From alcohol addict to avid runner

He frequently blacked out, his hands shook and he suffered from diarrhoea and memory loss.

Those were red flags from three years ago for Mr Lin Dinxiang. Heavy drinking was almost a nightly activity for him.

Since the onset of his health problems, the marketing manager has taken to exercising as a distraction from booze, despite having injured menisci in both knees during national service.

The 35-year-old told The New Paper: "I found a reason not to drink and to lead a healthier lifestyle. For me, the chemical release from exercising has become something I look forward to instead."

Although he is not following a teetotal lifestyle, he no longer suffers from those debilitating symptoms.

Today, Mr Lin has completed three full marathons - including one in Chiang Mai. He also does muay thai and salsa dancing on top of his four to five weekly running sessions.

His next high? Tackling the 21km half marathon at the Safra Singapore Bay Run & Army Half Marathon on Aug 26.

Mr Lin said in the past, he drank primarily to kill time.

He said: "I had nothing to do, I was not even really stressed. I also didn't exercise at all because my body type is quite lean."

But the symptoms of alcohol addiction began to disrupt his life.

Colleagues would often ask why he was so tired, and he frequently had to take medical leave from work when he could not wake up in time.

He said: "I needed something to take my mind off drinking (and) to do at night. I exercised instead."

His doctors and friends cautioned him against exercising too much, however, because of his prior knee injuries.

STARTED SLOWLY

He took it slow at first, building up his muscles to withstand the impact and made sure to increase the intensity of his training progressively.

Mr Lin said: "Miraculously, I have not had to see a doctor for injuring myself. I think it is possible as long as you train the right way. I know what my body can and cannot take."

In the Biomedical Reports journal, exercise has been suggested as an alternative approach in the prevention or treatment of alcohol use disorders.

Physical activity is said to be unique because "it is available to people who may not have access to other forms of treatment, such as psychological intervention or medication".

Research has also suggested that one reason why vigorous activities such as running are used in addiction recovery is because these exercises increase the brain's endorphin and dopamine levels, inducing a "runner's high".

Mr Lin said: "Running remains a solitary pursuit for me, but my friends, who see my posts on social media, sometimes come along.

"As a man, it is sometimes difficult to talk about your problems, but running has become my own solution and something my friends can join me in."

His target for the upcoming 21km half marathon is to finish the race in less than two hours and 10 minutes.

Mr Lin believes that anyone who wants to can overcome alcohol problems like he has.

He said: "You don't have to stop drinking completely. The important thing is to drink in moderate amounts and find yourself more constructive hobbies.

"The pleasure you have from drinking can be substituted by the happiness you get when you have achieved a long-term goal you set for yourself."