Hendricks Regional Health Blog

10 Healthy Lunch Ideas

Mon, 23 Sep 2013 00:00:00 -0400

With the school year underway, many families have gotten back into the swing of packing lunchboxes. But school kids aren’t the only ones who need a well-planned lunch. Whether you’re going to school, work, or anywhere in between, packing your own lunch can be a great way to save money and benefit your health.

If you struggle to know what to pack, try some of the following ideas. Each one provides servings from all five food groups in the MyPlate guide.

1. Peanut butter and banana sandwich on whole-wheat bread, green pepper and low-fat milk

2. Chicken, brown rice and broccoli stir-fry with peaches and cottage cheese

3. Pasta salad (whole-grain pasta, chickpeas, cucumbers and cherry tomatoes) with cantaloupe and greek yogurt

4. Taco (whole-grain tortilla, seasoned lentils, low-fat shredded cheddar, fresh salsa and lettuce) and an orange

5. Whole-grain pita filled with tuna salad (made with light mayonnaise), romaine lettuce and water chestnuts paired with a plum and low-fat cheese stick

6. Quinoa with black beans served with celery, cherries and yogurt

7. Stir-fry made from tofu, brown rice and snap peas eaten with a side of cubed pineapple and low-fat milk

8. Spinach salad made with two boiled eggs, strawberries and pecans and served with whole-grain crackers and low-fat cheese

9. Roast beef and low-fat swiss on rye bread with baby carrots and grapes on the side

10. Whole-grain pasta with tomato and lean ground beef sauce paired with cauliflower and blueberries mixed in greek yogurt

~Brenda Moeckly

Taking a Healthier Approach to Eating Out

Wed, 18 Sep 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Restaurants have increasingly added healthier menu choices. Also, many businesses post calories or symbols (such as a heart) to help consumers identify healthier options. For a moment, give some thought to what you eat when dining out.

Next, consider a recent study published in Food Management and conducted by the NPD Group. It suggests that when consumers eat “healthier,” they eliminate dessert, look for healthier choices in proteins, look for a smaller portion, choose water over a calorie beverage and will choose a preparation method that is healthier. More than half of those surveyed said they eat healthful meals at home, but only 25% indicate they eat healthy when they go out to eat ... only 25%. According to the study, 37% of those not eating healthy purposefully do not choose healthy choices as they view the dining out event as a treat or an indulgence.

Restaurant USA shared some interesting facts about the eating habits of Americans. We:

eat out 4.2 meals per week
consume 14.4 meals per week at home
skip 2.4 meals per week

At first glance, 4.2 meals out a week doesn’t sound too bad, but if the consumer throws caution to the wind and views these meals as an opportunity to indulge themselves, a steady weight gain is most likely in the future.

I manage the Copper Grill at Hendricks Regional Health. We have a menu board that lists calories for each item along with a Copper 500 (a packaged menu option that offers less than 500 calories for the combo). We have a huge salad bar with loads of fresh veggies along with fresh fruits. Customers also have vegetarian as well as lower calorie options.

Healthy choices are available. Yet, we still have customers that make unhealthy choices and miss the connection between making healthy food choices and improved health.

The study by NPD Group highlights the conundrum restaurants face. Our government and health care proponents (me included) want us to make healthy choices. Yet this study indicates consumers would rather cut down occasionally on favorites than switch to healthier choices. As our medical costs associated with obesity continue to rise, at some point we all need to take a more active role in either dining out less or making more healthy choices when dining out. Cutting down occasionally will not move the needle on our obesity crisis.

So, what do you do when you dine out? Because Americans dine out so frequently the opportunity to eat healthy requires thought and planning. This is something I don’t think folks give enough consideration. Another strategy to employ would be to choose healthy choices most of the time and once a month allow yourself an indulgence. Yet another strategy would be to kick up your activity if you know you will indulge yourself or take a long walk or run after the indulgence.

The past twenty years have ushered in the opportunity for cheap eats on practically every corner. Just because we have the opportunity doesn’t mean we need to avail ourselves. Healthy dining out is possible but does require planning and thoughtful consideration.

What approaches have helped you make healthy choices when eating out? Please share by leaving a comment.

~Martha Rardin

My Half Ironman Journey Race Day!

Mon, 09 Sep 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Editor's Note: Dave Cravotta, speech language pathologist at Hendricks Regional Health, chronicles his journey of completing a Half Ironman in this three-part series. In part one, he reveals what inspired him. In part two, he shares how he prepared. In this final part, he talks about the big day!

