Phillip Kriss, Athlete & Chiropractor

In the past Kriss Chiropractic sponsored a pretty good triathlon team. It was a great idea to have Kriss Chiropractic stamped on as many high performing athletes as we could find. Then I was humbled at the Coure d’ Alene Ironman trying to finish my run when Benny Swedburg said that I should join RTB. I told him he should join my team. We sparred back-and-forth a few times on the out and backs until at the end of the race a certain RTB athlete in my age group beat me on the run. I admitted Benny was right, we should join RTB. Combining forces with RTB enabled us to expand our sphere of influence to others to benefit us all.  Our Lake Tapps Morning Swimming group (find us on Facebook) suddenly expanded and our new buddies quickly adapted to arriving at dawn and in jumping in the cold lake. (It is really and excuse for a photo shoot). Little did we know that a little mini mastermind group had been created. RTB swimmers are usually fast swimmers and have made me increase my...

A few years ago I had a conversation with two people about the expense of my mountain bike. When I stated the cost of the bike, one of them had a total blowout and was upset because I robbed the family coffer of valuable resources. Noticing that he was already overweight and had several significant health conditions involving his heart and his pancreas I made the comment that the amount of money that I spent on my bicycle was very likely less than the co-pays on all the medications that he had been taking. As you can imagine, that went over really big. The other guy listening to the conversation knew the point that I was attempting to make and asked where he could go to buy such a fine machine, and what would it take to get into biking. To this day he still rides! He is a lot healthier for it and finds it fun and amusing for his body and soul. Well worth the investment. Probably nobody likes spending money on equipment for triathlons. It is an expensive sport. There is ...

It seems taping is the rage lately. You see it at almost all sporting events from kids on the soccer fields to professionals. It has been around for a while and is gaining in popularity. Taping can be used in at least 2 methods or types of tape. They can be for support or decompression. Back in the olden day’s athletic tape was the most common support used on strains, sprains and for prevention. It was used mostly on damaged joints and didn’t do much for a muscle injury. Also, it was stiff and did not allow for movement. The tape provided support to damaged tissues, and provided compression to squish the fluid of inflammation somewhere else. It worked pretty good and still does in some cases. The first version of kinesiotape did just that but better. KT tape as it was called was/is/and can be applied to accomplish the same purpose as athletic tape without the problem of hair and many rolls of expensive tape. KT tape (or the tape with a different name brand) does all of...

  Over the past few weeks I have been chatting with my buddies trying to figure out why they would get out of bed in the middle of a stormy night, strap on a pair of running shoes and hit the dark road.  Why would someone pay a considerable amount of money to enter a race when they know it is going to hurt? Because it is fun Because fitness is a better choice The challenge is good for the brain Ahhh, new toys! Accomplishing goals and bucket list items is cool! It is an outlet for stress and provides time for thought and problem solving. It is a great way to meet new people with similar likes and passions Peer pressure! It allows for travel to destinations you would not normally choose. People show up at your doorstep and humiliate you into participation. Your spouse signs you up so you can drive them around while they nap from a tough day. Running to something or from something. Going through a stressful personal life situation can drive people to find an...

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 expect...

·          They learn from the boy scouts! Their motto is be prepared. The new docs that have hit the ground running have had their pre-defined scripts and office procedures memorized and role played before they showed up for work the first day. Students have memorized tons of stuff to get through school. Why not go one step further and memorize the really important stuff? Study of any subject for 10 minutes a day will make you a knowledge machine in no time at all. ·          They have great mentors. That may be someone they know. It may be someone they have never met. Great mentors are found in person, on youtube, in books, and as seminars. Success leaves clues. Find out what works and duplicate it. ·          They are never satisfied. A great day, week or month is awesome. Keep pressing ahead learning and growing to turn growth into a streak that lasts year...