After fighting traffic for the past half hour, I finally reach the trailhead. The music on the car radio is drowned out by the "mental noise" in my head. I replay my four-year-old daughter whining all the way to school, my office manager requesting overdue reports (the worst part of a doctor's job), and an assortment of patients talking about their new ailments for the week. My temper is so short I curse at my inability to unlatch the seatbelt, and another as my shoelace becomes knotted when I tighten my shoe.

It's 7 p.m., the end of a long day at the end of a long week and I've been running on adrenaline for the past four hours. I'm not looking forward to this evening's paperwork or tomorrow's meeting with the running club - work, work, work.

I look down at my watch and it's now 7:10 p.m., damn, where did those ten minutes go? I set my chronograph and push start; I'm now on "Ken time", which runs completely separate from the time anywhere else in the world.

The trail starts with a gentle down slope which allows me to work out the kinks in my forty-year-old joints and get some blood flow in my leg muscles. My lungs start to complain as my heart rate starts to climb and I feel I'm still running on adrenaline and I'm not getting enough oxygen ANYWHERE in my body. Not a good time for the trail to start its ascent - WHY DIDN'T I JUST GO HOME???

After another few minutes, I begin to sweat, my joints are looser and I can start to feel my muscles become more flexible. My mind begins to wonder (obsess) about the new patients I saw earlier today: Is Lori going to ice like I told her? Is Jim going to stop his run at 45 minutes like I asked? Is Beth's shoulder going to be ready for the triathlon on Sunday? Is my wife going to be upset that I won't make it home until after 8 p.m. for the fourth time this week? Is my daughter still whining at that pitch that curls your toes (an amazing supernatural phenomenon)?

Watch check: 15 minutes Ken time

I've reached the switchbacks and I hunker down (aka slow down) to pace myself up the switchbacks. The goal for tonight is to finish them without stopping, even with the heat. I pay closer attention to my body and the rocks on the trail that continuously reach to trip me up and bring me down. Passing through turns three and four, I know the ascent levels off slightly and try to catch my breath. I'm half way up.

My heart is pounding in my ears and my breathing begins to take center stage in my mind, quieting some of the noise in my head. Sweat coats the surface of my skin (I'm Italian, if we don't sweat, we explode!). Of course Lori will ice, she wants to get better. Of course Rick won't stop at 45 minutes, but imagine what he'll think of his doctor when he goes 60 minutes without pain! Of course Beth will do her stretches and do fine in her race.

Top of the switchbacks without stopping - Hooptey!! I gasp for breath as I continue on, thinking I'll have enough time on Tuesday for those reports.

Ken time: 30 minutes

The sweat stings my eyes as the trail flattens out and my body moves along like a slow, oiled machine with 150 thousand miles on it. I look back on my day and appreciate the people I work with and how our patients take an active role in their health.

The trail begins to descend - the big payoff! I lower my center of gravity and spread my arms for increased stability and "face- plant reduction" (a medical term). Game on! A stupid grin appears on my face as the trail continues its descent back to my car. It's the same grin my daughter inherited that appears during our "Sunday Night Smack Down" ticklefests. Her laughter is pure magic.

Ken time: 50 minutes

Back at the car and STOP! My watch switches to 8 p.m. Friday night and the rest of the world comes rushing back to me. Its demands are the same, but I have bathed in my own sweat and become rejuvenated. I arrive home in time to greet my wife and tuck my daughter in for the night. My wife gives me an understanding (and sweaty) hug. After ten years of marriage she is well aware how much I need this time and how it makes me a better husband, father and doctor.

I know that I'm not alone in this. In addition to the positive effects regular exercise has on preventing cardiovascular disease, it causes the release of endorphins and other natural opiates. These have been shown to increase sleep quality, reduce stress, increase creative thinking and reduce anxiety and depression. In addition, a threshold of 2,000 calories burned per week through exercise has been shown to promote healthier food choices.

Exercise is good medicine; imagine if you could bottle it?

Dr. Ken Sheridan is a local runner who competes in a variety of events, from marathons to duathlons. He practices at Active Care Chiropractic and Rehab in Golden. You can reach him at 303- 279-0320.