WILD 70.3 Team Blog

A Little Motivation, Please

2010-07-31T07:46:00.000-04:00

Jennifer Ahn
July 31, 2010

I have felt a little stressed out and less motivated of late. This often happens to me after a year of accomplishing something, then working on that same goal for the subsequent year. I started running a couple years back and felt rejuvenated by a new form of exercise. I felt like I had to go out and run. I ran my first 5K and felt great. I felt like I really accomplished something with that training, even though it was a 5K. The following year, I trained for a half marathon. This was exciting to me as well as it was a new distance. I felt motivated by this goal and was inspired to keep working at that goal. Last year, as most of you know, I did the Longhorn Half Ironman. Again… a new goal established with motivation to keep working at it. I had signed up for a few half marathons to help train. But, my motivation to actually run the runs was a little lacking. But, I ran them as they were part of the training.

Now, with training for Branson, I feel my motivation is waning. I look at the schedule of work-outs and look at it as work. Perhaps, I need a bigger goal established each year. I have a half marathon this weekend that I still have not decided if I want to run it. I know I should for training. Perhaps I’m tired. Perhaps I need some time off from training. Perhaps I need to set a higher goal for myself. I did set a personal goal for this year. This will be what I need to focus on to keep my motivation alive.

This brings me to think about next year and the potential Team WILD Ironman. If I choose to sign up for Ironman Wisconsin, I know it will be a lot of work. But, perhaps with a new lofty goal, I will find that motivation. Yes… I know… most people need motivation before signing up for a big race like an Ironman. With the help of Team WILD, I know anything can be accomplished.

Boulder Peak, Take 2

2010-07-13T07:33:00.000-04:00

Karen Lipinsky
July 13, 2010

Yesterday I participated in the Boulder Peak triathlon for the second time. Last year, this was my first Olympic-distance triathlon, and thus an automatic PR (personal record). I’m happy to say that yesterday I also PR’d at this distance.

Last year’s race was kind of a disaster, blood-sugar-wise. This was the race where my meter read over 500 in T2 (after the bike), and I wasn’t sure if I should do the run or go to the medical tent. I’m even happier to note that yesterday’s race did NOT repeat this pattern, and that the various strategies I worked out with the medical team later last season are serving me well now. Was my blood sugar perfect? No way, even with the meticulous babysitting. However, it was MUCH better than last year.
Woke up (blood sugar 116) and had breakfast at 4:10am (3 hours pre-race) and took a 70% bolus of insulin for it. Headed over to the Reservoir, got all checked in, set up, and warmed up. At 1 hour pre-race my blood sugar was 226 (surprising; usually on race days I’m in the 70s at this point) and I programmed my pump to give me a 75% basal rate for the next many hours (changed this later in the bike).

The swim: I got punched in the nose on this swim. Now, this doesn’t really seem feasible, given that people do not swim with their hands in fists. So maybe I was just clipped really hard in the nose by an open hand as my racemate was stroking. Anyway, it hurt. I took 10min off my swim time from last year (to be fair, everyone was saying last year that the swim course was long). My pump was on the special needs table just out of the swim, so I grabbed it as I was taking off the top of my wetsuit. Blood sugar just before disconnecting: 241. Didn’t eat. Blood sugar in T1: 205.

T1: Boy howdy, I’m still slow at transitions. And I practiced! I had my whole race strategy typed out in a Ziploc on my towel so I could just program my pump by reading what to do. Nevertheless, I took a long time. Ate a GU. Took a 75% bolus of insulin for the GU, and a 150% bolus over 60 minutes of the basal (background) insulin that I’d missed by being disconnected from the pump.

The bike: This time I vowed to stop twice on the bike and check my blood sugar. There’s a killer hill (92% grade – okay, maybe I’m exaggerating. A lot) about 6 miles in, and I stopped before that because my continuous glucose monitor was alarming the pump that I was over 300, even though it lied and I was really 193 at the time. Ate two Fig Newtons. Anyway, I made it up the killer hill on Olde Stage then down the other side, past the bear crossing (a racer hit a bear in the middle of this race a few years ago. Yes, really) and back down to the flat(ish) part of the course. Checked my blood sugar again. 231. Changed my basal insulin to 50% to continue until the end of the race, since I’ve had problems with lows on the run in the past. Ate a Fig Newton, and a couple of salt tablets. Unfortunately, a race official had come up on his motorcycle to ask if I was alright at that moment, so I stuffed the Fig Newton (has to be chewed) and the salt tablets (has to be swallowed with water) in at the same time. Oops. At least one salt tablet fell out of my mouth while I was telling him I was fine. How graceful.

I continued on with the bike, noting that it looked like I was slower than last year. Here I said that the bike was my focus for the season, and I’m getting slower? Can’t blame the race course – it’s exactly the same. Same bike. Did an impressive taper leading up to this race. Eh, meh. Ate another Fig Newton at 1:30 into the bike. Soldiered on, periodically hearing the whOOp whOOp whOOp of race wheels as speedier types zoomed past me. The biking part of a triathlon really is fun, even if I’m not getting faster.

T2: I did not feel like crap, which is a stark contrast to this point in the race last year! Blood sugar 167. Ate a GU.

The run: Running in a triathlon is very very different from just running. You’re tired before you start. A lot of fast people are doing some walking and looking utterly defeated. You’ll hit a place of fatigue where you don’t know if your blood sugar’s tanking or not. It’s weird out there. I started this run with a plan to walk for a minute after 9 minutes of running, and I was delighted to be able to execute that plan for the whole 6.2 miles. It was sunny and hot, but I only had to run for 9 minutes at a time, which is easy peasy, right? Blood sugar at the turnaround: 177. Ate a Fig Newton. Made it back to the finish line, where they announced my name and called me a stellar example of athleticism. Or maybe they just announced my name – I was a little out of it by then.

Blood sugar: 133

My final time was 15 minutes faster than last year. I still have plenty of 15-minute increments that would have to be lopped off that time before I’d be considered fast, but I’ll take it!

Jenny Smith Gets WILD Some Press

2010-06-30T18:59:00.000-04:00

Jenny Smith was quoted in an article about the Tour de Cure in Reston, Virginia.

Thanks for the awesome plug for WILD Jenny!!

Click the logo below to read the article.

Looking Back.....

