Push! Breaking barriers

Don’t you ever wonder why professional athletes need coaches? After all, these are the elite in any sport, at the top of their game, and, certainly, very knowledgeable in what it takes to succeed. By this point, they should certainly know what they are doing. It has been my observation that coaches are usually much older than their charges, they rarely look very fit themselves, and, with some exceptions, they have never achieved the level of accomplishment of the athletes they coach. What gives?

Based on personal experience, I believe coaches are there to provide two things: strategy and motivation. Because of past athletic performance and/or coaching experience, coaches know what it takes to prepare an athlete. They can prevent an athlete from over- or under-training, from training incorrectly, and/or from injuring themselves. As to motivation, coaches have a degree of motivational power and authority over athletes that meets or exceeds just about anyone else. What an athlete wants is to compete, a coach can keep him or her from doing so. Just ask any athlete who “rides the bench” in their sport, how much a coach can motivate them to do whatever they must to get out on the playing field. 

A coach is there to make you do more than you would do on your own. He will push you to continually improve your performance. A good coach will make sure that when the day comes for you to compete, whether against other athletes, against a clock, or simply against your own past performance, you will be ready. The last time I had a coach was in college, playing soccer. I remember how much I wanted to impress him in practice in order to get playing time on the field. Over the course of two years, he made me a better soccer player than I had ever been, or could have become on my own. Everyone needs a coach now and then.

It has now been nearly two months working with a coach, Karl Reicken, at the National Training Center. Karl is definitely pushing me. I know I would not be working as hard if I didn’t have a game plan to follow. His monthly training schedule is my road map. Having someone who has done what I am seeking to do (Karl has finished the Florida Ironman) and who has an advanced degree in exercise physiology is reassuring.

Florida Ironman Training Log:

This was a good week. I had to overcome some obstacles to get in all of my training sessions- not feeling well on Friday and doing a tough run in the afternoon, rain washing out my bike ride on Saturday which put me on the trainer for 3 hours. I also had a PR in my swim- first swim ever of 2925 yards. Had some mild URI symptoms on Friday and Saturdy and weird sternal chest pain Sunday (as a paranoid physician, of course I worry that this is my heart but, realistically, it is just almost certainly just musculoskeletal)

Week’s Training Summary:

Mon. 3/18- Swim, ~2000 yds, drill sets, approx. 45 min (no Garmin)
                   Bike (trainer), intervals, 30 min total time
Tue. 3/19- Rest day (seminar so no NTC swim or strength training
Wed. 3/20- Run, intervals, 4.32 mi total at 8:53 min/mi, total time 38:20 min
Thu. 3/21- Swim, 2925 yds (PR), 2:23 min /100 yds, total time 1:09 hrs
Fri. 3/22- Run, 5 miles, 9:41 min/mi, total time 48:25 min at cadence of 90 spm*
Sat. 3/23- Bike (trainer), 38 miles, 12.5 mph ave., total time 3:01:16 hrs**

*first 3 mi at cadence of 90 spm. 4th mile walk/run, very tired at end, nauseated after
** Some sniffles and scratchy throat

Paul the Apostle......prosecuter, convert, martyr, triathlete?

In my copy of The Apologetics Study Bible, 1 Corinthians 9:27, Paul the Apostle says, “Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.” The YouVersion Bible online puts it a bit differently: “I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.”

This week, I had to do a long run, 8 miles. I can do this, if you’ll pardon the pun, without breaking too much of a sweat, however, this run was different. I had to run at a pace of 90 steps per minute, quite a bit faster than I am accustomed to do. This was so difficult for me that I didn’t make it past 6 miles without blowing up and the 7^th mile I completed half walking, half running. As I struggled and panted, and my legs began to fail me, the discouraging thought occurred- “this is just 8 miles. I’ll have to do more than 3 times this distance in November and that after swimming 2 ¼ miles and bicycling 212 miles.” At such times I think I must be crazy.

Then, it occurred to me. This is why I am beating myself up now. It is so that on the day of the triathlon I will be ready and able to complete the task I have set before me. It seems pretty daunting right now but I know that others, many of whom are no more athletic than me, some less, and many quite a bit older, have done this successfully.

Contrary to how it may seem, I am not really into pain and suffering and, I suspect, neither are most people who tackle a triathlon or any other challenging physical test. It is just that we know that the discipline and training are essential to being able some day to look back and feel that sense of accomplishment that comes with completing a tough task. I remember how if felt the first time I ran a marathon. It took 15 years from the time I first began to train for one. I had to abort that attempt when I injured my knee from ignorance and gross over training. My marathon aspirations did not return until I decided to train for the Walt Disney World marathon in 1995. After months of training, including a scary near repeat of my old injury, I found myself running the final few hundred yards around the lake at Epcot and knew that, this time, I was actually going to finish. The emotion welled up to the point that I began to cry. I discovered that it is hard to run and breathe hard when you have a huge lump in your throat! That moment was worth the 15 years of failed efforts and all the hard training later to eventually succeed in crossing that finish line. It ranked right up there with other major milestones in my life.

It is discouraging to look around and see the mass of people around me, a majority to be sure, who have failed to grasp this simple truth: If you wish to taste victory in any area of life, an essential element of that success will have to be discipline and the willingness to beat yourself up- figuratively of course- to reach a goal. The goal doesn’t have to be a triathlon. It can be about anything that is worthwhile in life whether it is a successful career, a successful marriage, or simply getting and staying fit.  I have found it interesting that even rock stars, many of whom seem to burst on the music scene out of nowhere, have spent countless tedious hours practicing and honing their craft, demonstrating a level of discipline and commitment that belies the ease with which they perform. Many kids who aspire to be rock stars themselves fail to realize this. 

