The next eight weeks are the toughest yet most enjoyable part of training. While speedwork is important I will concentrate on building miles over the next eight weeks. Hopefully by October I will be in race shape and will begin tapering the first three weeks in October. This lets me take almost a full week off before the race so my body is fully recovered, rested and ready for the big day.
Today was a great run, felt reinvigorated after only one run over the past five days. The blister on my foot is going away and the body fells good. Ran nearly 7 miles today in 90 degree heat and never felt any pain. Love that feeling.
I'm also going to try something new, instead of posting my daily stats I will try and download stats weekly from my GPS system. This will give you a much better perspective of what marathon training is all about.
Also have some great news CNBC is going to cover my marathon run - guess they think a slow old guy with diabetes makes a good human interest story - hope it helps me raise more money for my favorite cause.
The rest of the week is supposed to hot and my brother's daughter is getting married this weekend. My whole family will be here but I will still get my runs in. Honestly I feel better when I run even if the run doesn't go as planned. Although the race is still 12 weeks away I can't let up even if that means running in 90 degree heat.
Learned a valuable lesson last week and won't forget it - although I think I need a smaller cell phone - mine is too bulky to run with - will have lots more news in the next days so stay tuned.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Body Shut Down
Yesterday's long run was a reminder that as hard as I might try I can't escape the fact that I'm 46 years old and have diabetes. As I have stated previously I don't like carrying my mobile phone with me during a run and normally this is not a problem. Once in a while I need to be reminded that it's better to safe than sorry.
Everything started out well as I decided to run early in the morning while it was overcast. The forecast called for sunny skies latter in the day so I thought it was best to run at the coolest part of the day. I also decided to run a beautiful trail near my house that offers the option of running almost any length run. What I didn't count on was the humidity and making a wrong turn.
My goal was to run between 12 and 14 miles and everything was going well. I was at 8.4 miles when I decided to turn around and head back. I figured that 16.8 wouldn't a stretch since I did 15.5 last weekend. What I didn't count on was on the way back I took the wrong trail. This may sound strange or stupid but this particular trail is actually a combination of multiple trails that go in various directions. If your not careful it's easy to make a wrong turn and end up running in a completely different direction, which is what happened to me yesterday.
Honestly I felt like an idiot when I discovered that I made a wrong turn but I had no choice to back track and get to the correct path. Unfortunately I ran out of both water and Gatorade and based on where I was there was no water fountains for another 3 or 4 miles. The one thing I don't want to risk is a hypoglycemic event while running, for a diabetic this can be a dangerous even life threatening event. Although I carry glucose with me while I run, there are times when your levels drop quickly making recovery even more difficult.
You also have to worry about cramping up which can happen when your body isn't properly hydrated. This happened during my second marathon at mile 19 and running the last 7 miles in pain was not a pleasant experience.
So there I was out of water and Gatorade about two miles from where my car was parked and my body was running out of gas. Thankfully I was able to find a phone, call my wife who picked me up and drove me back to my car.
All in all I got in about 16 miles. Still not a very pleasant experience but a valuable reminder that it's better to be safe than sorry. Although I don't like carrying a mobile phone during long runs it does make sense - if only for piece of mind.
Everything started out well as I decided to run early in the morning while it was overcast. The forecast called for sunny skies latter in the day so I thought it was best to run at the coolest part of the day. I also decided to run a beautiful trail near my house that offers the option of running almost any length run. What I didn't count on was the humidity and making a wrong turn.
My goal was to run between 12 and 14 miles and everything was going well. I was at 8.4 miles when I decided to turn around and head back. I figured that 16.8 wouldn't a stretch since I did 15.5 last weekend. What I didn't count on was on the way back I took the wrong trail. This may sound strange or stupid but this particular trail is actually a combination of multiple trails that go in various directions. If your not careful it's easy to make a wrong turn and end up running in a completely different direction, which is what happened to me yesterday.
Honestly I felt like an idiot when I discovered that I made a wrong turn but I had no choice to back track and get to the correct path. Unfortunately I ran out of both water and Gatorade and based on where I was there was no water fountains for another 3 or 4 miles. The one thing I don't want to risk is a hypoglycemic event while running, for a diabetic this can be a dangerous even life threatening event. Although I carry glucose with me while I run, there are times when your levels drop quickly making recovery even more difficult.
You also have to worry about cramping up which can happen when your body isn't properly hydrated. This happened during my second marathon at mile 19 and running the last 7 miles in pain was not a pleasant experience.
So there I was out of water and Gatorade about two miles from where my car was parked and my body was running out of gas. Thankfully I was able to find a phone, call my wife who picked me up and drove me back to my car.
All in all I got in about 16 miles. Still not a very pleasant experience but a valuable reminder that it's better to be safe than sorry. Although I don't like carrying a mobile phone during long runs it does make sense - if only for piece of mind.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Blisters and rain = extra days rest
Today was supposed to be another 6 to 8 miles but due to weather conditions and blister it looks like an extra day of rest. Blisters unfortunately are common during training and based on past experience it's better to let them heel then risk a more serious problem down the road.
With the marathon 100 days away, taking an extra off day won't hurt too much and actually will do some good as the weekend is coming which means another 13+ miles. Add in the fact it's been raining off an on all day and this decision makes even more sense.
The one thing I want to avoid is any injury that would prevent me from running for an extended period of time. Things are going well right now and I want to maintain my momentum but not do anything stupid.
With the marathon 100 days away, taking an extra off day won't hurt too much and actually will do some good as the weekend is coming which means another 13+ miles. Add in the fact it's been raining off an on all day and this decision makes even more sense.
The one thing I want to avoid is any injury that would prevent me from running for an extended period of time. Things are going well right now and I want to maintain my momentum but not do anything stupid.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
A Good Bad Run
Today's Stats 5.86 miles 1:14 12.37 per mile avg pace
Today was one of those days when I had what I like to call a good bad run. First, I made the mistake of running to soon after a meal. I also ran in the middle of the afternoon during peak temperatures and my mind wasn't fully into the run. Still I completed my run and my time wasn't all the terrible, it wasn't great but not all runs are. This is why I call runs like today's a good bad run. The results were bad but it's good I got the run in.
This happens with my diabetes too. There are just days when it seems nothing is going right and yet my levels don't get to far out of whack. It's really tough even under the best of circumstances to keep my levels where I like them. The fact is real life gets in the way.
This why I don't worry too much about each days results whether it's running or my diabetes. I'm really more concerned with trends and making progress towards my goals. The fact is there are so many things beyond my control I can't worry about each and every glucose reading or mile that I run. By keeping things in perspective I am better able to manage my diabetes and train for the marathon.
I'm not sure who side it but life isn't easy so why make things harder by beating yourself up when things don't go exactly as you would like. This is true for many things not just taking care of myself or training for a marathon.
Today was one of those days when I had what I like to call a good bad run. First, I made the mistake of running to soon after a meal. I also ran in the middle of the afternoon during peak temperatures and my mind wasn't fully into the run. Still I completed my run and my time wasn't all the terrible, it wasn't great but not all runs are. This is why I call runs like today's a good bad run. The results were bad but it's good I got the run in.
This happens with my diabetes too. There are just days when it seems nothing is going right and yet my levels don't get to far out of whack. It's really tough even under the best of circumstances to keep my levels where I like them. The fact is real life gets in the way.
This why I don't worry too much about each days results whether it's running or my diabetes. I'm really more concerned with trends and making progress towards my goals. The fact is there are so many things beyond my control I can't worry about each and every glucose reading or mile that I run. By keeping things in perspective I am better able to manage my diabetes and train for the marathon.
I'm not sure who side it but life isn't easy so why make things harder by beating yourself up when things don't go exactly as you would like. This is true for many things not just taking care of myself or training for a marathon.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Getting to the good part
Today's Stats 4.75 miles 57:14 12:03 per mile average pace
There comes a point during training when I get really excited about running. Although I have trained before I do not run regularly through out the year. Since I like running outdoors and hate running on a treadmill that limits running time here in lovely Chicago. While I do see people running in the snow I do not consider this an enjoyable experience and prefer to workout indoors during our long and very cold winters.
During what I call my "off-season" I concentrate on weight training and other forms of cardiovascular exercise. The off season is nice change of pace and regular workouts keeps me from getting fat. Like any normal person I enjoy eating and prefer to work it off rather than diet. There are just too many good restaurants here and my wife, Debbie, is a great cook. That is when she feels like cooking, but that's a subject for another day.
But now that I have been training for four plus weeks my body is getting used to running. Just as a sailor has sea legs and misses being on the water, it takes time for runners to get back in the grove. Once you get their, and I getting closer, you really look forward to each days run.
I also have an advantage over runners who have 9 to 5 jobs. Since I am self-employed I can easily schedule my runs into my work day. I also work out of my home which is another advantage as I do not have to come home from work, change and run. Our get up really early and run before work. Training is a major commitment and I applaud those runners who do not have the advantages that I do.
There comes a point during training when I get really excited about running. Although I have trained before I do not run regularly through out the year. Since I like running outdoors and hate running on a treadmill that limits running time here in lovely Chicago. While I do see people running in the snow I do not consider this an enjoyable experience and prefer to workout indoors during our long and very cold winters.
During what I call my "off-season" I concentrate on weight training and other forms of cardiovascular exercise. The off season is nice change of pace and regular workouts keeps me from getting fat. Like any normal person I enjoy eating and prefer to work it off rather than diet. There are just too many good restaurants here and my wife, Debbie, is a great cook. That is when she feels like cooking, but that's a subject for another day.
But now that I have been training for four plus weeks my body is getting used to running. Just as a sailor has sea legs and misses being on the water, it takes time for runners to get back in the grove. Once you get their, and I getting closer, you really look forward to each days run.
I also have an advantage over runners who have 9 to 5 jobs. Since I am self-employed I can easily schedule my runs into my work day. I also work out of my home which is another advantage as I do not have to come home from work, change and run. Our get up really early and run before work. Training is a major commitment and I applaud those runners who do not have the advantages that I do.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Great Run Today
Today's Stats 14.44 miles 2:52 12 min per mile
Today was the best run I've had since I started training. Although my program didn't call for a 14 mile run today it was one though days when I got in a zone and felt like I could run forever. Even better my recovery time was much better than normal. No major pain, no painkillers,no nothing just some Gatorade and water.
There's something wonderful when your running and feeling like you can run forever. I have some favorite spots to do my long runs and today I ran at Busse Woods which is about 20 minutes from where I live. This is a great place for long runs as it has bathrooms and water along the route. Add in some great scenery, nice weather, good music and a motivated runner.
Just a point of clarification my daily stats don't include any walking. When you add it all up today I actually did 15.5 miles which made me feel even better as I only walked 1.1 miles. As you can imagine for guys like me it's difficult if not impossible to run 26.3 miles without walking part of the way. Besides trying to run faster this year I have a secondary goal of running more and walking less. Actually the two goals work together as on race day they don't break out running time and walking time.
Although the race is still more than 3 months away I feel good and a little ahead of schedule.
A good run like today really helps as it makes me look forward to Monday and my speed work.
Well that's all for today.
Today was the best run I've had since I started training. Although my program didn't call for a 14 mile run today it was one though days when I got in a zone and felt like I could run forever. Even better my recovery time was much better than normal. No major pain, no painkillers,no nothing just some Gatorade and water.
There's something wonderful when your running and feeling like you can run forever. I have some favorite spots to do my long runs and today I ran at Busse Woods which is about 20 minutes from where I live. This is a great place for long runs as it has bathrooms and water along the route. Add in some great scenery, nice weather, good music and a motivated runner.
Just a point of clarification my daily stats don't include any walking. When you add it all up today I actually did 15.5 miles which made me feel even better as I only walked 1.1 miles. As you can imagine for guys like me it's difficult if not impossible to run 26.3 miles without walking part of the way. Besides trying to run faster this year I have a secondary goal of running more and walking less. Actually the two goals work together as on race day they don't break out running time and walking time.
Although the race is still more than 3 months away I feel good and a little ahead of schedule.
A good run like today really helps as it makes me look forward to Monday and my speed work.
Well that's all for today.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
The Difference between men and boys- TOYS
Today's Stats 6.31 miles 1:18:29 avg. pace 12:25/mile
In case your wondering how I come up with my daily stats I run wearing a GPS device, the Garmin Forerunner 205. This great toy lets me download my stats to my computer and helps me track my progress.
Another great toy is the IPOD shuffle, it's the smallest version of the IPOD,has a 1 gigabyte capacity, the sound is outstanding, it's easy to operate and best of all it weighs practically nothing. I also have another MP3 player which besides holding 4 hours worth of music it has an FM radio. Not as light as the IPOD shuffle but very easy to carry.
On my longer runs I take along water and glucose (in case my sugars drop). On real long runs I take water, Gatorade, glucose and my cell phone. Occasionally I see other runners running and talking on their cellphones at the same time. Never quite understood what the heck was so important that someone would be on the phone and run at the same time.
To me one of the best parts about running is that I'm away from the rest of the world. Just me and my music. It's hard to explain to someone who has never run but there are days you just get into a zone and it feels as if you can run forever. This is one of the greatest feelings a runner can have - can't imagine that great feeling being interrupted by a phone call.
You might have noticed that I did not list my glucose meter as one of things I take with me on my runs. There are several reasons for this, first my meter is contained in Personal Diabetes Manager (PDM) which controls my OmniPod insulin delivery system. Before each run I check to see what my levels are just in case I need to add some carbs or change the amount of insulin that is being delivered. I must say the OmniPod is one cool device and has made training more enjoyable.
When I trained for my first marathon I was using a different insulin pump, because the pump used long tubes it was a real pain to run with. I was constantly worried about the pump falling off my shorts and ripping the infusion set off my body. The OmniPod is a wireless system - no tubes,the Pod which contains the insulin stays attached to my body and I don't have to worry about any tubing.
Looks like an off day tomorrow and a nice long run this weekend- think I'll shot for at least 11 miles but 12 or 13 would be better - who knows maybe I'll get in a zone this weekend
In case your wondering how I come up with my daily stats I run wearing a GPS device, the Garmin Forerunner 205. This great toy lets me download my stats to my computer and helps me track my progress.
Another great toy is the IPOD shuffle, it's the smallest version of the IPOD,has a 1 gigabyte capacity, the sound is outstanding, it's easy to operate and best of all it weighs practically nothing. I also have another MP3 player which besides holding 4 hours worth of music it has an FM radio. Not as light as the IPOD shuffle but very easy to carry.
On my longer runs I take along water and glucose (in case my sugars drop). On real long runs I take water, Gatorade, glucose and my cell phone. Occasionally I see other runners running and talking on their cellphones at the same time. Never quite understood what the heck was so important that someone would be on the phone and run at the same time.
To me one of the best parts about running is that I'm away from the rest of the world. Just me and my music. It's hard to explain to someone who has never run but there are days you just get into a zone and it feels as if you can run forever. This is one of the greatest feelings a runner can have - can't imagine that great feeling being interrupted by a phone call.
You might have noticed that I did not list my glucose meter as one of things I take with me on my runs. There are several reasons for this, first my meter is contained in Personal Diabetes Manager (PDM) which controls my OmniPod insulin delivery system. Before each run I check to see what my levels are just in case I need to add some carbs or change the amount of insulin that is being delivered. I must say the OmniPod is one cool device and has made training more enjoyable.
When I trained for my first marathon I was using a different insulin pump, because the pump used long tubes it was a real pain to run with. I was constantly worried about the pump falling off my shorts and ripping the infusion set off my body. The OmniPod is a wireless system - no tubes,the Pod which contains the insulin stays attached to my body and I don't have to worry about any tubing.
Looks like an off day tomorrow and a nice long run this weekend- think I'll shot for at least 11 miles but 12 or 13 would be better - who knows maybe I'll get in a zone this weekend
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
A Welcome Off Day
One of the least misunderstood aspects about training is rest is just as important as running. While it may be possible for elite athletes to run everyday, for us mere mortals a day off is a great way to reinvigorate our spirit and help our weary body recover. Normally I try and run three days in a row, take a day off, do some speed work the next day, take another day off and do a long run - this program has worked well for me over the past three marathons
The truly great part is like my diabetes I can change things up once in a while to stay fresh- seeing that it was supposed to be over 90 today I switched my off day to today and will run again tomorrow when it's supposed to be a more comfortable 72 - I do the same type of thing with my diabetes - although I don't get any time off - there are days I will check my levels less than normal or eat something I normally wouldn't eat - this may not make my doctor all that happy but he's not the one living with diabetes I am - I see nothing wrong with changing my routine or eating something different - as long as I don't make a habit of it in the long run I'll be fine
Like so many things in life and marathon training is no different a little common sense goes along way -
The truly great part is like my diabetes I can change things up once in a while to stay fresh- seeing that it was supposed to be over 90 today I switched my off day to today and will run again tomorrow when it's supposed to be a more comfortable 72 - I do the same type of thing with my diabetes - although I don't get any time off - there are days I will check my levels less than normal or eat something I normally wouldn't eat - this may not make my doctor all that happy but he's not the one living with diabetes I am - I see nothing wrong with changing my routine or eating something different - as long as I don't make a habit of it in the long run I'll be fine
Like so many things in life and marathon training is no different a little common sense goes along way -
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Heat + Humidity + Long run and a surprise
Today's Stats 7.89 miles 1:39:54 Avg Pace 12:39/mile Temp 81 Humidity 60%
Training is never easy but training in Chicago during the summer is always interesting. Normally I try and run early in the morning or later in the day so I can avoid running during the most intense heat. Heat + running +diabetes isn't exactly the best combination. Still today I really didn't have much of choice as I have business to run (no pun intended) and that brings in the bacon so sometimes I have to work my runs around my work and family commitments. Today that meant running during the most intense heat.
I was also reminded of the similarities of marathon training and keeping my diabetes under control. Just as each day I work on different runs- yesterday speed today endurance - I also know that my diabetes is different each day - some days everything is going my way and my levels are great - while others it seems like no matter what I do I just can't get things where I want them - then I realize that unlike a marathon there is no finish line with my diabetes - all I can do is my best and realize that there will be both good and bad days
Sometimes I think other people with diabetes get down on themselves because diabetes can be so difficult to control and there is no finish line - after 10 years dealing with my own diabetes I can offer some free advice - so it take it for what it's worth- don't get too caught up with each day and keep in mind its progress that counts - this is not unlike training for a marathon I didn't just wake up one day roll out of bed and run 26.3 miles - it took weeks of training before I could that - to make training easier I set small goals that I used to build bigger goals - at first it was being able to run 3 miles, next came 5 and so on
I also didn't go it alone either - just as I did when I was first diagnosed I searched the Internet for information on marathon training, found a program I was comfortable with and stuck with it - the same was true for my diabetes - although it took me awhile I was able to find a program that helped me deal with my diabetes, followed it and was able to bring my diabetes under control
Today's surprise - while I am not overall concerned with my weight I decided to weigh myself today - down to 191 when I was at 200 not to long ago - recently several of my friends have told me how much better I look since I began training and after seeing a picture of myself taken a few years ago I agree - weight loss is a nice side benefit of training
Training is never easy but training in Chicago during the summer is always interesting. Normally I try and run early in the morning or later in the day so I can avoid running during the most intense heat. Heat + running +diabetes isn't exactly the best combination. Still today I really didn't have much of choice as I have business to run (no pun intended) and that brings in the bacon so sometimes I have to work my runs around my work and family commitments. Today that meant running during the most intense heat.
I was also reminded of the similarities of marathon training and keeping my diabetes under control. Just as each day I work on different runs- yesterday speed today endurance - I also know that my diabetes is different each day - some days everything is going my way and my levels are great - while others it seems like no matter what I do I just can't get things where I want them - then I realize that unlike a marathon there is no finish line with my diabetes - all I can do is my best and realize that there will be both good and bad days
Sometimes I think other people with diabetes get down on themselves because diabetes can be so difficult to control and there is no finish line - after 10 years dealing with my own diabetes I can offer some free advice - so it take it for what it's worth- don't get too caught up with each day and keep in mind its progress that counts - this is not unlike training for a marathon I didn't just wake up one day roll out of bed and run 26.3 miles - it took weeks of training before I could that - to make training easier I set small goals that I used to build bigger goals - at first it was being able to run 3 miles, next came 5 and so on
I also didn't go it alone either - just as I did when I was first diagnosed I searched the Internet for information on marathon training, found a program I was comfortable with and stuck with it - the same was true for my diabetes - although it took me awhile I was able to find a program that helped me deal with my diabetes, followed it and was able to bring my diabetes under control
Today's surprise - while I am not overall concerned with my weight I decided to weigh myself today - down to 191 when I was at 200 not to long ago - recently several of my friends have told me how much better I look since I began training and after seeing a picture of myself taken a few years ago I agree - weight loss is a nice side benefit of training
Monday, July 16, 2007
Working on getting faster
Today's run 4.21 miles in 50:58 minutes average pave 12:06/mile
Now that I have run three marathons I know I can finish 26.3 miles, so my goal this year is to post my personal best time and hopefully finish in 5 hours or less. I ran my first marathon in about 5 hours and 30 minutes and my next two were right around that time. So this year I have focused my training on becoming faster and lowering my average pace per mile. I typically run 5 days a week and use my shorter runs (six miles or less) for speed work.
For non-professionals like me the goal is pretty simple build the miles you run each week. If all goes well this week I should run about 30 miles or so. Next week that should go to about 33 miles and so on. During the work week runs go from 4 to 7 miles - use weekends for long runs 9 or miles.
Being a diabetic I have to pay close attention to my sugars both before and after I run. Today is a perfect example before I ran my level was 181 - a little higher than it should be but not too high before a run - unfortunately after the run I hit a low of 53 - this happens sometimes when I push myself during speed work - sounds funny saying speed work when my average pace was a little over 12 minutes per mile - but that's better when I first started training when my average pace was over 14 minutes per mile - regardless I drank as some Gatorade which is not only great for bring my sugars back where they should be it also helps my body recover and believe me when your 46 you need all the help you can get.
Now that I have run three marathons I know I can finish 26.3 miles, so my goal this year is to post my personal best time and hopefully finish in 5 hours or less. I ran my first marathon in about 5 hours and 30 minutes and my next two were right around that time. So this year I have focused my training on becoming faster and lowering my average pace per mile. I typically run 5 days a week and use my shorter runs (six miles or less) for speed work.
For non-professionals like me the goal is pretty simple build the miles you run each week. If all goes well this week I should run about 30 miles or so. Next week that should go to about 33 miles and so on. During the work week runs go from 4 to 7 miles - use weekends for long runs 9 or miles.
Being a diabetic I have to pay close attention to my sugars both before and after I run. Today is a perfect example before I ran my level was 181 - a little higher than it should be but not too high before a run - unfortunately after the run I hit a low of 53 - this happens sometimes when I push myself during speed work - sounds funny saying speed work when my average pace was a little over 12 minutes per mile - but that's better when I first started training when my average pace was over 14 minutes per mile - regardless I drank as some Gatorade which is not only great for bring my sugars back where they should be it also helps my body recover and believe me when your 46 you need all the help you can get.
Welcome to my blog - some history
I would like to welcome everyone to my blog and hope that my story will inspire you to donate to a truly worthy cause - finding a cure for diabetes. Over 22 million people in America have diabetes along with 51 million who have pre-diabetes. Sadly diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in America and is the leading cause of blindness and amputations.
I was diagnosed with diabetes over 10 years ago and ran my first marathon on October 13Th, 2002. To say this was a great accomplishment in my life is a vast understatement as I actually cried when I crossed the finish line. I just couldn't believe that I actually ran a Marathon.
Since that day I have run two more marathons and I am currently training for my fourth. Being a person with diabetes I am all to familiar with toll diabetes can take not only on myself but my family. Diabetes is chronic disease which means there are no days off - I live with diabetes 24 hours each day 365 days a year - there is no time off.
Besides wearing the OmniPod insulin management system, my daily routine consists of checking my glucose levels six or more times each day. This may not seem like much to person who does not have diabetes, until you consider that checking sugar levels involves pricking my finger with needle - not exactly an enjoyable experience - and this is something I do each and every day of my life - six or more times each day.
Like many people with diabetes I have experienced hypoglycemia, a state of low blood sugar, and DKA where my sugars ran way to high and actually required me to spend a day in the hospital- another not so pleasant experience.
When I signed up to run the New York Marathon I could not believe there were no diabetes related charities that I could run for. This was quite a shock so I decided to use my marathon experience and the power of the Internet to call attention to diabetes and raise money that hopefully will lead to a cure.
In the coming days and weeks I will be posting how my training is going and links to various diabetes related charities. I encourage you to support me and the millions of people with diabetes or pre-diabetes in funding a cure.
Thanks
I was diagnosed with diabetes over 10 years ago and ran my first marathon on October 13Th, 2002. To say this was a great accomplishment in my life is a vast understatement as I actually cried when I crossed the finish line. I just couldn't believe that I actually ran a Marathon.
Since that day I have run two more marathons and I am currently training for my fourth. Being a person with diabetes I am all to familiar with toll diabetes can take not only on myself but my family. Diabetes is chronic disease which means there are no days off - I live with diabetes 24 hours each day 365 days a year - there is no time off.
Besides wearing the OmniPod insulin management system, my daily routine consists of checking my glucose levels six or more times each day. This may not seem like much to person who does not have diabetes, until you consider that checking sugar levels involves pricking my finger with needle - not exactly an enjoyable experience - and this is something I do each and every day of my life - six or more times each day.
Like many people with diabetes I have experienced hypoglycemia, a state of low blood sugar, and DKA where my sugars ran way to high and actually required me to spend a day in the hospital- another not so pleasant experience.
When I signed up to run the New York Marathon I could not believe there were no diabetes related charities that I could run for. This was quite a shock so I decided to use my marathon experience and the power of the Internet to call attention to diabetes and raise money that hopefully will lead to a cure.
In the coming days and weeks I will be posting how my training is going and links to various diabetes related charities. I encourage you to support me and the millions of people with diabetes or pre-diabetes in funding a cure.
Thanks
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