Being Prepared

by Kevin Purcell, D.C.

For quite some time now I have made continual changes in my life to extend my life span. I was about 40 years old when I decided that I should make an all-out effort to outlive my dad, who had died suddenly at 49. At that time, I set my sight on a handful of decades beyond that. Through years of university education in the medical sciences, another four years of health science education in professional school as a chiropractor, personal experience, reading and mentors, I have come to understand the diverse aspects of longevity.

I understand how much most of us can influence life span. Folks who say different are released of responsibility and in turn avoid difficult choices. It's true that some people have superior longevity genes; but we can close the gap my doing things others won’t do. Time may, or may not (!), support my current view; however, I am hoping it takes another 40 years to prove my case! In addition to added concern for my health, I started viewing risk differently. The healthier I became, the happier I found myself and the more value I placed on my life. Ultimately, I began looking for ways to lower risk separate from health.

Back to health: In the past I have gone through a series of tests to establish my physiological age. I knew what my chronological age was; what I wanted to know was “how things were working.” I did blood work, cardiac function test, lung capacity, complete physical examination, sigmoidoscopy, and a 64-Slice CT angiography and was pleased to find out that my internist placed my physiological age at a level that made me smile. Since then I have made moves to lower it even further.

Over the years Gordo and I have talked quite a bit about quality of life and, by extension, death. We don’t agree on everything but our conversation is always insightful. As information began surfacing that suggested that I might be around for awhile, he said, “I think you may want to shift focus from ‘not dying,’ to ‘preparing to live longer than you planned." When I first met Gordo I noticed that he was calculated. It’s not that he lives without risk; rather, he attempts to avoid mistakes through careful planning. I am thinking some of this came from mountaineering, some of it grew out of his deep education in finance and much of it comes from the fact that he enjoys the process that results in personal success.

I am reminded by father’s early death that we cannot prepare on our deathbed. No one knows that day or hour. We are mortal, and life is a game of cards being dealt to us, and we are required to play. Although we can't control the dealing, we can control how we play the cards we have received.

We can play close to the chest with no risk whatsoever, hoping to avoid loss at all costs, satisfying ourselves as mere observers and missing out on the fun of the game. Or we can be loose and daring, with all cares tossed to the winds, in which case we are at risk of losing our ante in a hurry.

Or we can play the game intelligently, betting when appropriate and holding when appropriate, with a reasonable degree of caution spiced with some fancy footwork here and there, leaving the greatest amount of free room for manoeuvring on the table when the risk is acceptable and perhaps even downright enjoyable.

Keep on truckin'...

Dr. Kevin Purcell, D.C. works with long course triathletes; from elite to those new to endurance sport. Coach KP has guided over 30 athletes to qualification in Kona (including FPRO 2x), including 10 IM age group championships and two AG podiums at the World Championships at Ironman Hawaii. Dr. Kevin is certified in Active Release Technique (ART) and recently did a two week medical rotation at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista. Coach KP retired from competition in 2006.