Finally race day arrived. The transition area, which holds gear for 2,400 athletes, was massive, filling an entire parking lot. My mantra throughout the competition was “Run your own race.” I was not to be distracted.

We made our way to the beach with my wife and some friends, took some pictures, and laughed a lot to try and will away the nerves – and the waves. Rumor has it some 100 athletes got to the beach, saw the waves, and turned in their timing chips. As we waited for our own start, rescue boats were carting in swimmers who couldn’t hack the choppiness (supposedly another 150 quit mid-swim and were hauled back to shore). I tried to block it out, but the waves were so powerful and distracting that it was hard to maintain a good swim stroke. Definitely a big test.

The horn sounded and I was off. Swimming into the waves to start a 1.2 mile swim was pure insanity. Athletes were doing whatever they could to survive, and I struggled for air and some kind of consistent form. It was like swimming in a washing machine. I was tossed around the lake like a bath toy, taking breaths into waves, and just trying to stay afloat at times. I was tempted to hang onto buoys to stop and take a breath, but I was determined to make things work. “I’ve come this far and trained so much! I am NOT stopping! I WILL figure this out!!” It was the defining moment of the whole race, and it happened in the first ten minutes.

My swim settled down and I was home free from there. I had a flat tire on the bike course, but I didn’t let it affect me, and after it was repaired, I set out with the idea to just keep a steady pace. Throughout the ride and run, I did just that, and even got to see my wife and kids on the run course. Their presence meant the world to me, and I even got to have the made-for-tv “Ironman kisses family” moment less than a half mile from the end. I crossed the finish line with a time of 5:53:02, well within my goal time, especially considering my flat tire that cost me more than 25 minutes. That meant my in-race time wasn’t just good for me, it was, in my opinion, exceptional. I was on fire with excitement to execute a race that went above and beyond my expectations. In all honesty, it was one of the best days of my life! To pour my heart and soul into something like this that matters so much to me, and for it to be better than I expected? Priceless.

The amazing thing about triathlons is the competitors. Most athletes, especially in shorter distances, are regular, everyday people of all shapes, sizes, and motivations for doing the event. Many people train and race in groups, for charities, and just for fun. The sense of accomplishment after a tri is not like completing anything else – it’s a test of the human spirit. It makes me feel alive. The feeling of camaraderie amongst athletes is second to none, and it’s something I plan to continue to experience for as long as I’m able!

The best moment of the race came after it had ended. With my finisher’s medal around my neck, my 3-year-old daughter came running up to me and excitedly asked “Did you win, Daddy?” With one of the biggest smiles I’ve ever had, I replied “Yes, I did, baby.” I had done it. I FINISHED. After hours of training and 70.3 miles of racing, I was an IRONMAN!

Confessions of a Philanthropist

Fri, 06 Sep 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Now that the voting is over, I feel I can more freely express my opinion about being on the list of nominees for “Philanthopist” in the Hendricks County Flyer’s “Best of Hendricks County” annual survey. No matter who the winner was, I must admit that being listed with the likes of Dennis Dawes, Bob Sexton and Deedee Daniel came as a complete surprise to me. Certainly an honor, but also a big surprise.

Although my career in philanthropy spans some 30 years, I have never quite looked in the mirror and called myself a philanthropist. Not like any of my co-nominees whose many years of dedication, commitment and contributions are legendary.

No building or scholarship is named after me. No program or event hails my generosity as so many generous local sponsors are recognized. But then I remembered what being a philanthropist really is, and I humbly accept the nomination but wish there had been enough space to nominate every person who makes a donation, who volunteers, who helps friends and neighbors in times of need. For every person, young and old, has the capacity to be recognized as a philanthropist.

From its Latin and Greek derivatives, “philanthropy” is defined as love of humanity. According to Wikepedia, it means “’love of humanity’ in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, and enhancing ‘what it is to be human.’” Merriam Webster is less verbose, describing a philanthropist as “one who makes an active effort to promote human welfare.”

With that in mind, I guess I am guilty as nominated. I would like to think my work in philanthropy has made a difference for the organizations for which I have worked. I want to believe the hours I have contributed as a volunteer have changed and improved lives. I have faith that the modest donations my husband and I make to organizations that are meaningful to us help promote the quality of life for us, our neighbors and people we may never meet. Because that is what being a philanthropist is all about.

