1. 56 TRIATHLETE.COM | January 2011
CHECKINGIN
TURNERBROADCASTINGSYSTEMS
I’M A TRIATHLETE
SanjayGupta
BY 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-
SanjayGupta,a
neurosurgeonand
CNN’schiefmedical
correspondentforthe
Health,Medicaland
WellnessUnit,hasbeen
calledalotofnames:a
humanitarian,fatherof
three,asuperman,apop
cultureicon,oneofthe
sexiestmenalive.Now
hecanaddthelabel
“triathlete”tothemix.
Dr.Guptaandhis
FitNationChallenge
teamatthe2010
NauticaNewYork
CityTriathlon

2. CHECKINGIN
BRIGHTROOM.COM
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
FavoriteTrainingSong: Weezer’s
“Island In The Sun.” “It’s always the
first song I play when I start my
training.”
TrainingGearHeCan’tLiveWithout:
“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.”
MostImportantTrainingLesson
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.”
NutritionMust-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.”
NutritionNo-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.”
HisRide: 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 difference 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’llhear
peoplewhoaregreat
triathletesnurturing
newertriathletes,giving
theminsidertipsand
justhelpingthem.I
reallylovethatabout
thesport.
”
“
Dr.
Gupta’s
triathlon
checklist