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Sleep Deprivation Is Not Good...

Sunday, 31 May 2015 00:10

By Dr. Krishna R. Polu (active.com)

When I was an internal medicine intern, my friends used to tell me I was nuts. Back then I would work and work and then work some more, often on no sleep. A typical call day would start at 6 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. the following day. If I slept for an hour during that time I considered myself lucky.

After my shift, I would head to the pool, go for a run or get on my bike for a workout. Sleep became a luxury (not a priority) as I tried to fit everything into my hectic schedule.

Despite the long hours at work, I was determined to stay in shape and keep competing in triathlon. Often I would feel dizzy or lightheaded during these workouts, but trudged through them regardless. Sometimes when I was spinning at the gym I would close my eyes and take one-minute naps. This ludicrous behavior finally ended when I fell asleep and drove off the road returning home from the pool. After that, sleep grew as a priority....

Sleep Isn't Negotiable

Does this behavior sound similar to your own? As triathletes, we may also wear many other hats in our lives: parent, spouse, busy professional, student or community leader. Juggling it all and finding time to train for triathlon can be difficult. READ MORE