28--Type 1 for 10 years --- WANT to run half marathon

[Keni]

Hi all,

I just joined this forum. I have to say it is WONDERFUL to read the threads and see my own thoughts in someone else's experience. So good to see that I am NOT alone in this frustrating and difficult disease that is been with me for 10 years now. This year I am doing everything that I have been told to do. Everything and more cause I want to run a half marathon 13 miles(21K). Almost everyone has told me that I am crazy to have that ambition. So anyone that has any advice or knows of anywhere I can go to get more info.....

THANK YOU!!

[sprzepiora]

Hi all,

I just joined this forum. I have to say it is WONDERFUL to read the threads and see my own thoughts in someone else's experience. So good to see that I am NOT alone in this frustrating and difficult disease that is been with me for 10 years now. This year I am doing everything that I have been told to do. Everything and more cause I want to run a half marathon 13 miles(21K). Almost everyone has told me that I am crazy to have that ambition. So anyone that has any advice or knows of anywhere I can go to get more info.....

THANK YOU!!


Your not crazy, I just saw a post not to long ago with some that did, I'm sure he'll be along soon enough. Not to mention DLife TV had someone on three weeks ago that was a long distance runner.

I will see if I can find that link and post it later.

[Mich]

Hey Keni,

Do it. Takes determination, training and guts. What part of that don't you have after dealing with diabetes?

Good info available if you search this forum. Look for "Let's take a run on Broad Street" and other posts from runners here. The Diabetes Forcast Magazine has many articles on diabetic athletes, who deal with insulin, oral meds and pumps while competing. Type 1 and type 2 and everything in between.

NEVER let this stuff slow you down.

Mich

[HelenM]

Definitely not crazy, I've run one marathon and shall be running another in October and I'm twice your age. Exercise is good for people with diabetes and if you plan carefully you should be able to achieve your goal. You say 'everyone thinks that you are crazy' hopefully that doesn't include your doctor but you should perhaps check that with him/her that there are no other contraindications. (Because of my age, my doctor wanted me to have a stress test 'just in case')

Start with small steps and build up your distances slowly. There are a lot of training plans on the internet. As a slow/older runner I liked the plans by Jeff Galloway who includes walking breaks within the schedules but for a marathon used that of Hal higdon. If you don't already run a little then you need to start with shorter distance. Try aiming for a 5km/10km race. Galloways plan for this stars with jogging for 1-2 minutes and walking for 2-3 minutes gradually building up both time on feet and time running.

As a diabetic the biggest problem is keeping BS levels at the right place. For me that means not being low too much. It is a challenge and does seem to vary from run to run . You need to test before running, during running and afterwards. You also need to watch for hypos later in the day.
Everybody is different , I always drop very quickly during the first 20 minutes of a run no matter at what level I start and need to take some dextrose at this point. I then need to take dextrose tablets every couple of miles. Before long runs I need to eat some extra carbs.
What you musn't do is run with very high BS. If it is over 250 check for ketones, if ketones are present don't run get your BS down. If no ketones, you may be able to lower your BS by some gentle exercise. If over 300 don't run, ketones or not.

Theres a lot of info on type 1 and sports at Runsweet.com-diabetes and sport (http://www.runsweet.com/32001/index.html)

Good luck.

[kstreeter513]

You can do it!! Anyone with enough determination and mental toughness can. And living a life with diabetes can certainly build that. I just ran my first marathon in April. It was one of the greatest moments in my life. It took a lot of hard work but it was all worth it. I wanted to do the Chicago marathon in October, but by the time I went to sign up for it, it was already filled up.

At my post here:Marathon. (http://www.diabetesforums.com/forum/exercise/27587-even-diabetics-can-run.html) you can read about my experience.

Do you have a solid running base now? How do you plan to train? Keep us posted. I am eager to hear how you do.

[Keni]

Since I discovered this forum, I realize that there are many crazy people like me who in addition to dealing with what diabetes has to offer, decide to do something that is difficult even for someone without D. Makes me feel totally at home when I log in.