2010-06-28T21:02:00.001-04:00

Karyn Brown
June 28, 2010

So, one of the women I work out with asked me this week – 'How did you ever become a couch potato?' Well, I was NEVER a couch potato – easy answer, right? The more difficult answer is why did it take until 34 years old to figure out that I could be a better non-couch potato. First, let me explain why she assumed I was a couch potato.... Last April I had knee surgery for the THIRD time on the same knee. Two ACL reconstructions and two meniscectomies later on that same knee – all results of being ACTIVE – I decided that it was time to drop some of my 195 lbs off my body. I found the following information right before I had my (hopefully) final knee surgery.

“every pound netted a 4-lb reduction in pressure exerted on the knee “

So, how was I going to change this?

I had a bicycle out in the garage and that's low impact on the knee and from past knee surgery recoveries I know it's the first activity that I will be allowed to begin post-op! I promptly signed up for the Tour de Cure – 100K (62) miles. Now I had a fitness goal – time to get to work.

I enjoyed the summer of training and even bought a car that could more easily transport my bike – I know, weird... at least a little. I rode that 100K, blew a tire on the ride. Yes, a TIRE not a tube. Repaired with a $1 bill folded in place of the flap of rubber and proceeded with some care to the finish line. Then, I found out what a RED RIDER was – as I crossed the finish line, as I was cheered along on the race course, and pretty much the entire day. A Red Rider is anyone in Tour de Cure that has diabetes – I felt like such a part of a group. And a really positive group – since when has diabetes ever felt positive?? I stuck around, even though it was well over 100 degrees, for the Red Rider photo for the day!

The woman sitting next to me – lower, right-hand corner.... I'm third from the right, 2nd row up... is Mari Ruddy. And she asks me what length ride I had ridden that day and I gleefully said '100K!'. She next asks – do you swim or run? NO! Not just no, but HELL NO! She says, well I'm wondering if you might be interested in cycling on a relay team for a ½ Ironman. Well, of course I would – wait, what the hell is a ½ Ironman?!?!?! A few emails later and I'm flying to Austin,Texas to complete my first event with Team WILD.

Now I've commited to my OWN ½ Ironman this fall... I still don't really think I'm a swimmer or a runner but I'm going to do it anyway. And, along the way I have figured out (with the help of Team WILD and our coaches) how to better fuel my body and my training to make this a great experience and not just something 'I HAVE to do'.

Watch out for me and Team WILD! We don't have limits and neither should you!

S’mores Under the Stars

2010-06-21T21:33:00.000-04:00

Karen Lipinsky
June 21, 2010

We just finished a fantastic Camp WILD weekend, where instead of those traditional camp customs of swimming, volleyball, and making s’mores over a campfire, we engaged in swimming, biking, and running, with a lot of diabetes education and sports psychology thrown in. It was nice that Boulder was looking particularly lovely this weekend.

I loved seeing how I’ve improved in the last year. There are plenty of women on the team who can pick up a water bottle off the ground while they’re riding, and some can set it back down without it falling over. This time on the drill where you’re supposed to pick up a (very short!) traffic cone, at least I touched the cone and knocked it over – much better than last year. Those of us doing this for the second year were also more comfortable riding arm-in-arm, and taking our hands off the handlebars, than we were before.

One of the things that I enjoy about getting together with other diabetic athletes is witnessing the struggles we have in common. One of my teammates was lamenting a continuous glucose monitor that had died. Someone finished Sunday’s race with a 490 blood sugar (and it wasn’t me this time). Often some camper or another was quietly consuming quick carbohydrates to treat a low. I hate to say that it’s a case of misery loves company, because it would be less than honest of me to call this misery and I don’t wish these challenges on anyone; it’s just really nice to know I’m not alone.

Camp was exhausting. I’ve never _started_ a race as tired as I did at Sunday’s rehearsal Sprint that was the culmination of our time at camp. In those 4 days, though, we did a ton of laughing; there were also a few tears. There was a fair amount of exercise, and lots of learning. We all came away with new techniques to use in our sports and new information that should lead us to better blood sugars and performance in our events. Best of all, we shared with teammates and friends who are dealing with the same challenges we are.

A Month of Firsts

2010-06-01T14:22:00.002-04:00

Karyn Brown
June 1, 2010

1. first non-car commute to work of 2010
2. first use of pink duct tape
3. first having to STOP skiing due to DKA symptoms which resulted in #4 - boooooooo
4. first insulin pump set change in ski area parking lot
5. first full lap non-stop in a pool while breathing **this is SUPER important and led to #6
6. signed up for FIRST EVER triathlon

7. hiking for turns in the upper chutes at A-Basin – OMG! Incredible... especially in MAY!!!

8. wore bike shorts and jersey while skiing AND while running
9. first BRICK, bike then run immediately after
10. Ran in my very first 10K event - Bolder Boulder
11. First ride in Moab on my 'new-to-me' mountain bike (while wearing my WILD outfit!)

12. remember #1 & #2? They resulted in the first time to run my bike into a parking garage after a LONG commute in. Was tired, rode into the parking garage where I had left my car the day before, put bike on top of car in rack and immediately ran it into a low-hanging sign. Ripped rack and bike off of car, shattered rear window (repaired with pink duct tape). Window replaced and bike in shop getting upgraded (yeah, upgrades!!!!!!!) shifters and wheelset - AND PINK HANDLEBAR TAPE.

So, all in all, not a bad month of firsts, I'd say!

Next month's FIRSTS include competing in my first triathlon, going to my first triathlon camp, and .....??? Who knows but I'm excited to find out!

ASweetLife Interviews Mari

2010-05-30T21:33:00.000-04:00

Mari Ruddy
May 30, 2010

Founder of Team WILD, Mari Ruddy, was recently interviewed by Jessica Apple, over at ASweetLife.org. Mari continually inspires, and continually works to get our Team WILD, and the ADA Red Rider Program, messages out there. Click here to read the amazing article.