Congratulations to the nominees and to everyone who wasn’t nominated but who can, because of their love of humanity through their gifts of time, talent and treasure, consider themselves a philanthropist, too. We all make a difference when we care for one another. Find your footing in philanthropy. Learn more about Hendricks Regional Health Foundation and our efforts to build a healthy community.

~Sue Bogan

Partnership with Avon Community School Corp. Announced

Tue, 03 Sep 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Hendricks Regional Health and Avon Community School Corporation are announcing a new comprehensive healthcare partnership that includes sports medicine coverage. Under the terms of a recent agreement, Hendricks Regional Health has become the exclusive healthcare provider of sports medicine services and employee health initiatives for Avon Community School Corporation.

For the past few years, Hendricks Regional Health has provided Avon Schools with an employee health clinic, providing on-site medical care and pharmacy services for school employees, their spouses and dependents. The hospital is expanding that relationship to include care for occupational medicine, student athletes and support for school nurses.

Beginning with the 2013-14 school year, Hendricks Regional Health will provide athletic trainers to provide on-site care for high school and middle school athletic teams and the Avon High School marching band. The new agreement includes team physician coverage for all varsity football games. The hospital will also provide athletic physicals, baseline IMPACT concussion testing for high school athletes, CPR and AED instruction for high school coaches and more.

As the exclusive healthcare partner for Avon Community School Corporation, Hendricks Regional Health will continue to provide school employees with:

An on-site employee wellness clinic offering preventive health services and illness care
Healthy lifestyle support by certified wellness coaches

Hendricks Regional Health will also provide training and support to school nurses. Each school nurse will have access to telephone consultation during school hours with a Hendricks Regional Health primary care physician.

As part of the partnership agreement, Avon High School has renamed its football facility Hendricks Regional Health Stadium. Hendricks Regional Health president & CEO, Kevin Speer, stated, Hendricks Regional Health has a deep sense of commitment to our community and we are truly excited to expand this relationship with Avon Community School Corporation. The alliance enables Hendricks Regional Health to provide Avon Community School Corporation with health and wellness services, athletic training, students and staff education, as well as continued onsite clinic services. These efforts are backed by quality care offered at lower costs than other hospitals.

Avon superintendent, Maggie Hoernemann, added, This expanded partnership with Hendricks Regional Health dramatically enhances services for students and staff. We are thrilled to be associated with an organization long known for its commitment to our community and to education.

Pictured in photo from left to right: Maggie Hoernemann (Avon Schools superintendent), Anne Engelhardt (Board of School Trustees President), Charles Nelson (member of the Hendricks Regional Health board of trustees), and Kevin Speer (president & CEO of Hendricks Regional Health).

Understanding Thyroid Problems

Fri, 30 Aug 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Thyroid disorders are among the most commonly searched medical conditions. In fact, if you Google the phrase symptoms of a thyroid problem, the search engine will give you literally millions of results. Thats a lot of information to sort through much of which could be inaccurate.

But theres good reason many people are interested. After all, thyroid disorders affect about 20 million Americans. As an endocrinologist, I work with many patients that have been diagnosed with a thyroid issue. Here are answers to some of the common questions I hear from both patients and their family members:

What is the thyroid and what does it do?
The thyroid gland is a bowtie-shaped organ in your neck, below the larynx. It makes hormones that control how fast your heart beats, how quickly you digest food, how much you sweat, the speed at which you burn calories, and many other important body functions like growth and fertility.

What causes thyroid disorders?
The cause of thyroid disorders and why they strike women five to eight times more often than men isnt clear. Experts agree there are links to family history and other autoimmune disorders, such as lupus. Thyroid deficiencies also rise with age. After age 60, about one in five women have low thyroid hormone.

What are symptoms of thyroid problems?
Thyroid issues can be difficult to spot at first since many of the symptoms are also indicative of other health conditions. The symptoms of thyroid dysfunction can also vary in severity from person to person.

Symptoms of hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid) include:

weight loss
nervousness/anxiety
irritability
sweating
racing heart
hand tremors
sleep problems
dry skin or hair
muscle fatigue
for women infrequent, light periods

The most common type of hyperthyroidism is called Graves' disease. Graves' disease is an autoimmune condition, in which the bodys own antibodies cause the thyroid to make more hormone than it should.

Symptoms of hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid) include:

fatigue
feeling depressed or sluggish
intolerance to cold
hoarse voice
muscle cramps
weight gain
for women frequent, heavy periods

The two most common causes of hypothyroidism are an autoimmune condition called Hashimoto's thyroiditis and the side effects of treating hyperthyroidism.

