This week I was incredibly fortunate to chat with Chris Kvam, an accomplished attorney, devoted husband, motivated athlete, and a fellow committee member of the Cystic Fibrosis Lifestyle Foundation. As if that wasn't enough, he also has Cystic Fibrosis. Although we are all familiar with the battles of this disease, his outlook is refreshing.

He shared, "I am a person who is living with CF. CF doesn't define me, and has driven me to relentlessly pursue living out my dreams." And it is this attitude that has surely helped him in accomplishing some very impressive feats of athleticism.

Chris ran competitively in high school and college with his fastest mile 4 minutes and 34 seconds. Since then, he has finished a half ironman triathlon, the NYC marathon, cross country ski marathons and has ran and cycled thousands of miles all over the world, including the Canadian Rockies and French Pyrenees.

Read on to learn more about his training schedule, motivation, and what he has planned for his next accomplishment.

What is your training schedule?

My training schedule varies based on the time of year and what I'm training for. There are two seasons - nordic skiing and cycling. (I run year round). Currently I am transitioning from my winter cross country ski training back into cycling. I run 2-3 miles every weekday morning before work. Two of those weekdays I try to do an additional session of cycling or running in the evening. These are my more intense interval sessions. One weekend day is my long distance day, the other is my rest day. I do 100-150 pushups/situps every day, and have recently added two twenty minute kettlebell workouts into my week.

Favorite form of exercise?

Cycling is my favorite form of exercise. Running will always hold a special place in my life, but nothing is more exhilarating and liberating than flying over the road.

How do you balance a career, athleticism, and Cystic Fibrosis?

I make exercise a priority. I think a lot of people, with and without CF, fall into the trap of letting exercise fall out of that top echelon of priorities. Exercise is the keystone of my CF self care, and drives my adherence to all other aspects of my CF treatment regimen. My commitment to exercise enables my career by mitigating and managing the potential negative impact of CF on my ability to do the job I love. I don't watch a lot of TV, and I don't have a busy social life - fortunately, many of my friends are cyclists too!

Do you consider yourself an athlete?

Absolutely. When I look in the mirror, I see an athlete, not a sick person. I train to maximize my athletic potential and to explore the limits of my physical abilities, regardless of what my lung function is. I define success a bit differently now than when I was running competitively. I used to care a lot about my place, and my time compared to others. Today I am only competing with myself. When I show up to an event after months of training and preparation, it is a celebration of that success. I am still an athlete.

Who do you look up to?

Anyone testing the limits: Ernest Shackleton surviving against all odds; Roger Bannister defining modern interval training and breaking the 4 minute mile; Tyler Hamilton riding the Tour de France with a shattered collarbone; FDR and JFK overcoming chronic disease to achieve greatness; The founders of ACT UP who showed me the power of a community affected by disease. These examples and others like them made me believe that I could do anything.

What do you think about while working out?

The thought that crosses my mind the most while working out is "oh my God, this is amazing, I can't believe I'm actually doing this." Working out isn't more treatment for me, its what I love to do, and I find a deep joy in it.

What motivates you?

I find motivation in a lot of places. big and small: Wanting to do well in my next event, wanting to sleep well tonight, never wanting to lose fitness or ability. Fear can be a powerful motivator, but one I try to dull with other more positive rewards. If I ever do find myself in a place where I can no longer do the activities I love, I want to know I did everything I could with my abilities while I had them. I will regret nothing.

To what extent does CF impact your athleticism?

I guess that depends on mindset. Certainly it is probable that I would have been faster in college if I didn't have a chronic lung disease, but I am not a professional runner, and CF doesn't make me any less an athlete than anyone else. If anything, having CF has made me more focused and driven to prioritize my fitness than many of my peers, and as a result I'm actually more athletic because of CF.

What goals do you have?

In the short term, I have registered for the 2015 Mt Washington Hill Climb, a bike race up the Mt. Washington auto road. This will drive my training for the next 4 months. I will do several other significant bike rides this year, and after September, will transition into training for my annual cross country ski marathon. Longer term, my goals revolve around family and career. My wife and I are in the middle of an adoption process, and very much looking forward to becoming parents.

Fun Fact:

People may be surprised to know I am very good at the traditional swing dance the Lindy Hop.

As we wrapped up on our conversation, I couldn't help but wonder if there was a favorite quote he repeated to himself when he needed extra motivation. "To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift" by Steve Prefontaine, has become somewhat of my personal mantra.

All of us wish Chris continued success as he embarks on Mt. Washington, becoming a parent, excelling in the courthouse, and inspiring others the way that Roosevelt and JFK have done.

INSPIRED BY THIS ARTICLE?