Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Dr. James Adams, Tachyon Sports Injury Research Foundation

The death of Baltimore Orioles pitcher, Steve Bechler is a tragedy. Newspapers are discussing the stat use of the supplement Ephedra, a non-regulated substance found in over-the-counter diet pills, and some pills linked to “performance enhancement.”

Athletes don’t need governmental controls to do the right thing.

The real lesson can be seen in the face of the young man as he left the field less than 24 hours before dying. His eyes are unfocused, his face had no expression. It is a lesson that we road racers need to understand and remember as we prepare for the 2003 season.

Five points:

(1) high performance demands season-long, controlled fitness and diet.

(2) As we work out in the spring, our body has to acclimate to warmer and warmer temperatures.

(3) We must listen to our body as we work for improvement, even if it means slowing our pace.

(4) Exercise must be done with intervals of rest–this is how the body improves.

(5) As usual, drink plenty of fluids as we deal with the heat.

By starting our fitness programs early and remaining consistent, by the time we are racing in July, we’ll be ready for high temperatures. By having realistic goals, we’ll perform at our personal best.

The person with high personal goals, tends to think he or she can “push it” and demonstrate his or her commitment to sport. World-class fitness leads to maximum performance. It is only reachable with year-long commitment and pace. Most of my racing friends are in their 20s. It was difficult to imagine the sorrow that attends a death of an athlete at the beginning of the Pro adventure. Tragic, indeed.