How are thyroid problems diagnosed?
Your doctor can diagnose hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism by testing the levels of thyroid hormones in your blood. Thats why it is important to see your physician regularly and talk to them about any unusual symptoms, including those listed here, that you are experiencing.

What are the treatment options?
While thyroid issues are life-long conditions, they can be successfully managed. Regardless of what type of thyroid disorder you have, the treatment goal is to restore normal blood levels of thyroid hormone.

An underactive thyroid usually is treated with a daily thyroid hormone medication. An overactive thyroid is usually treated with medication that blocks the thyroid's ability to produce excess hormone or by treatment with radioactive iodine, which will destroy the thyroid tissue. An overactive thyroid also may be treated by surgery. In each of these cases ablation or surgery the patient will usually take a daily thyroid hormone replacement pill.

Dr. James Edomondson is a board-certified endocrinologist practicing at Hendricks Endocrinology & Diabetes Specialists. He is accepting new patients. Call (317) 745-7445.

Two Delicious Favorites to Try Before Summer's End

Mon, 26 Aug 2013 00:00:00 -0400

I love trying different kinds of food. Here are a couple of new favorites I recently discovered to add a little zest to my summertime table! Be sure to try them before summer's end!

How to prepare fresh beets
Although I have always loved all kinds of vegetables, I didnt really buy fresh beets till this summer. I found a simple recipe to roast beets then added balsamic vinegar for a tangy taste. I have tried different kinds of balsamic vinegars on the beets and find the fruited balsamic vinegars to pair well with my new found vegetable. Beets are a powerhouse of nutrition. They are high in fiber, folate, B-vitamins and flavonoids. But beets do require a little bit of preparation and that may cause you to pause but once you know how to prepare a fresh beet, it is worth your effort!

Start by washing the beet's surface, cut off both ends and boil till a fork can penetrate the beet. An alternate cooking method to boiling is to roast the beet at 425 degrees for 30-45 minutes. If you roast the beet, add a little water to create steam in the oven. Drain the beets and let them cool. If the beet is fully cooked it will peel easily. Peel beets in a pan or over a sink. The beet juice is a deep ruby color and could stain a countertop. Rinse the sink immediately after peeling.

I cook 3-4 beets at a time and then add them to salads or cover in balsamic vinegar which adds a tangy flavor. I have always liked beets served warm, roasted or pickled or prepared Harvard style (an old-style preparation that calls for simmering beets in a sugar and vinegar mixture). Until this summer, I have never tried them with balsamic vinegars.

(Pictured: a salad featuring nuts, cheese and beets.)

Lime oil a new pantry staple
My other new favorite is a recipe I created after purchasing lime oil. The oil is lightly flavored with lime giving it a citrus smell and taste. I also have incorporated herbs from my back yard that compliment the dish (basil, thyme and chives).

I encourage you to try balsamic vinegars if you havent tried them and flavored oils. Both add flavor to many dishes, old and new!

Lime Shrimp over Rice
Serves 4

1 cup rice
2 cups water
1 Tbsp butter
1 pound shrimp (fresh or frozen)
cup onions (cut into -inch pieces)
tsp salt
tsp pepper
1 tsp minced garlic
1 Tbsp lime oil
1 tsp lime oil
3 peppers (red, orange, green)
6 fresh basil leaves torn into large pieces
1 Tbsp fresh thyme leaves
1 Tbsp fresh chives (chopped)

Directions: Prepare the rice. Melt the butter, add the garlic, pepper and salt. Saut the shrimp then set the shrimp aside. Drizzle with 1 Tbsp lime oil.

Heat 1 tsp. lime oil in the saut pan. Add the peppers, basil, thyme and chives. Cook till soft then add the sauted shrimp to the pepper mixture. Serve over rice.

Substitute chicken from shrimp is you arent a shrimp lover!

Nutritional Analysis:

255 calories
25 gm CHO
10 gm Fat
14 gm Protein

~Martha Rardin

Training for a Half Ironman

Fri, 23 Aug 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Dave Cravotta, speech language pathologist at Hendricks Regional Health, chronicles his journey of completing a Half Ironman in this three-part series. In part one, he reveals what inspired him. Now he shares how he prepared for the big day.

