Work-Life Balance Through Triathlons and Medicine (Ft. Dr. Mallory Pullman)
How Triathlon Makes Me a Better Doctor: Finding Balance & Preventing Burnout
Welcome back to The Interesting MD! I’m Dr. Rob Beck, and if you’ve followed my journey or checked out my recent podcast, you know I’m passionate about more than just medicine. Yes, I love the intricacies of patient care, the challenge of tough diagnoses, and collaborating with incredible colleagues. But there’s another side to me—a side that’s fifty miles into a rainy bike ride or ten minutes into a comically bad open water swim. That side is a triathlete.
In my most recent episode, I had the privilege to sit down with Dr. Mallory Pullman, an emergency physician and world championship–level triathlete, for a deep (and often hilarious) dive into how sports and hobbies outside medicine keep us balanced—and, frankly, keep us sane.
Why I Think Every Doctor Needs Something (Anything) Outside of Medicine
Listen, being a doctor is an all-consuming job. It’s rewarding, but it’s also exhausting, draining, and—let’s call it what it is—sometimes outright overwhelming. We’re a notoriously Type A bunch, striving relentlessly for perfection, always checking the next box, always chasing the next credential.
But as Mallory shared (and I wholeheartedly agree), if medicine is all you have, bad days at work swallow your whole day, heck, sometimes your whole self-worth. The truth is, medicine will always keep asking for more. There’s always another committee, another leadership role, another late-night chart review. If we don’t actively carve out an identity beyond our white coats, we risk burnout.
That’s where triathlon entered my life—and quite honestly, saved my career satisfaction.
How I Got Hooked: My First Triathlon Was a Total Disaster
I wish I could tell you I was a natural. The truth? My first triathlon was… ugly. I saw this advertisement for an event in New Orleans—I figured, I can swim, bike, and run, right? Well, not exactly!
I jumped into a thousand-meter open water swim with absolutely zero formal training and found myself getting passed by everyone—including folks with different-colored caps (which meant I was getting lapped by other groups). Kayakers started circling, and I remember thinking, “Just go away… but not too far—I need you close in case I drown!” It was humbling, to say the least.
The humiliation continued on my first borrowed bike (not even close to being the right size) with borrowed clip-in pedals I had never used before. Spoiler alert: of course I fell over turning around a cone, in front of several race officials. But you know what? I survived. I finished. And it lit a fire in me.
For Anyone New (or Tri-Curious): You Are Not Alone
If you’re reading this and thinking, “I could never do a triathlon. I don’t even have a bike. My swim is basically controlled drowning,” let me say: You absolutely can. I chat routinely with colleagues who are “tri-curious.” Adult-onset swimmers who are getting lapped by the seniors swim club at their local pool? That was me too!
Triathlon is one of the most approachable endurance sports if you’re willing to check your ego at the door, learn something new, and push past the initial discomfort. You don’t need a fancy carbon bike or a $500 wetsuit. All you need is something that moves, an old suit, some running shoes, a helmet—and a willingness to laugh at yourself.
What You Gain Outside Medicine, You Bring Back Into It
One of Mallory’s best insights from our conversation was about how meaningful it is to have multiple identities. If you’re only Dr. So-and-So, your sense of self rises and sinks with every tough shift. But when you’re also a triathlete, a parent, a traveler—a person with stories entirely separate from work—your emotional resilience skyrockets.
Here’s what triathlon gives me that medicine can’t:
Mindfulness & Calm: There’s something incredibly zen about swimming laps—no phone notifications, just the rhythm of your breath—like enforced mindfulness meditation. Biking and running are my mobile therapy sessions too.
Achievement That’s Mine: I love helping patients, but hospital jobs always pile on more duty. Hitting a new pace on the track or finally mastering a smooth swim stroke? That’s just for me. It fills my cup so I can turn around and keep giving at work.
A Sense of Community: The triathlon world is welcoming, inclusive, and filled with people of every age, shape, and background. We pass each other, cheer for each other, and swap stories about our training disasters (and our medals).
How Much Training Time Do You Need?
You don’t have to commit endless hours. For a first-time sprint triathlon, two or three sessions a week for each activity (swim, bike, run), even for just 45 minutes at a time—plus a slightly longer ride or run on the weekend—is plenty. Trust me, I did my first tri with a single-digit number of swims beforehand (which, in hindsight, is not recommended, but it worked out!).
As you move to longer distances, training ramps up—but there are always ways to make it fit your schedule. Early mornings, teamwork with family, or doing social runs with friends—there are solutions for every schedule.
A Note to Women in Medicine: This Sport Is Yours, Too
I see you, colleagues who worry about “who’s home with the kids?” or “will people think I’m neglecting my family if I train?” Let me echo what Mallory and I discussed: You are allowed to invest in yourself. There is nothing selfish about carving out an hour to sweat, laugh, and grow outside your job and your family. In fact, it helps you show up as a better partner, parent, and physician.
How to Get Started: My Prescription for Burnout
Grab whatever makeshift gear you have and sign up for a local sprint triathlon. (Don’t worry about coming last—there’s always a party at the back!)
Join a local club for accountability and camaraderie, or just rope in a friend to try with you.
If you’re not a swimmer, masters swim groups are incredible for free pointers—they live to help new adult swimmers.
Do not judge yourself by the gear, the pace, or the photos. Judge yourself by your courage to try something new.
Why I’ll Never Quit—And Why You Should Try
Triathlon doesn’t just make me fitter; it makes me happier, calmer, and a hundred times more resilient. Every hard shift, every tough call, feels more manageable because I have a place where effort always pays back a little joy. And the more I fill my life outside work, the better I am for my patients, my family, and myself.
If you want to follow along with more stories from the Interesting MD, make sure you listen to our latest podcast, subscribe on YouTube, or connect via socials. And if you’re looking for a sign to do something new for yourself this year—consider this it.
See you on the road, in the pool, or maybe just lying on the ground after a tough interval, happy and ready for another day.
—
Dr. Rob Beck
Host, The Interesting MD
Want more tips or have questions about starting your own non-medical adventure?
DM me on socials or email me at rob[at]interestingmd.com. And if you’ve got an interesting hobby or a story to share—let’s get you on the podcast!
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