A goal is a plan with a deadline. Signing up for the race this far ahead of time put a deadline on my goal with enough time to prepare. Fast forward to January and I have a half marathon under my belt as well as a bike trainer set up in my workout room for the winter. Now I need to figure out the swim. I knew it wouldn't be easy...I didn't know how hard it would be. My first several weeks of swim lessons were a nightmare that included me fake swimming on the wall so I could just put my face in the water and learn how to breathe out.
I had a reality check after my Olympic Triathlon 1 month before last weekend's race and I put some serious time in the pool and at the lake. That extra effort really paid off when I got in the water on Sunday.
Pre-Race I still had 2 units of insulin on board as I mis-calculated time frames and I suspended my insulin before I lined up. I also drink some gatorade and ate a banana. Little did I know that I wouldn't get into the water for nearly 45 minutes after the cannon went off due to the long line of competitors waiting their turn. I stood there as my blood sugars climbed and there was nothing I could do but wait.
My swim went incredibly well! I took it buoy by buoy and kept an eye on my watch. The people around me in the water did not phase me like they did at my first triathlon and I even passed several people in the water which took me by surprise. About 200 yards from the finish I just paused and floated there looking at the beach with a smile. I took it all in knowing that I was going to make it out of the water...and it felt great!
My transition was just over 8 minutes as I dried off, checked my blood sugar and got my bike gear on. The bike leg was tough and the hill training I did paid off big time. I am not a fast rider, and I climbed the hills without any issues. This course has more than 3,000 feet of climb and it is no joke. The ride out seems to be all uphill with little reprieve. At the beginning of the bike my blood sugar spiked to over 300 due to my insulin suspension and taking in carbs without dosing for them. I ended up taking 2 units of insulin on the bike and using a suspended basal rate of 50%. At about mile 20 my sugars leveled off and I was able to keep them between 100 and 150 for the rest of the race.
Coming into transition 2 my family was there cheering for me and I couldn't ask for a more motivating reason to keep going. The support my friends and family gave me can not be expressed in words and still gets me when I think about it. I strapped up my running shoes and headed out for the 3rd leg of the race. It was hot and just getting hotter. The Coeur D'Alene community is awesome and they spent all day on the course making the run a little better for everyone.
My first trip around the course went without a hitch. I made the 2nd turn and the heat started getting to me. I had to run/walk most of the 2nd leg and met some incredible people out there on the course. The water/food stations were a life saver...95 degree heat took it's toll and about 1 mile before the finish my calves cramped up so bad I felt like I was shot in both legs. I hobbled that last mile and when I turned to head down the finish I faked it all the way. The cheering crowd, voice of the announcer, and my family lined Sherman Ave. That was truly an emotional experience and one that I will never forget. I had tears in my eyes for so many reasons...many I couldn't explain.
Type 1 diabetes has changed my life. In many ways it has been a blessing. I could not imagine my prior self doing anything like this. I did this to show that Diabetes does not define you...it does not control you. No matter what happens in life, we all have the ability to find the good. I did this for myself, I did it to show my friends and family that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to, I did it to prove to other people with Diabetes that they should never let it stop them...
Overall I had a great race day and it was everything I expected it to be. It was hard, rewarding, humbling, and it was worth every minute.
No comments:
Post a Comment