RunningBrain.com

Have fun and get fit with Triathlon!

SWIM, BIKE, AND RUN FOR FITNESS, HEALTH, AND LONGEVITY.

Hello. My name is Anthony Ellis, M.D. and I'm a psychiatrist and reformed couch-potato. At age 35, I was out of shape, overweight, and not taking good care of my health. My wife and I started down a new path towards health and longevity in 2001 by getting off the couch and into road racing. We joined a local group running program and have been avid runners since. We completed our thirteenth "Crim" ten-mile road race in Flint, Michigan in 2013.

In 2005, I wrote a book about the race and training program that turned us in to athletes. The book is called "Running the Crim, Stories From the Coolest Race in Michigan."

Since 2007 I have also been a Michigan Master's swimmer. I have competed in Master's swim meets in the winter, organized by Michigan Masters, and swam in the State Championships. You can view the Michigan Master's program and the schedule by clicking HERE. Swimming is an activity that you can participate in across the lifespan to optimize your functional longevity.  

In 2009, I added biking to the mix and my transformation from runner to triathlete was complete. Now I train beginner triathletes and I compete in sprint triathlons each Summer. In 2010, I trained a group of ten physicians to compete in a sprint distance triathlon and we all finished, uninjured, with  half the team placing in their age groups.

After experiencing the results first hand, I began to lecture locally on the beneficial effects of exercise on brain function, health, energy, and mood.

               MASTERS SWIMMING

Most states have master's programs for swimmer's over age 18, and there are numerous yearly championship meets available across the country for competitive swimmers. You don't have to compete to benefit, but competition can help keep you motivated. Look up master's swimming in your state. Almost anyone can swim. If you can't swim well...take some lessons at your local YMCA or YWCA.

Completing the Bermuda Around the Sound swim in 2009 at age 46. This open water swim in a lagoon  (Harrington Sound) was my intro to open water racing in the ocean. Prior to this all of my open water swims were in Michigan lakes at local sprint triathlons. The race had 800 meter, 2K, 4K, 7.5K and 10K distances available. I finished the 2.5 mile swim in 1:25.