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