To Train Or Not To Train?

That is the question. Today, I volunteered at the Women's Running Magazine Half Marathon and 5k race in St. Petersburg, FL. I found out about the race to late to participate in the Expo or help with the medical staff, but thought it might be fun to help as a course monitor. I am very glad that I did.
I was chosen to be a course monitor at Tropicana Field. Part of the course was to run through the stadium and back out to finish about 2 miles away. I was lucky enough to have the honor of staying inside all day on the field and being photographer of the many runners as they crossed home plate. It was very inspiring to watch these men and women who had already run 11 miles get their second wind upon setting foot upon the field.
Seeing all these people of different fitness levels participating today made me want to run a marathon myself. But as I have not been in training for a bit, I thought I would put together a list of recommendations to get me or anyone that is interested in training should start doing.
Suggestions for Training for a Marathon
1. If you haven't been physically active for a while, consider contacting your physician of choice to discuss your options. Have an old injury that has kept you off the running path, why not try a different type of physician to check it out for you?
2. Find the right gear, especially shoes: Most people get shin splints and other injuries due to improper shoes. It is worth the time and effort to go to a reputable running store and get a consult. Or perhaps its time to look into orthotics for your running shoes. It could save you from a lot of pain and suffering. For women, the proper sports bra can make all the difference in the world and save you from a lot of back pain. ( Proper bra fitting in general can help women with unexplained back pain.)
3. Pick an event: Having a goal helps keep you motivated. Marathonrookie.com is a good website to start checking out events and getting more information about training.
4. Find a training group: Meetup.com and websites like that are great places to find people who want to train as well. When you have someone to hold you accountable, it makes you less likely to skip training. Some events have their own training programs through facilities like YMCA. Or maybe its time to convince your significant other or best friend to start running with you.
5. Take care of yourself: While training, you will use muscles that you probably have not used in a long time. Whether its chiropractic, massage, or other types of physical medicine that you prefer, make sure you take care of problems early before they become a problem that could take you out of the race.
6.Set up a training schedule: If you sign up to run 26 miles, don't run 26 miles for the first time the week of the event. Look on the internet or ask your gym if they have a training program that will get you ready for the upcoming event.
7.Proper Diet and Nutrition: Since you will be putting extra stress on your system, look into how to maintain. If you aren't taking a multi-vitamin daily, this is definitely the time to start. But make sure you find high quality products as these may cost more but will have a better effect on your training. Also, look into products to help you recover after training. Gatorade really doesn't cut it anymore as there are products such as Endurox that have a lot of science and nutrition behind it to help restore muscle damage and protein.

Now, this is not a complete list of things to prepare yourself for a marathon but it is definitely a start. I just need to hold myself accountable to my own words. Anyone interested in being my training buddy?

Can This Health System Be Saved?

This past Wednesday, I participated in this lovely idea that has been implemented at Studio 620 in St. Petersburg, FL. Studio 620 is a place where art and activism meet. They offer everything from theatre to social events. I have spent the past year volunteering there when I can as it is a great place to see local art and meet great people. About five years ago, they started the idea of a social justice roundtable where they have discussed everything from immigration to environmental issues. This past Wednesday they discussed the issue of health care reform.
The premise was that they ask specialists in the area of health care law and culture to speak on whether or not there is an answer to our current issue of our health care system. Being a physician, it was interesting to not see anyone who particularly works as a physician in a healthcare setting. The first thing that came to mind was if physicians were scared to talk on such a topic in public after this summer's debacle of town hall meetings. I was even hesitatant to say anything as people began to get very passionate about their health care and their anger towards physicians. This is when it occured to me that it is why we might never save this health care system.
Two things have happened in this country that has not happened many other places. One, healthcare became a profitable business and industry. Two, people are not able to distinquish between what is fair and appropriate healthcare. With the invention of the internet and global communication, people have become their own experts on healthcare and want their physician to fit into their idea of what is right. The problem that arises is that what is right for one person is not right for another.
Here is an example. A great show that I love to listen to is This American Life (thislife.org) on National Public Radio. ( I highly recommend it.) They told a story about a physician who decided not to perform a Prostate Specific Antigen on a patient due to the new research out that states that is not as reliable as people once thought. He went over the pros and cons with the patient and let the patient have the final word. The patient agreed with the physician and did not have the test performed. One year later, the patient saw another physician who performed the test and the patient ended up being diagnosed with prostate cancer. The first physician was sued for malpractice as it was deemed that the PSA test was the 'gold standard' of treatment.
Without getting into all the specifics of the malpractice and whether the physician is responsible for the outcome of this man's health. The main point is that the physician fit his treatment plan to fit the patient because the research stated it was not a valid test. But the health care system was still operating on the 'old' set of rules. This is the problem with any huge system. Change is slow to come and even when it is initated, most people are resistant. Where are the incentives for physicians to make change when they might be met with resistance. The same goes for patients.
People say they want a health care system but really what people are saying is that they want a emergency or chronic illness system. People rarely talk about wanting preventive medicine. A friend told me last night that in China, physicians used to only be paid when you were healthy. If you were sick, it was their responsiblity to fix you. The system we have now lives off people getting sick. No sick people, no need for hospitals. How many people do you know wait until they can take it anymore and go to the emergency room to be 'fixed'. Wouldn't it be nice to live in a world where health was a right just as your freedom is. That when you were feeling great, you still went to your physician because they were able to provide you with some form of therapy that helped keep you that way?
That is what complimentary alternative medicine (CAM) practicitioners do. We are here to keep your health and not take it from you. Our health care system is definitely in need of a re-organization, and perhaps in a perfect world it could include an ounce more prevention than it currently does.

Think Outside of the Box

For 3 1/2 years, I wrote a blog every week concerning my time as a student in chiropractic school. I would fill it with information regarding the trials and tribulations of being a medical school student. Now I find myself myself living in Seminole, FL and starting my practice in the Largo, FL area. I have had this amazing opportunity to join the women located at i spa Health Studio. Adrienne Honeywell is the licensed massage therapist and Dr. Debra Bebell is the acupuncture physician. It is a place where a holistic approach is the priority.
And that is where you come in. The purpose of this blog is to help educate people not only their health but to gain a sense of community. Many people these days are frustrated with their current health care system. Why do you think there is such turmoil over the current health care reform in Washington, D.C.? People are being forced to think outside the box in order to live a happy and healthy life. For example, five years ago I could not eat anything without feeling incredible discomfort. I went to my allopathic physician and received medication in the form of a little purple pill. Nothing changed and I still was losing weight due to my inability to eat anything beside rice and egg drop soup. The Chinese restaurant was my favorite place at the time. My physician just increased my dosage. This angered me as it seemed that the treatment plan was just for me to continue to be in pain. That is when I decided to think outside the box and go to a chiropractic physician to seek help. But what I got was more. I got a physician who took the time to ask the right questions and prescribe the right treatment plan which included botanicals, diet, and exercise. Within two months, I was eating again and within six months it was like a distant memory.
That is what made me want to become a chiropractic physician. To have the opportunity to help turn on the light switch in people's head to see that they don't have to just suffer in silence.