I hate to put this in writing without knocking on wood while carrying a rabbit's foot and a box of Lucky Charms, but I'll tempt fate nonetheless. For as many of the 32 years of my life that I can recollect, I have battled one cold, contracted one flu and had one bout with bronchitis per year. I realize that each person has their own immune system idiosyncrasies with varying levels of exposure to viruses, but being sick approximately three times per year was a way of life for me. I thought that was normal for everyone, and the American Lung Association confirms that it is.

However, last year kicked off to a rather inauspicious start. I was sick three times between January and March and it wasn't really adding up. I travel a fair amount (two or three times per month), which exposes me to more potential viruses than some people, but I am certainly not a road warrior. Still, I don't have any children, so that should decrease my contact with germs. I didn't really know the cause, but I knew that I needed to make a change, and I think I have pinpointed the reason why I have now been illness-free for one full year.

In my frustration with the frequent illnesses, I decided to reach out to a triathlete friend named Ethan. His family has owned an organic food/supplement store called Health Unlimited since the mid-1970's. I visited one of their locations, and I told him to just give me whatever he takes. I was expecting to be handed an obscure plant extract from a secret rain forest somewhere, and I was prepared to try it regardless of how it looked or tasted. Much to my surprise, Ethan simply handed me two bottles: one contained multivitamins and one contained Vitamin C pills. Since then, I have taken them every day and I have not been sick.

Now, naysayers will contest that there is no shortage of studies that disprove the alleged impact of multivitamins, especially since their absorption rate is much lower than the numbers listed on their labels. I would say that consistent intake of something positive is better than the ever-present inconsistencies or deficiencies in most people's diets. Other people who have read studies about the effects of running on immune system strength or longevity will state that my training has made me healthier. I would point those people to many studies that show that long runs and overtraining will actually lead to immune system weaknesses. With tomorrow being my 14th run of 20 miles or more during the past year, you would expect my ability to fight off illness to be depressed most of the time. Really, the only non-nutritional explanation for my year of health would be the possibility that I already store all of the necessary antibodies after having fought every virus known to man. I'd find that hard to believe ; )

So, if you are looking to try to stave off viruses during 2009, I would recommend placing an order at Health Unlimited. It can't hurt, but it might improve your year drama...a...a-choo...tically.