A check up from the neck up?
 
As the season draws to a close, there is much to reflect upon.  Surely there are many reasons for doing this, like channeling energy in a positive and productive direction, but perhaps the greatest reason is to acknowledge how fortunate we have been.  In the end, it really isn't about how fast, what place, or what prize, it is about being the best that you can be.  Regardless of our desired race lengths, we all share a very unique appreciation for this goal, and that is why it is so important to keep it in sight.  Yes, compared to world peace, famine, and poverty, these races are stupid, contrived and self indulgent, but that is not the point.  The point is that though not everyone out there gets it, we do, and that makes us all the winners.
 
If you are looking for honest to goodness justification to embrace this lifestyle, it is important to look at the epidemic of inactivity that is quickly spreading across the rest of the non-triathlete community.  An excellent example of this is found in a recent article published in the September, 5^th 2002, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, in a study that followed 73,000 post-menopausal women for an average of 3.2 years. In this work, JoAnn E. Manson, M.D, of the Division of Preventive Medicine at Harvard University, and colleagues found that women who either walked briskly or exercised vigorously at least two and a half hours per week had a 30 percent lower risk of heart-related problems, such as heart attack, stroke, the need for heart bypass surgery, heart failure or death, than the least active women. And in another recently released report, looking at a group of young girls through adolescence and teenage years, found that the levelof physical activity declined precipitously over time, so thatby the age of 18 or 19, up to 56 percent of the girls reported no regular physical activity. 
 
Together, the take-home message from these studies is pretty powerful: exercise is important—and as a nation, we’re not getting it done.  Clearly we are not in the inactive group.  We are all the winners, each and every time we compete, and finish one of these stupid, contrived and self-indulgent events. I think that the most important lesson I've learned is that it isn't the Ironman race that is so special, it is everything that goes into getting there, and everything that is ingrained in you after the race that makes this sport so amazingly addicting. Sure the 140+ miles is the crowning jewel that we focus on, but it is the camaraderie, the self-discipline, and the sense of personal sacrifice and accomplishment that is gained from this experience that is of real value.  The race may last ten hours and fifty-some minutes, or sixteen hours and fifty-some minutes, but the lessons, experiences and gains in personal strength and healthfulness are things that last far longer. I have found that it is impossible to explain to people who haven't witnessed the power of one of these first hand just what it means...after a few minutes their eyes glaze over and they lose interest...they just don't get it.  Spare yourself the effort of trying to convince them how cool, how motivating or how exciting this sport is...unless they go to a race they just can't get it.  Don't worry though, sooner or later they will notice how it has changed you, and somewhere deep inside, at that point, they will realize what makes this so special. These changes may be subtle, like managing your time with new found sense of importance, or the ability to put up with ignorance, incompetence, or other forms of inconsiderate behavior in ways previously unknown, but it will happen. And that picture is worth a thousand words. And hey, in the end this is a personal sport, and it is really all about what it does for you that matters.  
 
I guess in the end, the secret is that it really isn't the end at all (don't tell my wife).  To quote that Nike ad, there really is no finish line.  We are all winners because we have embraced this active lifestyle, and because we have seen the value of participating in this sport.  I think there is something very special about finishing your first, just as there seems to be something very special about finishing each and every one of these stupid, contrived and self indulgent events.    CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE WHO COMPETED THIS SEASON AND BEST WISHES FOR AN EVEN BETTER NEXT YEAR.  WE LOOK FORWARD TO HELPING YOU BE YOUR BEST…AND ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS IN THIS SPORT THAT HAS SO MUCH TO OFFER.
 
From all of us at ELITE Health & Wellness—
Athlete, coach, & physiologist
 
Dr. Dan Moser, Ph D, is the director of research and clinical services at ELITE Health & Wellness (http://www.elitewellness.com).  Coming from a background in track and field, he has  more than 10 years of experience testing professional and recreational athletes, including triathletes, runners, cyclists, in-line skaters, and hockey players.
 
Jeff Devlin is an endurance coach and former professional triathlete, who offers practical insights into the application of the latest science. Jeff holds five national championship titles and two 3rd place finishes at the Hawaii Ironman. He runs his own international coaching business, Human Performance Engineering (http://www.jeffdevlin.com).