TRI-CITIES, Wash. – The Ironman Triathlon is set to return this weekend, bringing athletes from around the globe to the Tri-Cities. Competitors will tackle running, cycling and swimming against the scenic backdrop of the Columbia River.

Among the participants is Todd Crandell, a unique competitor with a powerful story of personal transformation. Crandell described himself as a “living, breathing example of what sobriety looks like and feels like.”

Crandell grew up in what he calls a self-destructive family environment. “I’m a survivor of my mom’s suicide from drugs and alcohol, my uncle’s suicide from drugs and alcohol and my aunt’s suicide from a food addiction,” he said.

Despite having material necessities while growing up, Crandell felt something was missing emotionally. “But emotion

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