Like most family practice physicians, Tom Chis-holm spends much of his work day recommending patients get some exercise and lose weight. Sometimes his words ring a little hollow.
“You feel a little bit hypocritical when you’re asking somebody to do something you’re not willing to do yourself,” Chisholm said. “I do hear that voice.”
So Chisholm and his co-workers at Rocky Mountain Health Center South have decided to practice what they preach. They are doing Sunday’s Cherry Creek Sneak as a group, and many of their patients have agreed to join them.
Julie Cohen, a physician assistant who came up with the idea, said about 50 people are participating, thanks to office staff who have gotten behind the concept.
“They’re all encouraging our patients to do it,” Cohen said. “They’re out there, selling people on the idea. It’s become very infectious.”
Cohen, 55, proposed the idea at an office meeting in February. She had run the Sneak several times in the past, before three knee surgeries made running inadvisable. Like most in the group, Cohen will walk the Sneak.
“At work we have a bunch of young women who are always worried about their weight, and I thought they need to start exercising, not just cut back their food,” Cohen said. “Then it occurred to me, we’re constantly telling our patients to exercise, so I thought if we could challenge them to join us and do it, they would see that we’re doing it, too. People got to be pretty enthusiastic about it.”
Chisholm describes himself as “a couch potato trying to get back into reasonable health.” He recommends 300 minutes of exercise per week to promote good health.
“This is our first attempt to demonstrate that we’re not asking you to do as we say and not as we do,” said Chisholm, 57. “We’re trying to appeal to people who do not make exercise a priority, and try to make it more of a priority in their lives. These are people who have let that priority lapse — and that includes myself. I’ve been in great shape in the past, but in the last five years I really have let myself go.”
One of Chisholm’s patients has brought Type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol under control by walking. John O’Shea, 66, shed 20 pounds over the past 15 months and likes to do half marathons. He will be walking the Sneak’s 5K Sunday to support the group, but his primary focus is the half marathon held in conjunction with the Colfax Marathon May 16.
Last Sunday O’Shea walked 10 miles, with an average heart rate of 125 beats per minute. Today he plans to walk 11 miles.
“I love it,” O’Shea said. “You feel great for two days afterwards because of all that energy, the endorphins.”
Cohen urges people not to underestimate the benefits of walking for exercise and health. Not everybody can be a runner.
“One of the reasons they need to exercise is because they are overweight and need to lose some of that (weight), to let up some of the pressure on their joints,” Cohen said. “Hips and knees take quite a knocking when you’re heavy.”
Cohen might be a little wistful when she walks the Sneak, though.
“I used to be a runner and loved it,” Cohen said. “I could lose my mind, my mind would be a different place than my body. I do miss it a lot.”
John Meyer: 303-954-1616 or jmeyer@denverpost.com
The 28th Cherry Creek Sneak
More than 10,000 elite runners, casual racers, joggers, walkers and families are expeccted in the unofficial start to the summer racing season.
When: Sunday, at Steele and Ellsworth streets.
What: 5K, 5-mile, 1-mile sprint, and half-mile kids run.
Schedule: 7 a.m., race-day registration; 8 a.m., races begin.
WHAT WE’D LIKE TO SEE
Rockies return to Coors Field.
The Rockies began the season with 10 of their first 16 games on the road, including the last six on a swing east through Atlanta and Washington. They return home this weekend for a three-game set with Florida, followed by three more in Denver against Arizona.
Finally. Coors, sweet Coors.
Journeyman Greg Smith (1-1) takes the mound tonight at 7:10 for Colorado, looking to improve on his previous outing against Atlanta when he left the game with seven walks.
On Saturday, the Rockies trot out Aaron Cook at 6:10 p.m. Sunday’s matinee has a 3:05 p.m. first pitch.
STAY ON THE COUCH
Nuggets are finally back in action.
Finally, somebody within the NBA called out the league for its marathon playoff schedule. And by marathon, we mean it takes forever.
Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy this week said: “It’s almost like you’re on a high school schedule or a college schedule playing twice a week” in the first round.
The Nuggets, for example, played Utah in Game 2 of their first-round series on Monday. Since then, the Avs have played two games, on Tuesday and Thursday.
Finally, the Nuggets get back on the court tonight, in Salt Lake City against the Jazz at 8:30 p.m. The game airs nationally on ESPN2 and locally on Altitude.
Added Van Gundy:
“Baseball gets their whole playoffs and World Series done in, like, three weeks. Us, it takes us the first round to go three weeks.”
Truth, he speaks.
GET OFF THE COUCH
On your mark . . . get set . . .
They’ll be racing for fowl in Longmont and up and down and back again at Arapahoe Basin. And both on Saturday.
The McIntosh Mud Hen 5K at Dawson Park in Longmont runs around McIntosh Lake starting at 10 a.m. It should make a pretty day, with great views of Longs Peak and various wildlife. Check for information.
In the mountains, check the Marmot Grind at Arapahoe Basin. An adventure race on snow — European style — the Grind starts on foot, skis uphill, then skis downhill. Not for the faint of foot. Find info at .
Nick Groke, The Denver Post