The Ride of my Life

2010-05-27T22:06:00.002-04:00

Karen Rogers
May 27, 2010

Tucson’s Tour de Cure came and went in late February and my excuse for not doing it was that I hadn’t ridden since the 70.3 last October as all my training had been concentrated on a half marathon in late January. While training for the 70.3 last year, I had opportunities both in Tucson and San Antonio to ride with Edy. When Edy fell and fractured her pelvis and wouldn’t be able to ride in the San Antonio Tour de Cure, I wanted to be there for her and ride for her. Riding away at the start and seeing Edy standing there with her sparkly cane was difficult and that’s all I’m going to say, but knowing she would be at the end of 55 miles gave me motivation to have a great ride. I rode with the team formed by the practice where Edy is the CDE--Diabetes and Metabolism Specialists of San Antonio. Also riding for the team were Dr. Rodriguez; Jeff, Edy’s son; Joe (a nurse); Baldwin (also a nurse); and Akia, Baldwin’s young son.

This was very much a training ride for me for a few reasons: Symlin, dehydration, and fueling. Six weeks into using Symlin and this was the first use of it during a long training session. Based on how shorter training sessions had gone, I felt as though I would have no problems, but you just never know. I’m constantly dehydrated and have been trying to drink more water, but wondered if I had rehydrated adequately before the ride and would I be able to continue hydrating throughout. Listening to Marcey’s nutrition talk a few weeks ago, I knew I also needed to eat more during the ride to fuel the muscles. So how did I do?

I flew in Friday before the ride and immediately lost two hours. Wakeup on Saturday morning basically was at 3 am my time, but all I had to do was get dressed, put on sunscreen, eat, and get to the start. Eating at 3 am is a challenge on its own and eating with Symlin on board introduces more. We had picked up some tasty, dense, whole grain bread for breakfast, and eating and ingesting 58 g of carbs plus some peanut butter was difficult. For anyone who doesn’t use Symlin, one of the side effects can be nausea and, in my case, an immense feeling of fullness. I was full after one slice of bread, but knew I needed to get that last slice in me. Pre Symlin I’d eat in about 2 minutes, and after 30 or so, I was finally done. We drive to the start of the ride and it is warm, cloudy, and rain spits on us for about 2 minutes. Start the ride and the wind cools us a bit, intermittent sun and clouds. Pre-ride BS is 92. Sip some Xood along with water.

First rest stop, potty break and fill my water bottle. Joe is with me at this rest stop and we eat, take pictures and drink water. Down almost 24 oz. of water and refill it again before leaving. BS 87. Suck down a gel (27 g carbs) and get back on the bike. During the next ten miles I also take on 5 gummy Lifesavers for another 15g of carbs. Also try to sip more Xood along the way.

Rest stop number two. Goal is to drink the rest of the Xood for carbs and electrolytes. The sun is now shining, it is warm, and I’m damp.   Xood, never my favorite drink, is warm and tastes bad, so I dump it and get some ice cold Gatorade. Also eat a Fig Newton the size of two normal Newtons—no idea how many carbs.   Joe, Baldwin and Akia are filling up on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, so while waiting check BS and it’s 136.

Back on the bike, turn left and head uphill! Dang, too long at the stop. Legs start to cramp. Get them going and the guys hold up for Akia. Decide to ride ahead without them. The route takes a left turn and finally the wind is now pushing me along. Feeling good and fueled I decide to push it a bit on the flat. That works fairly well, until the route takes another left turn onto a recently chip sealed road. I’m used to the pea sized chip seal in Tucson, not the golf ball sized rocks in Texas. Rough road slows me down a bit.

Rest stop number three at mile 35. Do I stop? I’m feeling good, but low on water. Get off the bike, walk around, fill up on water. 20 miles to the finish and 12 to the next stop. The guys ride in as I’m leaving so I wait as Akia gets in a sag vehicle. Akia is 11 years old or so and decides to rest for a bit until the next stop. Wise choice. The road from here on out is broken down chip seal and torture.   Looking back I must have relied on the sensor for a BS check. No number in my meter.

Shortly before rest stop number four I’m feeling very hungry and the sensor has me in the 140s and stable. Two things enter my mind. The sensor is wrong or my BS is rising and I need to get a unit of insulin on board.   Pull into the rest stop and BS is 87, nothing like being 60-70 points off! No wonder I’m hungry. ½ peanut butter and jelly sandwich, raisins and dried fruit, and pretzels. Some more Gatorade. No extra insulin taken.

The remainder of the ride is uneventful. It’s on smooth road and we group back together with other riders coming into the finish. Cross the finish and Edy is there along with Dr. Rodriguez, who had a much faster pace for the ride. I’m grateful for the support Joe and Baldwin provided along the way. Having people to ride with and talk with really does make the ride faster and more pleasant. Check BS and it’s now 167. Not surprising with all that I ate 8 miles ago. I make sure to drink more water. Jeff, who rode the 80-mile route finishes about 10 minutes after we did. Everyone is warm and it’s still muggy.

Post-race. I don’t eat any more at the end of the race, although the food provided is really great.   We load up and drive back to San Antonio. Along the way we drop Dr. Rodriguez off, return the rental bike, pick up lunch, and head home. At the end of the race, BS was 167, half hour later, 164. Two hours later, before we eat lunch, it’s 71. Take Symlin again and eat about 70 g of carbs, bolus for 56 and don’t set a temporary basal reduction (this will become important later on). Three hours post meal BS is 119. We head to dinner about an hour later. Sitting in the restaurant, Jeff asks me a question and I’m not able to answer him, nobody is home. Look at sensor first, 87, then use meter. 41! (This is where the temp basal becomes important.)   Edy, of course, pushes glucose tabs I want none of. I opt for some more of my gummy Lifesavers. Listen to Edy and forego Symlin at this meal. Bedtime BS is 105 and wakeup the next morning BS is 111.

Recap. The ride was a lot of fun. Hydration wise I needed to drink more. Probably could have eaten more earlier on in the ride. But I’m pleased with the results except for the 41 at dinner time. If you need a really fantastically supported ride, choose a Tour de Cure ride. The volunteers are spectacular, the sag support and the rest stops are some of the best. And as we all know, it supports a great cause.

Do I Dare?

2010-05-26T18:35:00.000-04:00

Jennifer Ahn
May 26, 2010

Listening in on the coaching call the other day, I was thinking to myself how it seems like people’s motivation to get going on the work-out plan is altered from last year. Perhaps it’s because the fear of doing the event is not as apparent. Many of our team are returners from last year… thus; the novelty of doing a half Ironman is not as scary. I guess that is what pushes people to strive for goals that are bigger and better. The new things for this race are likely not the distance but the challenge of the new location.
I was doing a long ride with my triathlon group last weekend, 50 miles in some areas with more hills than in the city. The guy I was riding with commented that he was surprised I didn’t bump up to an Ironman this year since I did a half Ironman last year. I told him that the team I was on is doing Branson this year. But, I added, “I can’t run and the Ironman would make me run a marathon. I’ve never run a marathon and not sure I want to.” It’s funny because last year when I signed up, I had more experience running than swimming and biking. Now, I love swimming and biking and dread the running.

Now, thinking about the goals of Team WILD for next year, to have an Ironman team, I think to myself, would I join the team and attempt a full Ironman? Do I have what it takes… the dedication, determination, endurance, and time to train? If so, I feel I should run a marathon beforehand. Some of my friends have said you don’t have to run a marathon before an Ironman… but, I’m the type of person who mentally needs to know that I can do the distance.

Do I have that motivation to run a marathon? I read Karen L’s blog about the run-walk strategy she is using and spoke to one of our local triathlon coaches. He thought it might be a good strategy for me, especially during the longer races. I tend to run in HR zone 4 a lot. He thought the rest/recovery during the walk will get me to endure the longer distances. This got me thinking even more about the potentials of a marathon and an Ironman. I’ve always told myself… no, I have no desire to run a marathon. Now, it’s creeping into my mind. Now, I think I may dare to do so. Looking at the calendar… Branson 70.3, Sept. 19th… then, marathon before next year’s Ironman. The Disney World marathon is Jan. 9th… during my birthday weekend. So, for my 38th birthday, go to Disney World, run a marathon, and enjoy a great time in Florida. So many possibilities… anyone want to join me?

WILDfire

2010-05-15T07:07:00.001-04:00

Lyndsay Riffe
May 15, 2010

Last week was a week of “firsts” for me. I went on my first cruise, first trip to the Bahamas, and the first time in 25 years of having diabetes I was told “no” because of having diabetes. I was on the cruise lines private island, and attempted to rent snorkeling gear. After honestly answering the medical questionnaire, the employee declined my rental because I was on insulin. I attempted to persuade them why it was completely safe for me to snorkel. “No, company policy mamn.” I was furious, and crushed. It was the first time in my life I felt like diabetes was a disability.

Fortunately, I had my swim goggles with me. What was I thinking in the first place trying to rent snorkeling gear!? Thanks to Celeste, I can swim like a fish (although still working on graduating from a guppy to a dolphin.) Not only did I get to see beautiful fish, I got a work out in at the same time, for FREE.

I am sure we all have stories of times we were told no from friends/family (no, you can’t have that cookie!), DMV offices, etc. Some with diabetes even have memories of their doctors telling them not to exercise because of diabetes! After this moment I though about how grateful I was I was able to participate in endurance events. It also made me reflect on the positive message Team WILD sends. I hope others with diabetes that believe they can’t do this type of event, or start exercising, really hear our stories. Stop letting others or even yourselves tell you no, you can’t do that. You can. Hopefully our stories spread like wildfire to people with diabetes!

A Bit of a Slacker

2010-05-11T14:37:00.000-04:00

Lorrie DiCesare

May 11, 2010

Hello everyone. I'll admit it; I've been a bit of a slacker with my blogging responsibilities. I missed April entirely and I'm lat for May. Why? I guess I really didn't think I had much, if anything, to say. Well, now I do, so here goes.

First, let me introduce myself. My name is Lorrie DiCesare. I'm almost 47 years old, which I can't believe, live in the Chicago land area with several other WILD women, and have been living with Type 1 diabetes for almost 31 years. I was on the half Ironman team last year for which was a complete blast. Yes, the training was hard and time consuming, but it was an incredible experience. I met so many wonderful women and the coaching and support was awesome, I just couldn't pass up another opportunity to do it all again.

While I am completely committed to all aspects of WILD, I have to admit I've been a bit of a slacker on the training side. I'm really not sure what's gotten into me over the last month, and really am a bit unsure if I should be writing about this in a blog because it's not going to appear to be positive.

The last five days have been the most difficult for me in regards to training. I'll plan out my training, which I usually do after work, get excited about my plan throughout the day, then on my way home from work, my motivation gets totally depleted. What the heck is wrong with me? Over the past 5 days, I have virtually done nothing. Wait! I'll be honest; I haven't swum a yard, sat my butt on my bike, or ran a mile. this is terrible!!!!

I've spoken to a couple of people about this, and they say that sometimes you just need a break. Is that what I'm going through and will I get past it? This weekend I am doing my first sprint distance triathlon of the year. It's a short one: 450 yard indoor swim, 11.2 mile bike, and a 5k run. My hope is that by doing this, it will reenergize me.

Has anyone else experienced what I'm experiencing? What have you done to get motivated? I would love to hear about other experiences. Send some good vibes my way for my sprint distance tri this weekend.

Running (and walking)

2010-05-09T09:50:00.000-04:00

Karen Lipinsky
May 9, 2010

Years ago, before I really ran, I’d try it every now and then. I’d walk some and then jog some and jokingly called it ‘wogging’. When I got serious about trying to run, I still did a little walking, but my goal that first season was to run the Bolder Boulder 10K without any walking (besides water breaks and checking my blood sugar).

The couple of years I was running before I decided to take on triathlons last year, I was still determined to run rather than walk. Walk breaks were just that – breaks – and taking them meant that I wasn’t having a successful workout or race. Once triathlons came into the picture, I had to throw that thinking out the window, since every tri I did last year I had to do some walking. And I was looking at those triathlon finish lines as ‘success’, no matter how I got to them.

This season, the form focus for my tri group is the run/walk method. With this, you’ve got _planned_ walking for 30-60 seconds after a number of minutes of running. The walk is quick and with good form, and it’s a good time to get some water or nutrition into you as well. Besides the obvious advantage of giving you a chance to ‘catch your breath’ and get the heart rate down, this method is supposed to have many other benefits, including a lower chance of injury. So lots of people in my group, including some of the really speedy types, are trying this method.

So far, I’m liking it! Psychologically, it’s quite uplifting to think only in chunks of 10 minutes (I’m trying 9min running/1min walking). The walk breaks are a great time for me to check my blood sugar without losing the people who are running at my pace. And even though I don’t have a lot of data yet, it doesn’t seem like my overall pace isn’t suffering at all – evidently I’m moving a little faster when I run, because I get the reprieve of the walk. Nice!

I plan to do all of my long easy runs this way through the season, as well as my races. I think that _planning_ to take these walk breaks in my triathlons will make the run leg of my races more enjoyable. And who knows – I may even go faster…

Struggling and Swimming and Lows, Oh My!

2010-04-30T07:20:00.009-04:00

Karyn Brown

April 30, 2010

LOWS
So, I've been waking up low almost every day since I've become more committed to training. I'm no dummy and watched my CGM graphs for a few days and decided a lower basal rate for me from 3am to 6am was going to help. I did this and was waking up with a BG (blood glucose) of 103, 95, etc for about a week and now I'm back to 50s upon waking. I have my CGM plugged back in but it's only been a few days so no changes quite yet other than breakfast immediately upon waking! Ah, diabetes rears it's ugly head once again! Next struggle for me.... swimming. I've started taking Total Immersion swimming lessons to help with that struggle!

SWIMMING

I'm NOT a swimmer, pretty sure I said that before. I still can't swim a single length of any pool continuously.... But, my pump is waterproof so maybe, hopefully, diabetes isn't as much of a struggle while swimming! No bolusing for 'lost' insulin while disconnected to swim is less of a hassle for me – because my Animas Ping (which is PINK) does not need to be disconnected while I swim. I just tuck it into my suit and GO! So diabetes and swimming NOT as much of a struggle as it could be? Except I had my 2nd swim lesson this past Monday and while the coach told me I had 'freakishly good control of my body' – which meant I was moving my body correctly and will eventually mean I can swim well – I got out of the pool with a BG of 31! WHAT? Maybe I should disconnect just for the heck of it and avoid that low next time?

DIABETES STRUGGLES
But what if next time isn't like last time? Every diabetic has asked that question. The same inputs don't ALWAYS mean the same output. I could be stressed – which may raise or lower my BG.... any number of things could be going on which may make my diabetes be a struggle with or without exercise with it. ARGH!

The ever changing world of MY diabetes! I continue to struggle with swimming and diabetes but with a goal in mind (A 1.2 mile swim in September and improving A1Cs and less lows!) I continue to struggle and those struggles will pay off! I know they will! Dealing with these struggles – swimming and diabetes – will result in IMPROVEMENTS! I can't wait!

Austin Return

2010-04-28T07:42:00.005-04:00

Jennifer Ahn

April 28, 2010

This past weekend, I revisited Austin, the place of the inaugural Team WILD event, Longhorn 70.3. I watched an inline speed skating marathon, the Texas Road Rash (what a great name), which my friend was competing in. I thought going 20 mph on a bike was not a bad pace during a race. But, imagine going 20 mph on skates. What a fun event to watch. Too bad I don’t have coordination on skates or it may be a fun thing to try for cross training.

While in Austin, I rented a nice Trek Madone and rode the streets of Austin, which brought back memories of October. But, let me tell you… I can tell, I have work to do before Branson in September. I felt tired and out of shape as I rode up some of the hills. I was able to keep up my speed, but my endurance needs to build back up. I guess that’s what being in Phase 2 of the training schedule is all about. Living in Chicago, the weather can be hit or miss. Thus, most of my bike work-outs have been on a Computrainer. It was so nice to ride outdoors in 80 degrees weather. It will be nice to start training with my triathlon group this week as it will push my focus more on training. Looking at the calendar, I can’t believe May is this weekend and I have a 10 mile race at the end of the month. Branson is only 140+ days away. But, I know that the hard work and training plan will get me to my goals. Can’t wait!

On a side note, I got to visit Lance Armstrong’s bike shop, Mellow Johnny’s. I didn’t get to go to the shop in Austin. It was an amazing place. If you ever visit, you definitely need to stop downstairs where it is a Lance museum. They have bikes he’s raced with, a fit studio and training center. No Lance sighting during the visit (sorry Mari) but a great time was had.

At Mellow Johnny's with Lance's Tour de France bike from 2009!

Better Cycling

2010-04-22T09:39:00.000-04:00

Dorinda Shipman

April 22, 2010

Thanks to all the WILD Women for inspiring me to do the 70.3. I’m new to triathlons so I’ve got a long way to go, but you are all helping me believe that I can do it. Cycling is my strongest area, so I thought it best to spend my current blog on that topic. I’m just a little over a week away from the Napa Valley Tour de Cure coming up on May 2nd. I’ve participated in the ride for 8 years and have served on the volunteer committee the last six years. This year I am co-chairing the event, so I’m not riding , but it will still be a great time as Mari Ruddy will be joining us. Last year it rained an inch before 8 am! But I had the pleasure of riding the 50 mile route with Greg LaMond three time Tour de France champion who lost his mother to diabetes complications. Greg was helpful and inspiring to all, and even changed a flat tire for me!

Although I’ve been cycling for years, I had never had an accurate bike fitting until a few weeks ago. The folks at Bespoke in San Francisco evaluated me and my bike to maximize my efficiency, comfort, injury prevention and performance. Cyclists of all abilities can benefit from a fit to reduce wear and tear on the body from the repetitive nature of cycling and promote cycling longevity. Those were my goals. They assessed my shoe fit and foot alignment and then hooked me up to a Retül system, which recorded my position in motion, alignment and gait used while pedaling to create a realistic picture of my actual pedal strokes and body position when I’m out on the road. The computer images showed me my pedal strength on each side just like the drills that Yoli has us doing! From this and an overall body positioning and bike geometry assessment, they told me I could improve my fit and gave me options for changes to increase the strength of my pedal stroke and relieve stress and reduce injury. I have a Specialized Dolce which is designed for a women’s frame, but based on the recommendations, they reduced the width of and reach to my handle bars, adjusted my seat back and adjusted the position of my shoe cleats. I also got new pedals to as I had always had some problems getting in and out of my old pedals. What a difference! I love my bike even more now even though it set me back some $$. So the bike fit is highly recommended, especially if anyone is having aches and pains after cycling.

I hope that helps someone out there, and

Keep the Rubber Side Down

Stop Diabetes

2010-04-20T07:38:00.002-04:00

Mari Ruddy

April 20, 2010

This is the new national slogan for the American Diabetes Association. I like it, though I don’t tend to like words like stop, but that’s another story. I have been asked by the American Diabetes Association to be the 2010 National Tour de Cure spokesperson, so I’m thinking quite a bit about what Stop Diabetes means to me. Being the National Tour de Cure spokesperson means that I will be interviewed by about 15 or 20 radio stations next week, and I am featured in a press release that goes out nationwide all summer, promoting the various Tour de Cure rides around the country. Thus, I need to have on the tip of my tongue what Stop Diabetes means for me.

I was swimming with Yoli’s Training Team (Yoli is the Team WILD Head Coach) here in Denver yesterday and I was sharing a lane with a gal I had not met previously. While we were doing kick board work, we had the chance to chat and get to know each other. Her name was Jenna and as it turns out, her brother has type 1 diabetes and in the past few years he has started to have vision problems and he’s going blind. He’s in his mid 30’s and he’s had diabetes since he was a child. She said he didn’t exercise that much and that he didn’t because he was afraid of low blood sugars. She was excited to learn about Team WILD and about the Tour de Cure Red Riders. She was going to encourage him to learn about safe ways to add exercise into his self care plan.

This story is part of why I work to Stop Diabetes. I want people like Jenna’s brother to not be a victim of diabetes, to not be going blind in his early 30’s. I want him to have the tools to be able to exercise and not be afraid. Now that Team WILD is growing, more and more I hear stories of people who are afraid to exercise “too much.” Because they don’t know how to eat, manage insulin, manage the medications, while they do it. These stories break my heart. They alternately make me sad and make me angry. What do I do with that anger? I use it to fuel me as I work with the WILD staff and the team to build WILD into a wide reaching, stable, successful organization.

I will think of Jenna’s brother, my father, my brother, my sister’s fiancé, and all of my many WILD sisters and my fellow Red Riders all around the United States and the world as I run my first marathon this Sunday. I still remember when I was in my early 30’s and I was incredibly afraid of endurance exercise, because I was terrified of low blood sugars. And now, here I am, a few weeks before turning 45, and I am finally confident in my ability to manage my insulin, handle my nutrition and trust in the training I have done. Something I never thought I could do, I am doing. This marathon, Big Sur on April 25, that’s how I will Stop Diabetes this week.

Day on the Bike

2010-04-17T06:34:00.004-04:00

Karen Rogers
April 17, 2010

Hello everyone and welcome to the 2010 triathlon season. After participating on the 70.3 team last year, I look forward to the season and making this journey and finish better. How do I make this happen when, for the past few months, activity has not been my top priority?

Participating in a half-day triathlon training camp seemed like a good way to get me going again, so off I head for Tubac, Arizona. In the pool for our favorite swim drills, I’m reminded I still look forward to the end of the pool instead of the bottom and don’t rotate much. Definitely things I’ll be working on in the next few months. After a dip in the hot tub to warm up, we were off to do the run drills. Same drills as those Yoli provided, but nice to have feedback on ways to improve.

This training session also provided a chance to watch blood sugar reactions and test some different strategies. For this camp Lantus was on board for my basal rate and boluses were delivered with the pump. During a break between running and biking drills, after checking my BS, I bolus a correction. As I’m going to be out on the bike and I’m 2 hours into a moderate training session, I think about food, Marcey, and what I should eat. Although my CGM shows my BS on a steady rise, I eat about 25 g of carbs. With a bolus on board for a correction, a full bolus is not taken for the additional carbs. Thinking I may have too much insulin on board for the activity planned, I fill a water bottle with an electrolyte/carb solution providing 19 g of carbs and start sipping.

We head out for the real hills and a headwind. Yet again, I shift up when I want to shift down. Thought I had that straight by now, but at least I didn’t drop the chain and fall over. Midway through the bike drills, check the CGM and I’m 144 trending down. One more hill to go. Lowest gear, legs are burning, try to stand up, no leg strength whatsoever, sit back down, and slowly make it up the hill. Do I really have that much lactic acid in my legs? Or has blood sugar tanked? Reach the top, look at my heart rate monitor and find I’m over my max HR. Check CGM again and still in the 140s heading down.

The ride back to base is easy with the tailwind and we’re rewarded at the end of camp with apples, bananas, pretzels, muffins, chocolate chip cookies and water. I didn’t eat everything. Overall a good day coming away with four things to pay attention to: belly to the wall, turning with my hips, and keeping my head down in the water; foot strikes and faster leg turn over when running; keeping cadence up on the bike; and using my heart rate monitor to keep in my zones.

Happy training everyone!

Round 2

2010-04-16T15:22:00.005-04:00

Lyndsay Riffe
April 16, 2010

Last week was an off week. I had an extra busy work week, and was still dealing with the aftermath of a move. (Unpacking and organizing seemed so much more worthwhile than going to the gym.) Thanks to Team WILD, I have a new appreciation for sticking to a training schedule. This dedication however brings guilt when life gets in the way of following the plan.

I was stressing about what to write in my blog, and mostly how to turn a disappointing week into a positive message. Yesterday was a beautiful day in Chicago ( 80+ degrees, sunny, and a nice breeze.) I decided to put the blog and all other work on hold, so I could get my run in.

I am training for a marathon, so a 13 mile run was on the agenda. Preparing for exercise and having diabetes is never a simple/quick task between insulin adjustments and making sure one has enough carbs on hand. As I was stuffing my spibelt with raisins and gu’s, I thought about how convenient it was I knew how much carb I would need for the run. Thru strong diabetes education and trial and error last year for the 2009 WILD event, I knew that I consume 50g carb per hour. I also fully appreciate and live the concept RUNNING ON INSULIN. I feel my best with just a slight decrease in my basal rate (about 20% reduction) and that allows me to fuel properly for longer durations.

Preparing for my 2nd 70.3 brings a different perspective. Last year at this point, I was still marveled how I could do all the distances separately, but to put it all together, what was I thinking! I was also curious how I would exactly manage my diabetes during such a long event.

Now, I know I can do the distances. I know I can manage my diabetes optimally. I have my system down. Now, I know the importance of getting my workouts in. At the same time, I have to remind myself there will be “off” weeks, and what gets us to the finish line is the ongoing efforts put into training. I still have a lot I can improve on, but it is fun to be able to build on last years experiences. And what a relief that I know I can swim 1.2 miles under an hour.

2010 Goals

2010-04-16T14:54:00.009-04:00

Karen Lipinsky
April 9, 2010

Our magnificent nutritionist and CDE, Marcey, has asked us all to think about goals that we have for the season. I’ve given this a lot of thought, and have come up with the following. These will need some refining, but I can continue to work on them…

1. The Branson 70.3
My big goal race this year is the 70.3 in Branson, MO on my birthday in September. Because who doesn’t want to go to Branson, MO for her 45th birthday? I want to have a good day, which will necessitate a ton of training and preparation. Right now, I’ll measure success as having a smile on my face at the end of the race. Perhaps closer to the race I’ll come up with time goals.

2. Getting stronger on the bike
Last year, of necessity, I worked most on my swimming. Although there’s plenty of room for improvement in all three sports (and the transitions – good lord, the transitions), I want to work the most on my biking this year. There are a few reasons for this: biking is the ‘easiest’ in many ways – it’s easy to eat and drink during it, and my heart rate isn’t as crazy as when running. It’s also something I can do with others, as I have friends who road bike, not to mention my partner, who’s always up for a ride. And too, like I said, it would be nice to be a little quicker for this, the longest section of a triathlon. For the time being, I’ll say that being ‘faster’ is what I’m aiming for, and I’ll narrow that down later.

3. Mindful workouts
Sometimes I’m in a mindset of just getting through my prescribed workouts, and I’ve been quite diligent in achieving that goal. This season, though, I want to be mindful of the purpose or focus of each workout, and keep that in mind each day that I’m training. While I might be chatting with training partners on some of my runs and rides, I want to be aware of the workout’s purpose and working toward it throughout the session.

4. Dialing in the diabetes
If you read my blog entries last year, you heard various woes about blood sugar problems during races and rehearsals. I will painstakingly continue to build on last year’s data to dial in what works for me. I recently got a continuous glucose monitor, and I will resist the impulse to throw it out the window when it gives me bad data and instead work to get the best data I can from it. Hopefully as a result of these efforts my numbers will improve during races. I’d love to see what I could do without my blood sugar bouncing all around.

5. Attitude of gratitude
My final goal is definitely not very measurable, but to paraphrase a Supreme Court justice, I’ll know it when I see it:
I am (we all are) so very lucky to be able to do this. Yes, it’s hard, but isn’t it fantastic that we’re asking our bodies to perform in these ways, and they’re doing it? I wasn’t any kind of athlete earlier in life; how nice to explore and expand my physical limits in this way. How nice to have the time and energy to do this. How nice to have the sunshine and mountains as my backdrop, to have training partners who will discuss the intricacies of transition setup without perishing of boredom, to have the equipment and tools and coaches and medical staff to go about this smartly. How wonderful to have this team for its support, especially with the diabetes. I am so fortunate, and it may not always be so, and I want to be aware and grateful.

Highs & Lows...Literally

2010-04-16T14:48:00.004-04:00

Nancy Eastman
April 7, 2010

We all know there are highs and lows in life, but that phrase has even deeper meaning in a diabetics life. When the spin cycle starts, and your life feels like it's squeezing all the water out, the blood sugars start to rise. There it is….a low (life moment) and high (blood sugar). Then consequently, for me at least, when life is grand and the planets are aligned…BAM…there is your high (life moment) and your low (blood sugar).

Stress, stress, and more stress…brings on more insulin, insulin, and more insulin. And to borrow the term from über Sport & Exercise Mental Skills Coach, Carrie Cheadle…I consider that to be "feeding the monster". The monster in this scenario is obviously high blood sugars. All my diabetes counterparts out there in the blogsphere know this to be true. I've had my fair share of stress in the past few years, and certainly don't claim to have anymore of it then the rest of you…but the question and point here is how to manage all the craziness! Hmmmmm…I wonder how?? (insert sarcasm here) Exercise people…exercise!

When I think of my life without training, I think of a mound of slug in front of the TV withering away. Mentally and physically. For without exercise, I wouldn't be able to think straight, let alone move in a swift manner, or be able to attain good control of my diabetes. Yes, it's true that diabetes is a constantly changing disease from day to day…unpredictable is the best word. BUT, with all the exercise it becomes more predictable doesn't it?

So the next time my alarm goes off and I roll over to hit the snooze for the 5th time, I will try remember my blog post…and I'm counting on all my WILD teammates to hold me accountable…that's what and who we are. Team WILD bands together! Are you with me??!! WOOT!

Hello WILD Women!

2010-04-16T14:40:00.004-04:00

Karyn Brown
March 31, 2010

I am Karyn Brown and this is my 2nd season with Team WILD. However, last year I was on a relay team and joined the team about 6 weeks before the race as a cyclist. I had a blast and LOVED my team!

However, I am NOT a runner nor a swimmer. I ran more than 10 years ago and then was in a pretty bad head-on accident and after several months of physical therapy… 16 weeks of non-weight bearing? – I went to an orthopedic surgeon and as I explained my LOVE of running she explained how many of her patients were there to see her because they run. She continued on to tell me that she would not be comfortable treating me if I decided to continue running. So I turned to my other LOVE – telemark skiing (I even got married on my skis- and had a torn ACL on my wedding day)! After she performed 3 knee surgeries for injuries due to skiing – on my right knee, 2 ACLs and 2 meniscectomies – I went in for my final follow up for the last surgery in April 2009 and she said ‘ you know what? I went running this last weekend and it was GREAT! I need to stop telling my patients not to run.’ So, that ‘sounded’ like permission for me to run?

I am also not a swimmer – and by not a swimmer I mean that I can survive but if I do a freestyle stroke I can’t breathe… so REALLY not a swimmer. A friend loaned me a book though and I am figuring it out and with the help and support of Team WILD – local and remote, I WILL be a swimmer in time to finish the Branson 70.3 ½ Ironman event in September 2010!

So, this is the time of year when I must leave behind my favorite sport….
And join the crew of wonderful women on Team WILD for what may become my newest favorite sports!
This past weekend was also Diabetes Expo in Denver and Team WILD was there recruiting. I wore my WILD ‘uniform’ and headed to the Denver Convention Center. It was an awesome event and we had quite the interest – I think these WILD teams are about to grow!

Another Reason to Join Team WILD

2010-04-16T14:36:00.003-04:00

Lyndsay Riffe, CDE, RD found a great article that she wanted to share. It’s a great reminder to reach out and ask for help and support. Just another terrific reason to join Team WILD!