After deciding I wanted to do a big race, I found a 70.3-mile half ironman race (a triathlon consisting of a 1.2-mile swim in a lake, a 56-mile bike on a road course, and a 13.1-mile run) in Racine, WI, only an hour from my wifes family in the North Suburbs of Chicago. Perfect pre- and post-race spot, and my brother-in-law is the host with the most. I was also banking on a Wisconsin July being cooler than Indiana.

Part of the challenge was fitting in 10-15 hours a week of training/exercising. More importantly, I made a promise to my family and myself that training would interfere with our lives as little as possible. This event was my thing to do, not my familys for which to make big sacrifices. If I planned a long training ride but the day was especially nice and we wanted to take the kids to the zoo, the zoo won out. This thought process limited training, but it was absolutely worth it. Forty-mile rides became 30 miles, and 10-mile runs were cut in half, but I didnt give up unexpected family outings. It was family first, training second!

Training cycles have lots of ups and downs. When you have a workout or a series of workouts that go especially well, the feeling is of great accomplishment especially when you dont miss out on family time! On the flip side, a few tough workouts or shortened/missed sessions can you leave you feeling pretty bummed. Having never completed an event this long, or with so many variables, I was very nervous about my ability to complete the race. It wasnt until a month before when I felt I could finish without totally blowing up.

As time dwindled away, I began to get more fearful and excited at about the same time! One other important aspect of triathlon training is nutrition: How and what do you eat during a six-hour endurance event? Turkey sandwiches dont exactly pack well and you can only drink so many energy drinks. Successful triathletes excel at four areas of competition: swimming, biking, running, and eating on the go! If you dont get your nutrition right, your muscles lock up, your body starts to shut down, and you are forced to stop (the dreaded DNF or Did Not Finish). There was NO WAY I was going to put in all this time and effort to mess things up with food. Certainly not my strong suit, I had to plan nutrition as well as exercise. Just the mental effort of figuring out all of this was exhausting! My greatest fear heading into the race wasnt mental or physical; it was the uncertainty of managing calories and making sure my body got what it needed. Otherwise the best laid plans were sure to go to waste.

In the nights before the race, my wife and I discussed my plan and what my goals were for each event. Her calming reassurance and subtle motivation was exactly what I needed in the hours before the start. My wife gave up a lot of her own time watching kids and taking late-night crying toddler shifts so I could be trained, rested, and ready for this event. She also provided coaching, counseling, and the occasional physical therapy work. My debt to her is endless. If my dad got me started, my wife keeps me going!

Photo credit: Karen Cravotta. For more photos of Dave's race, check us out on Flickr.

Obesity as a Disease? Understanding the Impact

Thu, 15 Aug 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Last month the American Medical Association made a recommendation that obesity be classified as a disease. This announcement was met by applause and frustration by the dietitians at Hendricks Regional Health. Obesity is a complex and multi-factorial condition (now perhaps a disease). One pill, one prescription, one set of advice does not work for each person and effective solutions have continued to elude millions of Americans. Ninety million Americans are overweight and obese. Seventy-eight million adults and 12 million children fit into these two categories. Specifically in Hendricks County 23% of our citizens are considered obese and another 40% are considered overweight.

The diagnosis of obesity is made using a persons body mass index (BMI). Using the Centers for Disease Control definition of obesity, a BMI over 30 means an obesity diagnosis. While BMI is not the perfect tool for measurement it is the quickest, cheapest and routinely gets clinicians in the ballpark. Thus it is widely used to assess and document a persons weight status.

The AMAs recommendation changes the way the medical community and insurers look at obesity and moves the issue from a major public health problem to the category of a chronic disease. So, will this recommendation start to move the needle, increase awareness and initiate change? The dietitians at Hendricks Regional Health offer these pros and cons to the issue:

Pros

Clinicians will increasingly initiate discussions with patients.
Insurers will start covering non-surgical weight loss interventions (sadly, insurers often do not cover weight loss initiatives or education).
Patients can be proactive about caring for their disease.
We can treat obesity interventions earlier and prevent future health consequences.
The mental health aspect of overweight and obesity may rise to the top as we help folks improve their nutrition, behavioral and activity habits.
Bariatric treatment including surgery can benefit those that meet the criteria.
Our public health system will place more emphasis on prevention instead of treatment.

