56 TRIATHLETE.COM | January 2011

CHECKING INT

UR

NER

BR

OA

DC

AS

TIN

G S

YS

TEM

S

I’M A TRIATHLETE

Sanjay GuptaBY LAUREN VENTURA

plains. “I was thinking of getting a group of people who were representative of these problems—people who’re trying to make a change in their lives, physically, emotionally, diet-wise—and give those people the tools to change, and use their stories to engage our audience.”

The outcome of the six-month train-ing journey took six CNN viewers, who were looking to get fit, to the finish line of the 2010 Nautica New York City Tri-athlon. Using triathlon as a vehicle for weight loss and health fitness wasn’t just a fluke, though, Gupta reveals; extensive research drove the decision.

“I looked at everything, such as what is the likelihood that a non-athletic per-son would be able to finish a triathlon?” Gupta says. “What does triathlon do to your body overall; what’s the importance of using all the muscle groups in vari-ous stages of training—was that, from a medical standpoint, better for these peo-ple than completing a marathon?”

What he and his researchers at CNN determined is that although marathon training can be beneficial, it could po-tentially raise inflammatory proteins in the blood too high in non-athletes who

S It hardly seems possible that one person could have the time to be an award-winning journalist, reporting on everything from the Sept. 11 attacks to Hurricane Katrina and the earthquakes in Haiti and Pakistan, while still finding time to perform his surgical duties at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. But Dr. Gupta, now 43, does just that.

Gupta’s latest crusade focuses on one of the worst epidemics in this country: obesity. To help do his part to combat America’s growing waistline, Gupta and CNN launched the Fit Nation Triathlon Challenge last year and are working on another for 2011.

“As a doctor I’m always thinking of ways I can walk the walk,” Gupta ex-

Sanjay Gupta, a neurosurgeon and CNN’s chief medical correspondent for the Health, Medical and Wellness Unit, has been called a lot of names: a humanitarian, father of three, a superman, a pop culture icon, one of the sexiest men alive. Now he can add the label “triathlete” to the mix.

Dr. Gupta and his Fit Nation Challenge team at the 2010 Nautica New York City Triathlon

CHECKING INB

RIG

HT

RO

OM

.CO

M

might already be at risk for high blood pressure or high cholesterol. A combina-tion that Gupta decided was too risky for his contestants.

“On the other hand, using the cross-training required in triathlon and really mixing up the training, and picking the right distance—we chose the Olympic distance—we thought it was a good fit for the cross-section of people we ultimately chose,” he says.

One contestant, Angie Brouhard, a breast can-cer survivor, didn’t want to just get in shape: She wanted to show viewers that when you beat can-cer, you can come back from it stronger than ever. Brouhard crossed the finish line on her wedding anniversary, using triathlon to show her husband, family and friends that she was still going strong.

All told, the combined weight loss for the team was more than 130 pounds, a feat that Gupta credits in part to the “low hanging fruit” denominator—elimi-

I’M A TRIATHLETE

Favorite Training Song: Weezer’s “Island In The Sun.” “It’s always the first song I play when I start my training.”

Training Gear He Can’t Live Without: “I got really attached to various anti-chafe creams. I now fully understand the need for those products after training for triathlon because I could have qualified for a horror show in the early stages of my training.”

Most Important Training Lesson Learned: “I learned a lot about sodium replacement. Taking a salt packet and pouring it right on your tongue, a packet right from a fast food restaurant, and using it between the bike/run transition can really help prevent dehydration.”

Nutrition Must-have: “I became a big fan of Clif Shot Bloks and Gu. These were good for me because I knew how many calories were in them. Plus they didn’t make me sick to my stomach.”

Nutrition No-no’s: Alcohol and ice cream. “Don’t worry, I didn’t become a monk. I would still get ice cream; it just wouldn’t be in the house. Instead I’d have to work for it by walking to get it: I’d bring the kids with me to a local ice cream shop down the street instead.”

His Ride: I have a Trek Madone 6.9. It’s such a great bike. I really love the Kozo Shimano electric gear shifting feature [not pictured].”

58 TRIATHLETE.COM | January 2011

nating soda, sweets and unnecessary calories from a diet and adding

in a healthy breakfast. “What was so surpris-

ing for our triathletes was the huge di!erence that just those first few changes made. And then when you add in the tri-

athlon training—they made huge progress,” he says.

But it was his own race expe-rience that really opened his eyes

to the world of triathlon, not just as a transformative, healthy sport but also as a culture.

“You’ll hear people who are great triathletes nurturing newer triathletes, giving them insider

tips and just helping them. I re-ally love that about the sport,”

says Gupta. As for his favor-ite triathlon moment, it hap-pened 13 miles into the bike course of the Nautica New York City Triathlon. “I was coming over the West Side

Highway, I saw the Washington Street Bridge in the distance—every-one around me was chatting and talking, just being so supportive—it was a great moment.”

You’ll hear people who are great triathletes nurturing newer triathletes, giving them insider tips and just helping them. I really love that about the sport.”

“ Dr.

Gupta’s triathlon checklist