water at the start line of the Ironman. As I put my face into the chilly water and began to swim easily, my breathing re- laxed and I embraced the beginning of my journey. Taking the fi rst few strokes of the Ironman swim felt exactly the same as opening the letter containing my board exam results more than two decades ago. I did not know what the result would be, but I was determined to find out. THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO GET TO THE FINISH LINE I have often viewed recovery from a serious injury, or life-threatening ill- ness, much the same as crossing the fin- ish line of a race. As long as you keep moving toward the fi nish line, you are a winner. 2 As a chiropractor, I have experienced the joy of patients who have regained their health after suffering tremendous pain and disability. Each person recov- ers in mind, body and spirit, but each individual’s path is always a little differ- ent. If you are recovering from a severe injury or a life-threatening illness there are many health-care choices. However, even the staunchest proponents of each healing profession would agree that they cannot cure each and every person. Therefore, it is up to each individual to choose the method or methods that will work for them. Medicine, chiro- practic, surgery, naturopathy, spiritual healing and a host of other options are available. I have noticed that progressive health professionals encourage a multi- disciplinary approach to healing. They recognize that they are experts in their fi elds but they may also consider other treatment options. Both doctor and pa- tient must work together and do what- ever it takes to recover. In other words, there are many road maps to get you to your destination. It is simply a matter of fi nding out what works for you. The same principles apply to an ath- lete embarking upon an Ironman jour- ney. If you truly desire to get to the fin- ish line, you will do whatever it takes to succeed. If you are training for the Ironman, you have many choices. Who will be your coach? How many times a week will you train? What type of bike and running shoes will you use? What type of wet suit will work best? What type of nutrition plan will you use? How will 24 • CANADIAN CHIROPRACTOR | OCTOBER 2008 you balance rigorous training with your career and your family? Similarly, there are countless methods, permutations and combinations involved in healing, and countless ways to pre- pare for achieving the fi nish line – recov- ery and wellness! In the final analysis, it just does not matter how you get there! LIFE IS ABOUT OVERCOMING ADVERSITY 3 Life is about adaptation and over- coming adversity. If you have lived long enough on this planet, you, or your loved ones, have probably overcome some type of adversity. On the Ironman application form, there is a very impor- tant question for all athletes to answer: “What type of challenges and adversity have you overcome to be able to race in this event?” At the pre-race athletes dinner, I felt privileged to sit with two very remarkable athletes. Each of us had overcome adversity to be at this race. The man sitting across from me and myself had been successfully recovering from alcoholism for the last nine years. The woman next to me had spent three years recuperating from a horrific bicycle accident. Yet, each of us was very humbled to discover what tremendous adversity the other athletes had overcome. There were several athletes who had been obese and lost more than100 pounds. There was a man doing his 15th Ironman who had successfully recovered from an aortic aneurysm. There were numerous athletes racing who had recovered from cancer. Finally, there was a man who would make history if he successfully crossed the fi nish line. He would be the first per- son ever to complete an Ironman triath- lon after receiving a heart transplant. Now I fully understand one of the signs I saw near the top of one of the nasty hills in the race. It said, “Suck it up, princess.” Life is about overcoming adversity. LIFE IS ABOUT WHAT IS POSSIBLE 4 Sister Madonna Buder is, for me, and many of my fellow competi- tors, the biggest hero. Sister Madonna is a 78-year-old Roman Catholic nun from Spokane, Washington. She is well known in the triathlon world for her achieve- ments in age group races. She began running at age 49, when a priest encour- aged her, and the others in her convent, suggesting running would harmonize their mind, body and soul. In 2006 she became the oldest person to ever com- plete the Ironman triathlon in Hawaii. At an awards banquet, a few years ago, Sister Buder received a five-minute-long standing ovation that left her speechless, overwhelmed and teary-eyed. When the crowd asked for a speech, she said, “I am humbled at your show of enthusiasm, but I don’t really see what the big deal is!” The loudest and longest applause at this year’s 2008 awards banquet was once again for Sister Madonna. This race is about “what is possible.” Through her achievements, Sister Ma- donna has certainly thrown all the rules about limitations out the window. Never mind about limitations. Life is about what is possible. LOVE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING 5 As I mentioned earlier, the Ironman triathlon is a day fi lled with every emotion possible. However, at the end of the day, there is one emotion that trumps all others – love. Life would be a hollow and sterile existence if we did not have loved ones to share our happiness, sad- ness, joy and grief. In the longest and darkest hours of my life, I had an extreme burning desire to be with my loved ones. At the happiest and most joyful occa- sions, I always wanted to share with my family. It is no surprise, then, that I felt the support and love of my family and friends on this day and felt they were all with me, in spirit. I survived the draining and lonely dark run along Main Street, the last part of the race, with my legs cramping and my gas tank near zero. I could hear the noise and the feel the excitement of the fi nish line. It was then, with about a mile to go in the race, that I recognized my girlfriend Laurie in a bright orange jack- et. We held hands for a split second and my physical pain seemed to vanish. I had passed through the lonely, dark and de- pressing anguish into a magical kingdom of love and light. Without a doubt, it was love that kept me moving forward in the deepest and darkest moments of this day. Without a doubt, I can honestly and adamantly state that through the Iron- man triathlon, I found my holy grail. The inscription read, “Love is the most important thing.” • www.canadianchiropractor.ca
Chiropractic + Naturopathic Doctor October 08: Page 24