Click here to read the article.

Omnipod vs. Minimed

2010-04-16T14:27:00.007-04:00

Jennifer Ahn
March 28, 2010

Hello Team WILD blog readers!!

I have the honor of writing the first blog of the season. My name is Jennifer Ahn. I am a returning Team WILD 70.3 member from last year. This team was such a motivational asset in my completion of the ½ Ironman last year, I could not imagine doing a long-distance race without them. Last year, I was able to finish the race but had issues with calf pain during the run and felt I didn’t give it my best effort. So, this year, I would like to complete the race in less than 7 hours by running the ½ marathon part. I know I can do it with the wonderful support of the women on this team.

Now to my blog… I had told some of the team that I was doing an Omnipod insulin pump trial. Some of the women wanted to know how it went… hence, the birth of a blog.

Omnipod vs. Minimed
I have been on a Minimed pump since I was diagnosed with diabetes about 15 years ago. I have seen the Omnipod before but didn’t like the concept of having this massive structure sticking out. Although you have a “cord” to the Minimed pump, it seemed more appropriate. But, “the Omnipod is good for swimming”… “it’s waterproof, it has a lot of advantages, especially for triathlons.” This is what I heard from others who have used it.

I have a patient who is on the Omnipod and would show me her PDM (Personal Diabetes Manager). I felt like one of those physicians that new the concept of the pump but didn’t know how to get the information as I did with the Minimed or Animas pumps. So, I thought I’d finally try it out, both to relate to my patients and also to see what the advantages may bring for myself during the upcoming triathlon season.

The Omnipod rep came to my office armed with all the supplies I would need to use the Omnipod for about 2 weeks. She showed me how to program the PDM and place a pod on. I thought, “Not bad… Very similar to the Minimed in the functionality.” The PDM even had a food library that you can look up carbohydrate counts. Too bad the library doesn’t link into the bolus program.

The first day it felt odd not reaching for my pump to give myself a bolus. I went riding on the Computrainer and had to find the PDM to change create a temporary basal rate. But, overall, it still was similar to the typical pump. The next day, I got to try it out swimming. This was a huge advantage as I did not have to disconnect. Nor did I have to bolus myself for the “lost” insulin during the hour of swimming. OK… I liked it so far. I showed it off to my boyfriend, who immediately asked, “does it beep when you’re low.” I responded, “No. It doesn’t communicate with my sensor.” He wasn’t sure he liked that.

Day 3 – It was time to change the pod. And, let me tell you… it tells you and then some. The pod starts beeping at you every 10-15 minutes about 2hrs before the pod expires. This wouldn’t be so bad. However, I was in the middle of a lecture during the time and I left the PDM in my office. It was a quiet but persistent beep. OK… note to self, change pod earlier prior to the expiration time. Once I got to my office, I changed the pod. I had a wedding to go to the next day and was planning on wearing a dress, so I thought I’d try my leg as a site (someplace I have never tried as a site before).

Day 4 – I went biking on the Computrainer again. After the bike ride, I checked my blood sugar. It was 110. I put the value in the PDM (as it has the ability to graph all your blood sugars). I left the gym. When I got home, I was ready to eat my recovery snack. Crap… I left the PDM at the gym. Ugghhh! Now, I had to give myself an injection because I couldn’t access the insulin in my pump. I showered, ate and went back to the gym. It was a definite disadvantage for the Omnipod for this mishap. Yes… it was my fault for leaving the PDM at the gym. But, I never ever left my Minimed at the gym.

The rest of the days were pretty much similar. I got used to having the pod on. It really isn’t that big. But, I tend to forget the PDM. I would go to lunch and have to find the PDM to carry with me. I could imagine during the triathlon season, the advantages and disadvantages to this pump. I have listed some of the advantages and disadvantages from my experience.

Advantages:
Waterproof
“Wireless”
Don’t need the PDM for it to work
Can set the temp basal on a timer and forget about it during the exercise
Multiple sites to choose from
You can wear a dress!

Disadvantages:
Have to find the PDM to give yourself a bolus (imagine if you were high during a run or bike and left the PDM at home or at the transition area to lighten the load).
No clock on the pod
No sensor reading to it (although this will change… but will need to carry pdm more closely)
Have to suspend it if making changes to normal basal rates

Overall, I can see myself trying out the Omnipod during an event. They even have a easy switch program called, “cutting the cord,” where you can get a starter kit for the PDM and pod for $299. Then, you can submit to your insurance for pod coverage. I thought this may be a potential option. Nevertheless, I have had so much success with the Minimed pump, that I cannot see myself committing to the Omnipod for my preferred pump. If I go this route to have an option during the race, I would have to opt to pay for the pods out of pocket, which would be about $35-40 per pod. For now, I will stick with the Minimed. However, when I return the PDM, I will ask the rep whether I can still get the starter kit if I do not choose to pursue the insurance coverage. It’s nice to have the option for an upcoming event.

Informational Meetings for 2010 Teams

2010-04-15T23:44:00.001-04:00

Are you interested in joining a team, but want to learn more about Team WILD?

Team WILD will be holding INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS via conference call on the following dates. Talk directly with our Coaches, Medical Staff, and athletes from last year's Longhorn 70.3 Triathlon Team to learn more about Team WILD!

Each Session is 30 minutes in length.

Informational Meeting Dates/Times:
1. Thursday Feb 18, 5:30pm PST/8:30pm EST
2. Saturday Feb 20, 1pm PST/4pm EST
3. Saturday Feb 27, 1pm PST/4pm EST

Conference Call Phone Number: 712-432-1699
When prompted, enter Code 687989 followed by the # sign.

Please contact info@teamwild.org or solsen@teamwild.org if you have any questions about the Informational Meetings.

Registration is Open!

2010-04-15T23:24:00.001-04:00

Come join the fun! Team WILD is now accepting women of all ages and abilities to help spread the word that women with diabetes are a force to be reckoned with! Get out there and show ‘em what you’re made of!! What are the perks you ask?? Join now and get a reduced rate for our signature 70.3 race in Branson. Always wanted a team of coaches? Well, we have that covered too. Along with our coaching we have top notch CDE’s, and dietitians that will get you to that finish line with a smile! Remember, you can recruit a friend without diabetes to be a Type 3 supporter!

For more information, please go to our website, www.teamwild.org.