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Ain't so Bad...

I’m still trying to get over the jet lag, and adjust to the realization that home is about 50 degrees colder then California (there will be no more running in shorts). I decided to venture to the gym just because I wanted to keep a closer eye on my BGs (and because of that whole 50 degrees colder thing – I’m still in whiney mode). I biked for an hour and a half (about 34 miles) and then ran for about 15 minutes (2 miles give or take a tenth). It actually felt pretty darn good, probably cause my BGs were between 98 and 122 mg/dl. I need to get going though. I’ve read some of the other blogs from Triabetes – and if I don’t get working I’m gonna get worked.

Redding Marathon

So today I thought I would start off my training for triabetes with a bang, the bang of a gun that is. I ran the Redding marathon in Redding California. I was in Redding for the weekend for work, I had gone to a diabetes support group on Saturday (two of them in fact) and when i saw there was a marathon that same weekend i thought 'how could i not do it?'

Althought the course was said to be beautiful, the course was a bit daunting. (See above.) It looks easy, but don't let it fool you. Even though the course was considered downhill, if you look closely there are lots of little uphill and downhills. Over the course of 26.2 miles those little up and downhills add up.

So I started off on the wrong foot (of course) I over calculated the carbs I ate for the dinner the night before and ended up with a low right before bed. And what do you do when all you want to do is go to sleep? RIGHT! OVERCORRECT!

So i woke up at 3am with a 333 BG (not off to a good start). I corrected and went back to bed. I got up at about 5am (3hours before race time and bolused for my meal) I had come down to 172 which was better then before. I waited about 45 minutes before eating, and had come down to about 123 but was back to about 222 with about 15 minutes before the race. I took a very samll bolus 0.15 to try and bring it down a little...

...which ended up being to much, i should have done nothing. About five miles into it I had come down to 50, which was making the 7:30 pace I was running (normally a coversational pace for me) feel like sub 6. I had about 70 grams of carb total and was back to 122 at the 10 mile mark.

I had been running with a guy I met on the way to the start. He was trying to qualify for Boston and needed a 3:15 so I thought that would be a great pace. we agreed to give it a shot but not old back if either of is fell apart.

We lost contact at around mile 15 or 16; he had stopped to use the bathroom (you would too if you had too) and we never hooked up again. I was able to real in about 10-15 people during the last 10 miles and finished in 8th overall - not bad for little training.

The course was absoultely spectacular, there are some photos (thanks to the Redding Marathon website of what the course looked like.

8 3/7 114 Brian Foster 34 M Glenmoore PA 03:17:17 7:32

Got Goals?

So what do you want out of a resolution? And more importantly, why haven’t you met it? The one thing that many of us have in common is our setting resolutions, but the other thing that is just as common is our lack of having a true goal.


Many of us would agree that goals are what makes the world go round. People who are considered successful may be successful at different things, but they all have similarities when it comes to goal setting. So let's get some goals!



These are the things I think you’re goals need to have:
· Specific
· Measurable
· Realistic
· Flexible


Goals need to be specific. I often hear that people want to be healthy. I wonderful goal of course, but boy, getting healthy can involve quite a few things. And although all of them are good, too many of them all at once is just as bad as having none at all. Can you juggle five tennis balls? Probably not. But can you ‘juggle’ one? That’s more likely – and you’ll have a better chance if you try to narrow down what it is you want to concentrate on.


Goals need to be measurable. Losing weight is great, but how much do you want to lose? There’s a big difference between 5 and 10 pounds, and one isn’t any better then the other. But you do need to know what it is you’re shooting for. This has everything to do with your motivation. If your goal is to lose 10 pounds and you’re lost 5 so far, you can think to yourself ‘I’m half way there’. If you don’t have a specific amount you have nothing to shoot for.


Goals need to be realistic. Now no one loves watching “the Biggest Loser’ more then my wife and I. It’s one of the most inspiring things I’ve ever seen. But there is NO WAY that any of us in the real world can accomplish what they do. That’s not to say we can’t do it – we just can’t in the time frame that they do. I never want to believe anything is out of reach, but I do believe theres a time and a place for everything (with a heavy emphasis on the time).


Lastly, goals need to be flexible. Life happens. (Actually I think its another word that’s supposed to be there – but this is a PG blog). You need to know that life gets in the way. A bone could break, a muscle could get pulled. A family member could get sick. A job could have longer hours at times. These are things you can’t change, and sometimes your goals need to change with them.

It's a Whole New Year

Think for a moment to this year’s resolutions. Were any of them health-related? I hope so. And that’s a good thing. There’s nothing more important then our health. Whether it’s: making the old jeans fit or joining a gym and actually going. So you’ve got the first hurdle out of the way; And it’s not just a good thing, it’s a great thing! Because believe it or not, the first step is making the conscious decision to get started. So congratulations, yay for you! Give your self a high five!

But, let’s be honest. Are you still on pace? Probably not. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many of us have trouble keeping our resolutions. And it’s usually not our fault. So don’t beat yourself up (unless you take contact sport like karate).

In the next few posts I’ll try to simplify some of the things to help make those resolutions stick .See you soon.