I started this year by dramatically increasing all the endurance related workouts at the gym...spinning, ellptical, swimming...somedays all three. Gradually I started to run on the threadmill and found it extremely hard. I lost about 15 pounds since January and I can feel that my endurance has improved. But I can't go past 2 miles of running outside and 3 miles on the threadmill. I found that if my sugar isn't good, I am not able to run even 2 miles. And since it has only been 1 months since I switched to Lantus/Humalog, my sugar isn't yet under control. I want to run this half marathon by October and I realize now that my sugars have to be perfect and predictable even to train for the race. I am hoping to be able to get there in a month or two. Reading the posts on this forum has made me believe that it is possible.

Thanks again...

[kstreeter513]

Im really excited for you, and hope training goes well. As for your running edurance, you must remember, your muscles are used to spinning, elliptical, and swimming. All you need is for you muscles to get used to running. It will come in time.

As for your blood sugars, I know what you mean. I like to start my runs with the ol' glucose between 150-180. I will start running if slightly higher but I don't feel strong until later in the run (I'm sure after BG falls to more normal #'s). Much below 150 and I don't feel safe. I tend to drop rapidly early in the run. I am on the pump which, in my opinion, makes BG control while running much easier. Here's what I do:

Two to three hours before my run I will eat a carb rich meal/snack and bolus, adding about a half unit more than normal. At that same time, I reduce my basal rate from .6U/hr to .15U/hr. I wait for about 2 hours and check my BG. If I am below 160, I don't run unless I take about 25 grams of carbs (usually in the form of an energy gel). At the three hour mark, if BG is above 150, I feel safe to continue with my run without eating extra carbs.

My therory behind reducing insulin is that by the time I begin my run, my circulating insulin levels will be at the same level as a non-D while running (does that make any sense??). I give the half unit extra so I don't just end up high in two to three hours. I realize this may be hard without the pump, but maybe you can apply the same therory??

I also want to mention, when you get into your weekly long runs, (do you have a training program? What does it consist of?) look out for high BG for a few hours following. For me, runs longer than one hour seem to set off a counterregulatory response by my endocrine system. Stress hormones are secreted in respone due to the demands being placed on my body and I find that after these runs I need 4 times the normal amount of insulin to cover a given number of carbs. After I ran my marathon, I gave 10 units of humalog to cover 50 grams/carbs. My usual I:C ration is 1:20. After that race I used a 1:5 I:C ratio (learned to use this ratio through training) and two hour later my BG was still 200something!!! Sounds backwards but it happens to me. Shorter runs seem to increase I:C ratio however.

But again good luck and have fun training. Stay positive and anything you set your mind to is possible!!

[sugardumplin]

Keni! Awesome choice to run. You can do anything you want to. I know that sounds cliche, but it will happen if you make it. I also started running in March. I have a half marathon scheduled in December. I am interested to see how you do. Be sure to get some small races under your belt before u hit the big one. Start out small. :)

[Keni]

Hey sugardumplin,

Thanks for the encouragment. Maybe we could exchange ideas. What are you doing to train for the half marathon? Right now my sugar is uncontolled and I started new medication(insulin- lantus and humalog) so it has been hard training consistently. But I am at the gum at least 5 days a week. I need to pick up my running outside routine.

Do share what how you plan to accomplish the race...We could probably encourage each other.....

[Eddy]

Almost everyone has told me that I am crazy to have that ambition.


Crazy can be good. :)

[Keni]

I agree... I am sure you would belong in that club too...

[catatonic]

You're not crazy! So many people with diabetes continue all the activities they liked before being diagnosed. We should be inspired by many professional athletes who are diabetic, yet manage to keep competing successfully at the highest level.

Jay Cutler - NFL
Jay Leeuwenburg - NFL
Kris Freeman - Skiing
Gary Hall - Swimming
Arthur Ashe - Tennis
Chris Dudley - NBA
Steve Redgrave - Rowing

Cutler adjusting to life with diabetes - NFL - Yahoo! Sports (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=Amn07FOIqPaksZn6_SU3St1DubYF?slug=ms-thegameface051608&prov=yhoo&type=lgns)

Of course, these are professional athletes and their situation & regimen is likely different from yours. But that doesn't mean anything... So long as you take a measured approach and don't do anything OTT (like trying to run 10 miles on your first attempt, without having trained for it at all), you'll be just fine!

