This article appeared in the Jan. 1, 2004 Jewish Advocate.

Running, biking and swimming for yiddishkeit

By Susie Davidson

Advocate Correspondent

Quincy chiropractor Dr. Joshua C. Dubin ran his first race in the 1996 Massachusetts Triathlon in his native town of Sharon. Since then, he has gone the distance and then some in varied competitions, as both a participant and advisor.

Dubin, who has treated elite triathletes for over nine years as the sole New England member of Team USA Triathlon’s medical staff, has run half and full Ironmen, the Boston Marathon, regularly completed the Pan Mass Challenge, traveled to Switzerland with Team USA, and, as part of his Injury Management update series, just published a paper on ankle sprains.

Triathlons are no easy feats, consisting of swimming, bicycling, and running in varying distances. Races can be sprints, Olympic distance, half-ironman or full ironman distances. In 86 degree heat this past Oct. 25, Dubin finished the Great Floridian Ironman in 14 hours and 12 minutes, realizing a longtime goal and earning respect from his patients and colleagues. This “ironman distance triathlon” consisted of a 2.4-mile swim followed by a 112-mile bike ride and culminating in a 26.2-mile marathon.

In April, Dubin ran the Boston Marathon as part of the American Liver Foundation fundraising team. In August, he participated in his ninth Pan Mass Challenge, a two-day bike ride from Sturbridge, Mass. to Provincetown, totaling 196 miles, which benefits Dana-Farber and The Jimmy Fund.

“The swim training I did on my own at the Striar Jewish Community Center with helpful hints from local professional triathletes Candy Angle and Andy Noble of Weymouth,” said Dubin, a long-time member of the JCC who generously contributes to the annual road race as both a sponsor and a volunteer. Dubin traveled to Florida with Rosie Leonard of Quincy and Tim Snow of Brockton, who both competed in the half-ironman race of a 1.2 mile swim, a 56 mile bike, and a 26.2 mile run.

In August, Dubin took time off from training to travel with Team USA Triathlon; this year, he treated athletes at the Duathlon (a run, bike, and run) World Championship in Switzerland. In the past five years, Dubin has compiled a book which details 13 common sport-related injuries and includes detailed artwork, in order to aid patients in understanding both treatment techniques and injury prevention. In November, Dubin wrote a paper on ankle sprains as part of his Injury Management Update series.

“I’m involved with charities and non-profits like the JCC because my parents instilled a strong sense of family and Jewish community,” explained Dubin, who belonged to Sharon’s Temple Sinai. In high school he belonged to and served as chapter president of AZA. Both he and his family have been longtime members and donors at the Striar JCC. Dubin has been an active sponsor and volunteer at the JCC’s annual Road Race for many years; in the past he also played in several of the JCC basketball leagues.

“He has a true dedication to education, tzedek (charity), and chesed,” said friend and fellow athlete Rachel Appel. “His devotion to Judaism and his career greatly help others.”

“I love working with people and am fascinated with human anatomy and physiology,” Dubin explained, adding that he enjoys helping people feel better and enabling them to improve their quality of life.

To view Dubin’s articles, please visit www.dubinchiro.com.