Phillip Kriss, Athlete & Chiropractor

Back in my college gynecology class, the instructor made a comment that an expert is a drip under pressure. I found it humorous then, and I still do until I find myself in a pressure situation. Then I have to recall what it means and put it into perspective.  It means that common people (drips) become experts as they react to pressure in a positive way. And the result does not have to be future generations! I have had a troubled past few weeks for a variety of reasons. Some I created, some were dealt to me with circumstances I cannot control. I had to stop and think "I am becoming an expert" and I felt better and began to rise to the challenge.  Pressure is what it takes to become stronger mentally, physically and emotionally. It is what makes athletes strong. It is why the masts of olden ships were made of trees on hilltops. If they could survive the stress of the wind and the storms, they would grow strong and make great masts! But few like and embrace pressure. A

Quit Thumbsucking Courage is the Answer One reason I love the full distance triathlon is because of what it teaches me not just about racing and events, but about myself. Many of the lessons learned on or around the race course have applications to life. In my last race, I hurt more than I ever have before, and some of the races I have done before were very uncomfortable. I was able to slug my way through 2 races that had the highest DNF’s to that  time, being St. George and Lake Tahoe 140.6. My experience last time reminded me of what I already knew with a different twist. So,  here is the situation. I planned out the training for the “event of the year” for me. Everything went great. I was feeling great, I was swimming, biking and running as well as or better than the past few years. I was very confident I would make it onto the podium, as I had been used to in this year’s racing events. I was very sure of myself. Good thing I kept my mouth shut about what my expectations we