Which brings me back to Paul the Apostle. If he wasn’t a triathlete, he could have been. He sure had the necessary mindset down.

Florida Ironman Training Log:

This was a good week despite the tough run on Friday, perhaps because of it. It felt good to have done it even if the doing wasn’t so enjoyable. Slowly learning more about my body, about pacing, and about the importance of stretching and flexibility. I made it out of bed both mornings for my swim despite 40 degree weather. Each week I complete gives me a greater appreciation for those hardy souls who have already notched an ironman triathlon in their personal history.

Week’s Training Summary:

Mon. 3/11- Swim, approx 1900 yards, drills

                   Bike, intervals on trainer, total time 30 min

Tue. 3/12-  Swim, master’s swim at NTC, total time 45 min

                  NTC strength and mobility session with Karl

Wed. 3/13- Run, intervals, 3.75 mi at 8:57 mi/min ave pace, total time 33:20 min

Thu. 3/14- Swim, 2250 yards, 2.27 min/100 yds, total time 55:18 min

Fri. 3/15-  Run, 8 miles at 9:05 mi/min ave pace, total time 1:12:40 hrs

Sat. 3/16- Bike, 50 miles at 14.8 mph, total time 3:37:00 hrs

Sun. 3/17- Rest day

Dedication versus obsession

Did you know there is an 11th commandment? Well, not really, but if there were, it might go something like this: Thou shalt not kid thyself. As a physician, I see this one broken constantly. A typical example is the obese patient sitting in front of me who laments, “but I hardly eat anything!” when asked about her weight. Or the patient who claims to exercise regularly but when you press a little more admits that, yeah, it is on again, off again, but mostly off.

This week tested my dedication. Thursday I was supposed to do a swim at the Y. I usually do this in the morning because that is the only time I can usually count on. The Y opens at 5 AM. I had surgery scheduled at S. Lake Hospital, in Clermont, a 40 minute drive away, at 7:30 AM. I had to be there by 7. The case was expected to take 4-4 ½ hours. To do the swim, I would have had to get up at 5 AM to get an hour in at the Y in Tavares and still make it down to Clermont in time. This was really pushing things so I figured I would swim afterwards. I’d be done between 11:30-12 and could swim before heading home to pack. We were heading to Miami in the afternoon for the weekend. The University of Miami was holding their pinning ceremony in which the first year medical students were going to be pinned, symbolizing their official entry into the University’s medical school family, and the medical community at large. As an alumnus of UM Med, I was going to get to pin her.


Of course, the case ran late. They always do when it is especially important that they don’t. It was a very difficult breast reduction. I wasn’t done at the hospital until nearly 2 PM. To get to the Y, swim, then go home and pack would have delayed our departure until late afternoon, and we were supposed to meet Olivia for dinner in S. Florda. So, no swim Thursday.

My Friday run didn’t happen either. We woke up late, had to go shopping for some clothes for the pinning ceremony, and head down to Miami from Coral Springs (an hour drive) in time for a 2 PM meeting of the UM Medical Parents Council. Then, the pinning from 5 to 6:30, after which we me went to dinner with the family of Olivia’s roommate. Didn’t get back to my sister-in-law’s house, where we were staying until after midnight.

Sure, I could have made time for the swim and the run, at a cost. It would have been shortchanging my sleep, cutting back on family time, or cutting out some activity that was important to me. I chose not to do those. I am dedicated to training for this triathlon, but not obsessed by it……at least, not yet.


Years ago, there was a very interesting article in Runner’s World magazine about Stuart Calderwood, who had run at least one mile each day for 25 years. He ran through illness and injury, when out of town, on holidays, every single, stinkin' day even when he didn't feel like it. One could almost say he became a prisoner of his streak. His isn’t even the longest such streak. The longest is 43 years. This goes beyond dedication and borders on obsession. It isn’t everyone who can maintain such focus in the face of all the things life throws at you. It is admirable unless it leads one to forego events or appointments that are important, such as taking proper care of one’s patients, or keeping a dinner date with one’s daughter.

I know my dedication to this training program will be tested over the next 9 months. I hope that most of the time, I will make it through the schedule without interruptions. Realistically, there will be some. I hope those mean I have my priorities straight.

Florida Ironman Training Log:

Not my best training week, however, a difficult surgery went well, I made it to dinner with my wife and Olivia, pinned my daughter under a tent in a beautiful courtyard on the medical campus at the University of Miami before hundreds of parents, doctors, and other medical students, and hung out with family for a very relaxing weekend. Oh, I did run with Olivia on Saturday but that was a run/walk….more like a walk/run, for perhaps 2 miles, with no Garmin and no goals other than to enjoy the beautiful day and have a conversation with her. I will have to get back on track next week. No regrets…………

Week’s training summary:

Mon. 3/4- Swim, 2150 yards, total time 55:45

Tue. 3/5- Swim, Master’s Swim group at the NTC, total time 45 min

               Mobility training, working with Karl at the NTC, total time 1 hr.

Wed. 3/6- Run, Intervals, total 3.32 miles at ave 8:55 min/hr., total time 29:38

Thu. 3/7- No training; surgery in AM then headed to Miami.

Fri. 3/8- No training; in Coral Springs and Miami all day with pinning ceremony

Sat. 3/9- Run, walk/run with Olivia, distance unknown, low effort.

Sun. 3/10- Scheduled rest day