I say go for it... Good for you!

[ant hill]

Hey the way to go as that's a great turn around from where you were.
So what's changed in your diet or exercise? :) :D :T

[Lizzie G]

good for you Keni! loads of us type 1s on here take our sports to high level and diabetes is absolutely no reason not to do these things and hats off to anyone that does. I only really run in a gym and swimming is my main sport and i do find my blood sugar responses and carb replacement ratios are quite different for the 2 sports. not sure what insulin regime you are on but as a general rule i would suggest a)start with an elevated blood sugar but not one high enough to make you sluggish (8,5 mmol/l or 150 for you) tends to work for me and replace carbs during training using fast acting glucose tabs or energy drinks at a rate of around 30-60g per hour (it is really personal, trial and error is the only way to establish what you need) and make sure you dont have a whole load of fast acting insulin in your system when you start (i dont swim within 3 hours of novorapid as i find that however much carb replacement i do i feel like i have weights in my feet and lead in my muscles!)

anyhow, its all personal, these are things which work for me and which an endo specialising in sports and diabetes has also suggested; its really not rocket science and it wont take you long to establish a pattern which works....

[davef]

Keni,

Just because you have diabetes doesn't mean you can't have ambition, go for it and the very best of luck. As others have pointed out there are professional support people who have diabetes and don't forget about the cycling Team Type 1.

My own ambition (when I've lost more weight) is to play at least one game of rugby, I'm more concerned about the fact that I'm 42 but I'll find a "mature" team to play with. My Daugther's ambition for me is to go horse riding, couldn't even comteplate that a year ago (no clydesdales in the stable ;)) but I'll certainly be ready for that by next summer.

Don't give up on your dreams,

"I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly, because you tread on my dreams."
-WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS

You can do it!

[Eddy]

start with an elevated blood sugar but not one high enough to make you sluggish (8,5 mmol/l or 150 for you) tends to work for me


Quoted because this bears repeating.

I hate when my blood sugar even hits 120-130, and consider 150 to be right yucky. However, in my [thus-far limited] experimentation with walking, I've found Lizzie's advice to be spot-on. Those who know me know that getting me to hit ~150 deliberately is no small feat.

If I start out in a more normal range, my BG drops with quickness. If I start out higher... yuck.

Also be cautious about correcting after exercise. On Saturday, I sugared up (dates) and walked a couple blocks to and from the store to refill a 3-gallon (26 pounds) jug of water. I had a 156 after, so I corrected with 2U (35 mg/dL per U) of Novolog.

Feeling a bit hungry, I had a nectarine and a plum, and covered with the appropriate 2U of Novolog. Feeling tired, I went and took a nap.

OOPS!

I had jumped the gun with my correction. I awoke from my nap with a 31.

Sunday, I had enough dates to put me at about 185 (if I waited the full 1h:15m), waited 30 minutes, then went on a 45-minute walk. Post-walk BG was 95.

I then ate: two plums; some scrambled eggs with cheese, diced turkey hot dogs, whey powder (contains CHO), and onions (more CHO); 3x Emergen-C packets (3g of vitamin C and 18 g CHO; 500 mg niacin. I also ended up having a couple 125 mL Juicy Juice boxes, IIRC.

For insulin? 1 U of Novolog -- what I usually use to cover 15 g of fast-acting CHO. Yes, the C and niacin played a hand in things... but, even factoring in a fudge factor for those, I still needed substantially less insulin.

Just proceed cautiously, listen to Lizzie G and Scratch (and probably others of whom I'm unaware) about exercise, have someone with you in case you get shaky... and have fun!

[Lizzie G]

Just proceed cautiously, listen to Lizzie G and Scratch (and probably others of whom I'm unaware) about exercise, have someone with you in case you get shaky... and have fun!


thanks eddy....id also add, make sure you have a big glass of wine and veg out on the sofa when you get home ;)

[Eddy]

thanks eddy....id also add, make sure you have a big glass of wine and veg out on the sofa when you get home ;)


In which case I'll add: Don't listen to everything that Liz says. :D