Every four years, journalists see the worst side of America. As kids, we were taught that the United States was the greatest nation on earth because of our democracy. Yes, we do have a democracy, but democracy is messy.
This year, with Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton debating and sending mounds of emails, our democracy has become even messier. It is more of the same. Like a huge family fight, it is not fun to be around. You can only hope it ends soon.
Given this backdrop, I was invited to watch the Nautica Malibu Triathlon two weeks ago in Malibu, California. It is presented and co-sponsored by Equinox. It was just the antidote that I needed in a year full of being depressed at how nasty people can be.
The triathlon was invented in France almost 100 years ago, and the name comes from the Greek word meaning three sport. The triathlon as we know it was started in San Diego’s Mission Bay on Sept. 25, 1974. Now, there are many, and the Nautica Malibu Triathlon celebrated its 30th year in 2016. The Malibu Triathlon began with a half-mile swim in the ocean, an 18-mile bike ride and four-mile running race. Although it is put on by a for-profit company, it raises money for the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles Pediatric Cancer Research Center. This year, with more than 5,000 participants (not all completed the race), the triathlon raised $1.3 million. What is nice is that it has a celebrity division, a corporate division as well as an entertainment division.
I got to the triathlon early in the morning, two hours before the athletes began. It was an amazing sight. There were old people, young people, people who were not thin, even two orthodox Jews with tefillin wrapped around them as they prayed right before dawn.
As I watched the swimmers go from the water to change and begin their bike ride, I was amazed also to see some differently abled athletes completing their swim. Two had leg amputations, one had his legs bound together so they would not disrupt his swimming and one was able bodied but had to be carried out of the water. I might be overweight, but not nearly to the extent that some participants were, and I certainly have use of my legs. However, I do not have the courage that these athletes had.
It was also great to get to know some of the athletes, especially the Cedar-Sinai Hospital OB/GYN organizer Dr. Roy Silver. He began organizing the OB/GYN department at Cedar-Sinai to participate a couple of years ago and leaving no stone unturned even developed a mission statement for the race. It states: “As united physicians of cedars-Sinai health systems, we are guided by the relentless pursuit of providing optimal health and wellness for our patients. Equal to this task, is our mission for the Cedars-Sinai health system triathlon team. We endeavor to provide the same goals for doctors, nurses, and staff members who are willing to be apart of a special team that reinforces improved health, well-being, and weight management through coached training and triathlon competition while raising awareness and valuable charity funds.”
In a conversation I had with Dr. Silver, he said it was not just about raising money for children or getting people out for the morning but about helping staff deal with very high-stress jobs. Indeed, Dr. Sliver has a sense of humor, having made running and biking suits that said, “You make ’em, we deliver ’em.” He described the Cedar-Sinai Ob-Gyn team and its involvement as “another outlet to help us stay healthy and fit,” and he believes that it is leading by example for “our own patients.” He uses modern recruitment methods to get staff to participate, using email blasts, posters, memos, online coaching and monthly group workouts.
Dr. Silver believes that the triathlon also inspires the staff to “do what they never thought they could do.” He is involved not only in recruiting staff but in training them as well. Dr. Silver says, “It also gives staff a chance to bond with each other and to connect with each other,” as often staff is exhausted and don’t get that chance to connect. He said it has brought people who work together closer, and that everyone cheers each other on. “There are no downsides to this.”
Indeed, there are no downsides, staff of an OB/GYN department, people from corporations and many others are swimming, biking and running together. They are raising money and becoming healthy together. The world needs more people like Dr. Silver who really pull people together and don’t just talk about it, a lesson for all this political season.
Media wishing to interview Ellen Ratner, please contact [email protected].
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