Five Year Twinkies

Once upon a time (cera una volta) there was a triathlete who measured his success in the world by his victories. And they were many. He was talented, on the receiving end of high quality DNA, an eager learner and hard worker. He understood the connection between effort and recovery. He could afford quality tools and he listened to his coaches.

He was on top of the world when he won and under its immense weight when he didn't.

I am a winner and I win, was his mantra. He truly was defined by this relentless drive to succeed.

After a series of setbacks due to injury and illness (after all listening to coaches is different than hearing what they say), he was feeling despondent and morose one day when he heard a commercial on the local NPR station:

The CDC is looking for a few volunteers to test a new drug. A drug so powerful that it will allow you to swim without tiring, ride a bike without fatigue and run with no limits.

He was signed up within an hour.

There were forms to fill out. Hold harmless disclaimers and more legal mumbo-jumbo that he had seen in all his years in law school. Most of the fine print was about the point that stated:

There is evidence that though the use and subsequent success of this drug, that at least five years will be subtracted from your life, and perhaps more.

This gave him some food for thought. After serious and deep introspection, a chat with his coaches, a quiet dinner with his girlfriend, a lengthy conversation with his parents, confession, a Google search and a night on the town, he narrowed the decision to a single question:

If this drug will allow me to win the Ironman World Championship, but then cost me five years of precious life, is it worth it?

I was reminded of this story when I heard about Phd Mark Haub and his now famous Twinkie Diet. Here is the story, here is the best rebuttal and analysis I have found to date, here is an interview, and here is Mark's own Twitter feed.

Folks, athletes, and friends. Let us be clear. There is fitness, there is good health and there is athletic success.

Please do not confuse them.

Oh yeah, and here is Mark's 1+1+1

Norwegian Wood, Haruki Murakami
American Beauty, Grateful Dead
True Grit.