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 Paramedic Greg Mentzel.
Q: What is your EMS job?
EMT-Paramedic, EMS-Ambulance Department Manager for a Hospital based 911 service
Q: What are your athletic pursuits and goals?
Running – anything from 5K to Ultras with sprint to iron distance triathlons
Q: Do you have a race or accomplishments you are particularly proud of?
After completing my third Ironman I focused on running a Boston Marathon qualifying time (mission accomplished). After that, having already run a 50 miler I focused on a 100 mile run. I finished that first one in 23 hours and ended up running a total of four (4) 100 mile runs, a 100K, a double marathon and a 50K all in 1 year.
Q: What are your tips for other EMS professionals to balance work and fitness?
- Schedule your workouts in your day and week plans.
- Don’t put your workout off until later – in the EMS world you’ve got to take advantage of your training time when it’s there – put if off and something else may come up that prevents it from ever happening.
- Don’t put off a workout just because of the weather – train in whatever there is because you’ll never know what race day will bring.
Q: How can readers connect with you?
Events and Accomplishments
- Ran Boston Qualifying Marathon 1/2010 (3:30)
- Finished Ironmen 5430 in Boulder CO 8/2001, IM WI 10/2006, IM CDA 6/2009 in 11:59.56. Next IM WI again in 2013.
- Finished 100 mile runs at Iron Horse in Florida (2/2011), Lean Horse 100 (8/2011) and Boulder 100 again in 10/2011)
- Rocky Mtn Double Marathon (5/2011) Black Hills 100K (6/2011) Sundance 50K (9/2011)
