EMS professionals are challenged to balance work, family, and other obligations while also staying or striving for mental and physical fitness. The Everyday EMS Athlete is a regular column to recognize and learn from other EMS professionals that are setting and meeting fitness goals. This edition was contributed by Christopher Strattner.
What is your EMS job?
Paramedic cross trained police sergeant assigned to County SWAT team and an EMS educator at the National Center for Security and Preparedness.
What are your athletic pursuits and goals?
8-time Ironman, a couple of dozen marathons, but rehabbing from a fractured calcaneus these days and getting back to the circuit.
Do you have an accomplishment you are particularly proud of?
I did Ironman races while working as SWAT team police officer/paramedic and going to law school. Balance was everything.
What are your fitness tips for other EMS professionals?
Workout when it’s hard and embrace the challenge of how hard it is.
Tired at the end of a shift? Go run. Especially if it’s raining. Each step will be a reminder to yourself of just how tough you actually are. And enjoy how hard it is to do.
And, psst, it’s OK to lie to yourself about how much you enjoy how hard it is if you have to at first, because soon both your mind and body will believe the lie and it will be true. You will enjoy being even more bad ass than you already are for doing this tough job every day.
Are there an organizations you would like to promote?
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