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Community docs compete in Carp Triathlon

By DR. DAN BRENNAN — Oct. 2, 2009

“For your good health” is the Sansum Clinic motto.

Last Sunday, six Sansum Clinic physicians put these words into practice while competing in the 12th annual Carpinteria Triathlon. What started as a friendly wager between colleagues, resulted in a summer of hard work, positive role modeling and two and a half hours of exciting competition.

Interested in becoming more fit and setting a healthy example for their patients, each team member dedicated their summer to the race. Many hours were spent working out at the gym, running, swimming and cycling before and after office hours.

Healthier eating habits and increased cardiovascular exercise throughout the summer allowed each competitor to make a physical transformation easily noticed by patients and colleagues alike.

Two Sansum Clinic teams entered the Olympic Relay competition. Team Sansum was represented by specialists Dr. Mark Silverberg (swimming), Dr. Greg Newman (cycling) and Dr. James Egan (running). Team Flu Fighters was made up of three pediatricians, Dr. Greg Gaitan (swimming), Dr. Jerold Black (cycling) and Dr. Dan Brennan running the anchor leg.

Competition day started off cool and foggy, making the one mile swim even more challenging. Gaitan emerged from the water first, giving the Flu Fighters the early lead. In the second leg, Newman’s cycling experience paid off as he took back a lead during the 40 kilometer ride. Egan and Brennan ran equal times in the 10 kilometer foot race and all six colleagues congratulated and embraced each other at the finish line.

The immediate consensus was that these two teams would compete again next year. Not only was the training fun, but the build-up to the race helped promote a greater sense of camaraderie in the office and was a positive topic of conversation amongst the physicians, staff and patients.

In the end, both teams were able to claim victory after completing a summer of training in better health than when they started. Seeing so many patients and friends competing and cheering enhanced the experience.

One major motivation for the physician athletes was the hope that their patients, from kids to adults, would see their doctor out of his white coat and outside running, swimming or biking and feel compelled to do the same.

Six Sansum docs spent their summer training not only for “their” own good health, but true to their motto, “for your good health.”

Dr. Dan Brennan is a board certified pediatrician who enjoys sharing his passion for running. He’d still be out of shape if it wasn’t for the support of his wife, two boys and the amazing advice from his friend Joe at Santa Barbara Running. To contact Dr. Brennan, please call 563-6211.

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