quickly in return and when I heard the answer things started to hit me that I may be experiencing gambling harm.
Nobody knew I’d been in rehab. At work I’m walking around thinking, ‘I’ve just been in rehab for a week’. I’ve got 50 people working for me and I’m putting on a smiley face.
My family and I attended a football match. I’d had a bet like normal, but
I wasn’t just gambling with money now but also my life. If there weren��
