Testing again...

Ignore this blog kids....I'm trying out a new blogging feature called geo tagging. I'm trying to figure a way out to blog during the Boston Marathon and mapping out the blogs as i go....

Triabetes on DLife TV

Hi gang,
I wanted all to know that Triabetes was featured in an episode of dLife a few weeks back. Woohoo!!!! They interviewed the individual that we owe it all to...Michelle Alswager. I couldn't put the link live into my blog, but you can check out the video by going to dLife
Check ya later...

The Hippie Hurts

I think I need a new hip...I hadn't mentioned it in the blog because i was trying to be positive about Diabetes Training Camp, CWD, etc. etc. But wow, it was a doozy of a fall.

Yes i realize this is a hurt knee and not a hurt hip but the clip was free....

So several weeks back I had fallen on the ice while out training with the Buffalo Marathon Training Group. And when I fell I didn't go down gracefully. I'm amazed i didn't take anyone with me when I went, arms and legs were waving all over the place when i went down. The guys in the group were shocked i even got up. I checked all of the important stuff once i could stand (insulin pump, BG meter, head) and everything was ok, so on we went. We were already several miles into the run, so there wasn't any way to call it a day.

But we did circle back towards the start for water, and when we did I called uncle (where did that phrase come up anyway, 'calling uncle' if i ever find out i'll do a blog entry on it - promise). I was scheduled to run 18 miles that day but only made it about 6. I limped towards the car to head home to try and ice / stretch it, I was leaving the next day for Diabetes Training Camp.
Stopping early and icing/stretching was defintely a smart move (and i 'll mention it was a smart move again because it's rare that i can say i did something smart when it comes to, well, anything.) There was black and blue mark on my hip but it felt a lot better over the next few days.

But then I fell again while at camp, this time I was on the bike. It wasn't on the road thank goodness, we were on a lawn going through some drills to improve balance (yes, it's aparent i need more of them). I fell on the exact spot I did when i fell while running. And this time it was bad. Icing and strecthing did nothing to help. I had to take it easy on the working out.

Since then it's been hit or miss, I've been trying to take it easy, but it's been hard with the Boston Marathon coming up. I've missed a lot of runs (a lot of runs). Biking feels somewhat ok, but it's still bad. My goals for Boston and for the early season of triathlons are going to need some major tweaking.

I wonder if I get one (a hip) on ebay? They sell everything else, why not give it a shot? I'd try Craig's list, but at least I can get some guarantee with PayPal if I use ebay, like if it's not the right size or something, I might be able to get a refund....

Bad Workout

And no, this is not like the famous phrase in the Run DMC ' Not bad meaning bad, but bad meaning good!' It was a really bad workout.

It started out with the best of intentions....don't they all? I got the gym before it got crowded, so I knew I had plenty of time to get my hour long interval workout on the treadmill done (they always have a fit when i try and hog the treadmill longer then 30 minutes when others are waiting). I had the i-pod with the fast thumpy songs, the gatorade and assorted gels, and the small towell that tricia made me bring because I tend to sweat a tad when I'm running 5:30 miles.

I was going to do intervals, 3 minutes hard, two minutes easy. It went well for about 30 minutes or 4 intervals into the 10 interval workout. Then i became uncomfortable, and i didn't want to finish, and that never, ever happens (unless of course I'm low). I drank the remainder of the gatorade i had left, and tore through the gels, and whatever else was in my bag but it did little to stop the feeling.

I tried walking it off and trying again but i couldn't get it going again. I stepped off the treadmill dejected and headed home, I didn't even bother showering. Man was I angry. I'd rather give up because the pace its too hard then step off because I'm low.

Tomorrow's another day of course, but boy i hate throwing in the towel over diabetes. it happens, that's life, but it'll be eaiser once i hammer in a good workout.

Oh Canada.....

Wow! Just when I think I've got a boatload of great stories about diabetic athletes from DTC (Diabetes Training Camp) and i couldn't possibly get anymore, I meet another handful of inspiring athletes, all doing what i do everyday - live without limits when it comes to their diabetes. I don't have room in my head for all of them. (Wow, I walked right into that one, I can imagine all of the jokes from here).

So I left Trifest early so I could make it to the Children with Diabetes in Toronto. I was sad to leave the team early, but boy was I glad to be with CWD. The confernece focused on Insulin Pump Therapy and best practices surrounding it. And to emphasize the idea that pumping can be done successfully there were a plethora of athletes there. It was hard to keep track of them all, but here's a little run down on who was there:

• John Chick - Boy was he abig boy. And for good reason. He's a football player for the Canadian Football League, on the defensive line for the Saskatchewan Roughriders to be more specific. His team won the Grey Cup in 2007
• Jonny White and Tom Baxter. I had met these great guys at last years conference. They're the founders of C2C Adventure, Cycling Africa for Diabetes. They had biked across the African continent together!
• Mike Fisher is a World Cup bronze medalist and a member of the National Adapted Snowboarding team. He really related well with the kids, because, well, sonwboaarding is the coolest thing ever.
• Chris Jarvis is a member of the Canadian Rowing Team from 2002 and counting; he's competed in the Athens Olympic Games, and has won two World Cups and the Pan Am Games. He and i ran together at the Boston Marathon several years ago (he does those in his 'spare time').
• Leanne Stanley is an outrigger canoeist who competes at the World Championship level. She has been paddling for over 10 years and says that she is stronger and fitter now than before she had diabetes. (How do you like that one....stronger and fitter now than before she had diabetes!!!!) and.....
• Chase Pelletier is a competitive go-kart racer going into his 3rd year of high level kart racing. He won the Canadian Rookie Karting Championship hosted in Hamilton, Ontario in 2007 and dreams of someday being in Formula One and standing on the top box in Monaco.
  

Want to get a full report on what happened at CWD? Click here.

A Week to Remember

Wow, It's hard to put into words what the last week has meant to me....

The last week I've been away at Diabetes Training Camp; five full days jammed with events ranging from early morning swims, mountainous bike rides, heart pounding runs, and classes that had anything and everything to do with diabetes and exercise. (Oh, and if the name of the camp didn't give it away - everyone here had diabetes).

I can't say enough about the staff that was there. (The picture is of Dr. Matt Corcoran, founder and CEO of Diabetes Training Camp.) Top notch coaches in cycling, swimming, and running; combined with experts in exercise physiology, sports psychology, nutrition, and endocrinology really made this one of the best weeks I've ever had.

What was it like not to be the only one to pull over while on a bike ride to test their BG - the most incredible feeling ever! Glucose gels at every activity, BG testers everywhere, it was like being at diabetes camp for adults. It 's a feeling I have'nt had since, well, to be quite honest, ever.

If anyone is contemplating going to camp it is absolutely worth it. You don't have to be a hard core triathlete to get the benefits from being here. Just being in this enviorment with individuals who want to take care of their diabetes was worth the trip. You can check the camp out by clicking here. http://www.diabetestrainingcamp.com/

I'm off for now, headed to a Children With Diabetes conference in Toronto. The rest of the team is staying for Trifest, a triathlon extraveganza that's being put on by our major sponsor Trisports. It stinks to have to leave early, but hey, leaving one diabetes outing for another is not a bad thing....

'Check' ya later.

Camp isn't just for Kids

I'm kinda nervous. I've never been away from home for this long before. Tricia says I'm going to make lots of new friends, but I'm still worried. I've got all of my stuff packed; my diabetes supplies, toothbrush, running shoes, clean undies, racing helmet shoes and sunglasses, sleeping bag, and Mr. Tuddles (my loaner insulin pump). I'm going to camp tomorrow!!!



A picture from one of the sessions of the Diabetes Training Camp.








Tomorrow I'm headed off the Diabetes Training Camp, a camp for individuals with diabetes to learn about diabetes and exercise. With the move and the new job last year I didn't get the opportunity to travel to the camp last year with Team Triabetes. But the camp Director, Dr. Matt Corcoran, was gracious enough to let us come to camp again this year.

The feedback on these camps are just tremendous. By reading through the bios on the website, you get the feel that anyone from college-bound athletes, to triathletes, to individuals who just want to take control of their disease, can come to camp become a part of something special. I can't wait to have time to train with others with the same challenges as myself, a chance to learn about my disease and the effects of exercise on it, and an opportunity to set a plan for this year's races.

I'll be sure to send you a description of everything that happens next week. Wish Me luck!

If you'd like to see more about the Diabetes Training Camp, just click the link

Owwee

So I ran 19 miles this morning with the Buffalo marathon training group. Yup, 19 big ones. And no, that's not why I gave this particular blog entry the title it has. Sure, the 19 miles had something to do with it. But it wasn't the pain in my legs that was the issue, it was the pain in my side - from my infusion set.

(Early Disclaimer - Now stop right there, don't go thinking this is an excuse not to use an insulin pump. This is merely just a 'boy today sucked and i need to vent' kind of blog entry. The editors at Runner's World often write about runs that involve injuries or inclement weather, but don't expect them to stop running. They just complain a little to get it off their chest, then get right back to cheering from their soap box about how important running is. Same thing. Pumping rocks, don't get the blog entry confused.)

Pictures of the (1)infusion set with the inserter, (2) usining the inserter, and (3) the final set

So I changed my site out this morning before I ran. Not immediately before, probably two hours prior. And yea, it stung a little after I changed it, but nothing dramatic. I mean come on, it is a needle I'm placing under the skin, And yes, the infusion inserter makes it fairly painless the majority of the time, but it's not like a hot knife going through butter. Every once in a great while it'll sting for a few moments and then go away. But it was still bothering me a little as i got ready to head out for the run. The smart move would have been to change it out. Guess what i did?

So during the run? Ugh! Boy, it really started to hurt. It felt like the cannula was scraping the muscle underneath. I tried changing my stride, arm swing, pacing, you name it but nothing worked. Near the last few miles the muscles in my legs began to ache a little, but I was glad to have something else begin to hurt to take my mind off of the site.

Man, I was soooo glad to change the set out after. Even now while I type it hurts a little. But lesson learned. My educator (ie, my wife, also known as the boss) says, 'when in doubt, change it out'. Be sure I won't take that one for granted again.

Oh what to watch today...

What's that? You've got DOENFL? (that would be the very serious Depression Over the End of the NFL season). I understand your pain. Without Jay Cutler leading his Denver Broncos back from another 4th quarter win, you're wondering what other insulin defunct athletes are able to be watched on TV. Until Adam Morrison returns to the form he once had in college but now in the NBA, where else can we look?

Well have no fear, there's another diabetic cruising on the tube. And not just one of them mind you, a few actually. Team Type 1 is currently competing in the Amgen Tour of California on the VS channel, you can catch it live at 6pm tonight est. For a look a the listings for the rest of the week, you can look here.

GO TEAM!!!

Thankful for What I Have

I'm glad i have diabetes...

It's not often that I say that, and i don't know that I've ever said that. I've said before that it's been a blessing to have diabetes because of it having opened up doors I never thought possible; a passion for exercise, an interest in others, not to mention a paycheck. But glad i have diabetes?

Then I woke up on Friday, and learned of the crash of Continental 3407 in Buffalo - the crash occurred only a few miles from my house, less then a few actually. I was sound asleep when it happened, but the sirens went on all night. I was so tired I never made the connection that they had been going on for hours until i woke the next morning.

Seeing the reports from national news shows on the streets I've run on for the last 6 months was, well, like a nightmare I couldn't wake up from . My mornings in the car are usually filled with local news radio of which streets to avoid in Buffalo or the latest saga of our down and out Buffalo teams, but instead they were replaced with press conferences from the local departments on the status of the crash site.

Photo from AP Photo by Don Heupel

The city of Buffalo has a much smaller feel to it then you would think, and Clarence is epitome of that. People wave to you from their yards as you drive by and those walking their dogs will stop and have conversations with you. My wife and I are new to the area, so the number of people we know are small. But the feeling that we have lost is still there. It's like finding out you've lost family that you never had a chance to meet.

I went for a run this morning down the bike trail where i usually do my long runs. The trail weaves through Clarence, intersecting with all of the roads in town. Many of them were blocked off because of the crash, cars couldn't get through but those on the trail could. To see the roads blocked off and with the flashing lights of the police blockade was numbing. I could have run down the street to to see more, but didn't need to.

The investigators are already searching for the reasons why the crash occurred; ice, wind, mechanical, human error, maybe even a combination of all of them. We always search for the reasons. And even if they find the cause, many will still want to know just why this happened - not the actual cause, but the larger question of why tragedies occur. Events like this cause people question their faith, others are drawn closer to theirs. As a child I often used to wonder why I got diabetes, and while running today I found myself asking those same questions about how something like this could occur. Questions I guess that can take lifetime to answer, if they can be.

I came home after running and hugged my wife. The times are few, but today, diabetes feels like a small burden when looking at a much larger picture of life.

I Need a Buddy

My first Ironman Triathlon in Madison, Wisconsin last year was one of the most memorable moments of my life. And you know what? It had nothing to do with the race itself - it all had to do with crossing the finish line with my IronKiD.

IronKiDz was a program through Insulindependence that enabled a handful of children with Type I diabetes to participate in an adventure of a lifetime. It began about the time us athletes began training for the Ironman. An athlete was paired up with a child to serve as a mentor throughout the year. Then the week before the Ironman, the children were flown out to Wisconsin for a three day river canoe trip. The adventure ended at the Ironman where the IronKiDz got to cross the finish line with their Triabetes triathlete.

It was such a blast we're doing it again....Insulindependence has renamed the program but it's still going to be the same life changing experience, for the kids and the triathletes. This year, Triabuddies (our new name for the program) will take our younger counterparts on a 3-day sail- and kayaking journey to the Channel Islands off the California Coast. And once again, it will end at an Ironman Triathlon, this one in Arizona, where the kids will get the experience of crossing the finish line with their partner triathlete.

So I'm looking for a Triabuddy. Are you out there? If interested, click the following link for more information.


The Triabetes IronKiDz Project from Andiamo Productions on Vimeo.

All you need is love...

So I went to my first group run yesterday in the area, the Buffalo Marathon training group (and no, this is not a picture of Buffalo in January). I saw an advertisement flyer in the gym the other day, and since I've been struggling with my workout consistency, it was kind of a no-brainer to go.

What do you mean a no-brainer? You did the Ironman last year? Well sure, since the Ironman people have been throwing the praise at me about my dedication when it comes to working out. And on a scale of 1 to 10, maybe I am more deidacted then the average Joe. Maybe. But I had skipped plenty of workouts while training for the Ironman, probably even more since then. Last month's 1/2 marathon/marathon double at Walt Disney World was more based on talent then it was hard work, and that's not something I say proudly. Some of my consitency has turned to complaceny, with a new job and moving to a new city (where it snows like every freakin day), there are just more days where I'm not out being active.

Now don't get me wrong, I do work out. And yes, it's probably a lot more then AJ (aka the average joe). But it's by no means as much as it used to be. Most of that is becase of lifestyle changes, and none of us can change that. I wouldn't change the new job or where it is for the world (well, maybe if it snowed every other day instead of every day). Now the challenge is how to find ways to work out when I'm skipping.

Which brings me back to the Buffalo marathon training group. Training with others, is a great way to work out. It builds and maintains your fitness while at the same time fosters new relationships in your area. The support that you provide and receive to /from others with similar goals cannot be overstated. And it's easy to skip a workout when you're the only one, but the pressure to get there when you know others are counting on you can be heavy.

Yesterday was a perfect example....It was 12 degrees out yesterday with a wind chill below zero when I met the group. There is NO way i would have gotten dressed to run in that kind of weather by myself. But knowing others would be there, I pulled on the layerd running gear and met about 20 other crazies ready to run. And run we did. I got 10 miles in for the day!!!

And yes, I'm biased when it comes to running, but there are plenty of other groups out there. Swimming, cycling, even trips to the gym. You just have to look in your area for them. Try calling around to local gyms or fitness stores and ask about them. You can also look at active.com, which is a great site for those who want to know of activities in your area.

Happy training.

So i joined I gym this week...

I had been fighting the decision off for months, and boy, did I have excuses - tons of them. My job is too busy, I don't want to drive there. I don't want to be locked in to a commitment. I can always run outside,etc, etc. etc.

But in the back of my mind I knew it was the right thing to do. And maybe it was the trip to running in Florida and then comparing it with the 10 below 0 windchill, that changed my mind. Or maybe it was the fact that I've gained 9 pounds since the Ironman. In any case, I decided to sign up.

So would you want to join a gym? It's that time of year after all. If you're interested, here's a couple things to look for:

• Find a gym close to your home or office - the closer, the easier it is to fit into your schedule.
• Decide what you want before you go - yoga classes are great, but if you have no interest then it doesn't really matter.
• Ask for a weekly pass to try it out - try it before you buy it.
• Be comfortable with the staff, and the membership policies - don't feel pushed into anything, be sure to ask questions and find out how you may cancel the policy if you move, change jobs, etc.
  