Cons

The ongoing and continued expense of paying for the cost of obesity will continue to drain our healthcare systems and economy.
Obesity will continue to be a burden to healthcare and insurance industry.
Mental health strategies and support for those dealing with a chronic disease are not robust enough to support all those needing services.
We may experience an increase in the number of patients seeking bariatric surgery without understanding the life-changing aspects to bariatric surgery. Bariatric surgery at times is viewed as a solution that doesnt require the difficult work of changing their nutrition, behavioral and activity habits.
An important consideration of this decision will be how we initiate efforts to reduce weight gain. If obesity is classified as a disease will some people adopt a passive, victim approach rather than a more intense approach of moving more and curbing calorie intake?
We know those with obesity have encountered stereotyping and discrimination. Will this classification increase disability claims?

So, what are the solutions? It is essential to understand obesity is a cultural phenomenon as well as a public health concern. In our free market society consumers still are king and determine what we deem as important and of value. With the recent recommendation perhaps we will begin to place value and importance on prevention instead of treatment? That is the frustrating part of the discussion. For far too long we have paid for treatment but ignored prevention.

What does it take to begin to move the needle? These lifestyle choices are well-proven to help improve health and lower BMI among children and adults:

Encourage all new moms to breastfeed their infants to six months of age.
Remember fresh is best when choosing foods.
Decrease the portions you serve and eat. We all can benefit from smaller portions.
Make a point to choose less processed, less packaged, less fast food for you and your family.
Increase your activity and that of your family. Children mimic parents activity levels.
Seek intervention. Check out our 16-week Lifesteps program. Hendricks County also offers other weight loss programs. The Hendricks Regional Health YMCA offers STOP Taking on Pounds, a 12-week pediatric weight management program.
Support and encourage (but dont nudge/tease/embarrass) a person to seek a healthy lifestyle.
Encourage physical activity in your own family and community.

An easy solution isnt available. We believe the answer to overweight and obesity starts with each person and each family. And sometimes the answer starts with our next meal or snack or opportunity to be more active. By taking it one step at a time we can begin to downsize our community and lead the way for healthier communities.

~Martha Rardin

My Inspiration to Achieve a Half Ironman

Mon, 12 Aug 2013 00:00:00 -0400

On July 21, 2013, I completed an Ironman 70.3 a triathlon consisting of a 1.2-mile swim in a lake, a 56-mile bike on a road course, and a 13.1-mile run (a half marathon) on paved trails and roads. Its a level of masochism reserved for the truly out-of-their-minds. The distance is exactly half of a Full Ironman, the event televised from Hawaii each year. Each event in a triathlon is completed back-to-back-to-back and a 70.3 race takes people an average of 6-8 hours to complete. This story is my journey to becoming an Ironman!

Ive always loved sports and Ive been active for as long as I can remember, something instilled in me when I was very young. My dad, a Type I diabetic, always pushed me to do athletics because it brought him so much joy when he was young and he wished for me to have the same experiences. Unfortunately due to many health difficulties, Ive never had the chance to watch my dad participate in any kind of competitive sport, even pick-up softball, let alone actually join him on the field/course/court. Which I didnt realize I would miss until I had my own children and I recognized I not only wanted to have my kids witness my participation in competition, but also join me one day. If adults can still have dreams, then playing sports with my kids is certainly a dream of mine!

My dad watched every sporting event of mine he could attend, even cross country running meets (which are about as exciting as using dial-up internet). While many people provide inspiration for me to complete endurance racing events, I dont know anyone who has had a greater impact on my desire to be an athlete like my dad. In many ways, this race was dedicated to him.

I love to run. Some days I live to run. It grew from hobby to obsession to mistress because of the many great things running has done for my body and mind. Its a weight loss/maintenance program. Its a way to clear my head. Its a problem solver. Its challenging. Its relaxing. Running and I have a special relationship. My wife is occasionally jealous.

Then one day running re-introduced me to triathlons. Wait, youre saying I can run competitively AFTER swimming in a lake and racing my bike?? Im IN!!!! I had done a few short triathlons that took just over an hour to complete, the last of which was in 2007. It was time to re-visit. But on a much larger scale.

Im lucky enough to have two amazing best friends from college that both made great accomplishments in 2012 one won a Norwegian reality tv show (seriously), and the other wrote, recorded, and released his own singer-songwriter album. Watching these two friends seize life, put themselves out there, and dedicate an extraordinary amount of time and sacrifice to do something which theyve never done was incredibly moving. I found myself asking I love what my friends have accomplished. What is something by which I can measure myself? What can I do thats momentous and inspiring? After very little thought, I knew a 70.3 was the answer.

Stay tuned for part two!

Photo credit: Karen Cravotta. For more photos of Dave's race, check us out on Flickr.