I found one within 5 miles of where I live called the Buffalo Athletic Club with several locations in Buffalo, and in Rochester. And after the two week trial they offered, I signed up for three months to see how it works. If it fits, (or if it doesn't) you'll hear about it.

You don't need a medal to know you're goofy

They say this is the place that dreams come true. Boy, i don't think Walt was planning this one when he came up with Disney years ago but he was right.

This weekend participants of the first Team CWD participated in The Walt Disney Marathon Weekend. I went as one of the race coordinators, but truth be told I did little in terms of coaching. The group that signed up were already dedicated athletes who knew what they were in for, so other then a little advice here and there I worked on my own training (which after spending my first winter in Buffalo was a challenge in itself).

The weekend races went in this fashion: Friday was the 5k and kids races, Saturday was the 1/2 marathon, and Sunday was the full marathon. We had TeamCWD participants all three events. I had originally planned to run just the full on Sunday, my wife was also signed up so we talked about the idea of running together. But at the last minute I also jumped into the 1/2 marathon to run along with my sister-in-law who was running her first race (Gulp!)

I know that sounds crazy, but would you beleive they actually have an event where you run both? It's called the Goofy challenge (how appropriate) where if you complete both you recieve a third medal to signify it. And as crazy as that sounds, that are was actually filled up!!! So although i was going to do both, i would not receive that third medal (which as i found out after, has major bragging rights).

Heather (my sister) and I had to be up by 3am (3am, are you kidding me!!!) in order to get there for the 6am start. And other then the 3am start to the day, the run that we had was absolutely wonderful. I can't never have a 'first' 1/2 marathon or marathon again, but it was special to share a first one with someone, even better since we are family. I ran to get her water, bananas, etc. during the run and gave encouragement along the way. Heather actually worked for Disney before she became a teacher, so I got to hear some inside stories about the parks which was pretty cool. The emotions of course are the best part of all, we both got teary at the end as we crossed holding hands.

The run with my wife was just as memorable. We had never run a marathon together, and I was so excited about the idea it was hard to contain it (which is good because she's never been a morning person, so I had enough excitement in the beginning for the both of us). Getting to run through the parks at twilight when no one was there was pretty cool, defintely a reason to get up at 3am. And although the early start wasn't something i wanted to repeat, the run through the finish holding hands with family was.

This race got me thinking, two years from now will be my 30th anniversary with diabetes. I spoke with my wife about it (see, I am getting this marriage thing down) and we're going back in two years to celebrate my anniverary. I'm going to do the goofy for real, and it's going to be great.

It always is.

Happy New (cough) Year!

The new year started off with a bang (or rather, a sneeze). Tricia and I brought my niece along with us to the CWD Best Practices Conference in Marco Island FL. I was still feeling under the weather, but had been looking forward to this conference for almost a year. I had written earlier that my wife and I were going to be presenting together at the conference on how to integrate nutrition and activity into diabetes management, a 'marriage' of sorts.

So we got in on New Year’s Eve, but rather then joining in the festivities we went right up to bed (I guess that should have been a sign of what was to come). I had one day where I felt ok, and in retrospect it was a great day. I was able to go for a long run on the beach and really enjoy running somewhere new. That evening the conference began and I had a great time, meeting old friend and making new ones.

But (there’s always a but) that was about it for me. The next day I was so sick I could hardly walk. I slashed most of my presentations with the kids in an effort not to get them sick, and spent that day (and the following one in bed). It was a horrible feeling..... Here I was at this beautiful destination and I couldn't enjoy it. The beach was pristine, the view from our hotel deck was spectacular, and I was shivering and convulsing with aches, pains, and a fever.

My BGs were all over the place too (isn't that mandatory when you're sick?) I did a few temp basals to try and get them down, it always amazes me how much insulin I need when I’m sick. I took more insulin then I do on a daily basis – but I didn’t eat. And my boluses usually account for about 55% of my daily insulin.

Although I spent most of the time in bed, the conference did have a few highlights. The fever did subside for a bit, and I did present with my wife, and although it was a bit hazy with the fever I really enjoyed it. And I also presented to the parents on extreme athletics with Joe Eldridge from Team Type 1, and anytime I get to do that with one of the TT1 boys it’s a thrill.

I’m headed back to Buffalo now, and hoping that my cold clears up by next week. I’m flying back down here to run in Walt Disney’s marathon as part of Team CWD. Here’s hoping I’m able to pull through.