Racing Against Diabetes

Running Against Diabetes
I had a great race.  It was a beautiful, sunny and crisp (high of 52 degrees) day. My plan was to run my race pace for as long as I could and then run as hard as I could in the last 3 miles to finish under 3 hours. I didn't know how long I could hold this pace, but the plan was to stay on my race pace for as long as possible.

I ran the first 1/2 marathon in under 90 minutes, which was 3 minutes faster than I ran the Vancouver 1/2 marathon in June.  I felt great and kept running past Oliver, Liam, Naomi, Naomi's Mom, my sister Katie, and my niece Savannah, and nephew Emmitt. Running by this cheering section I thought "I've got this."  I made it to the turn around and headed back towards the finish still feeling good. Then at about 16 miles I started to feel like I was running hard to keep the pace. I stayed on pace as I turned up Oliver street (where 5 years ago I realized that Oliver should be the name of our unborn son).  After this things started getting harder.  I felt OK but my legs just weren't moving as fast as they needed to. I kept trying to keep my race pace, but by mile 23 it was clear that I wasn't staying on pace to finish under 3 hours. I checked my split time with about 2.5 miles to go and I was now a minute over my race pace and there was NO way I could go any faster. So I decided to slow down and enjoy the ride (as much as possible) for the last few miles. The last 2.5 miles of the marathon felt like they took forever. Strangely only 2 or 3 people passed me (I guess I wasn't the only one hurting). Slowing down I enjoyed things I would have missed if I was running for time. I smiled and gave a thumbs up to the seniors from the retirement home all dressed in sequined outfits cheering and dancing around like kids.  I stopped and high-fived Oliver, Liam, Savannah and Emmitt. Liam and Savannah even ran with me for a little bit!  The final highlight was the finish. I had been imagining me running around the corner towards the finish and hearing the announcer say "here comes Michael McDonell from Seattle about to run under 3 hours for the first time."  Instead what I heard was "here comes Michael McDonell from Seattle raising money for diabetes research."  As I ran across the finish line, came to a stop and got my medal, I realized this was really the point. To raise money, to set an example for my kids, to be with my family, to show my wife that I love her.

So I ended up finishing in 3 hours, 5 minutes, and 38 seconds.  Not may fastest marathon, but not my slowest either.  Before seeing my family by the finish line I was already planning out the next race I would run. As I sat watching my kids play with their cousins that night I realized that I don't really need to run a marathon under 3 hours and that isn't why I ran this race.

It was great to get a bunch of donation alerts right before and after the race. Only when I got home did I realize how special one donation was.  When my sister explained to her 4 year-old daughter Savannah why I was running the race, she ran and got her piggy bank and shook all of the money out of it.  She came with all of her coins and said, "I want to give this to Uncle Mike's run for Aunt Naomi." She donated $2.10 (Canadian). This is why I started writing this blog, fundraising, and why I ran this marathon. Besides this amazing donation I received donations from Savannah's mom and dad, Grandma Sue, Donelle, Glenette, and Roger.  Together we have realized $1082 for Diabetes Research!!!!!!!!  Thank you to everyone who supported my fundraising program. I am very blessed to have such great friends and colleagues who are willing to provide such great support, both financially and otherwise.

So what is next?  I am going to keep learning about diabetes and trying my best to support Naomi.  I am going to try to spend more time with my family. What's next for my running?  I think I am going to stick with my plan to run an ultramarathon.  I am going to start with a 50K next spring. A 50k is only 8k longer than a marathon. I am going to still try to make blog posts and will keep my JDRF fundraising site open. So it's not too late to donate!  Thank you again everyone for donating and supporting me throughout this process!
Your support has been amazing!

Donate to Mike's JDRF Fundraising Campaign

It's Race Day

It's Race Day

At 8:45 on Sunday October 13 I will toe the line at the Good Life Fitness Victoria Marathon.  It used to be called the Royal Victoria Marathon. Which is a much better name, but I guess they needed the sponsorship money (Good Life Fitness is a Canadian Gym franchise).  Regardless of the name change this is a great race.  It's a beautiful fast course that runs right along the ocean.  I have run it twice and set a personal record each time.  I finished my fastest "official" marathon there a few years ago, missing my goal of finishing under 3 hours by just 21 seconds.  So I am back this year after about 1100 miles in 18 weeks, including five 20 milers and a few 60 mile plus weeks of training.  Along the way I think I broke a rib during a slip n slide accident, strained a hamstring on a run, and suffered with the rest of the family through a stomach bug.  I ran in every state/province from Mexico to the North Pole (California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska).  I have put in the miles, fewer than in previous years, but enough to be ready.  I am pretty fired up for the race and ready to see what happens on Sunday.

I am especially excited because unlike in the past where I have run really just for myself, this year I have been running and blogging for T1D.  With your help, I have raised $700 for T1D research.  Its not the $5,000 that I have for my goal, but the money I have raised a result of your generosity.  Even though I have a long way to go, I have learned a lot about TID. That is the primary goal of the blog.  Now I feel like I have a solid understanding of T1D and it's management, along with almost another year of experience living with someone with Type I who I care about so much. I have a lot to learn, but this is a good start.

I have realized that living with T1D is like a never ending marathon.  Many people can't imagine running hard for 3 or more hours. During those hours you experience all kinds of ups and downs. Everything is going fine, and then for then for no apparent reason you start to suffer.  You start to breath harder and struggle to maintain your pace.  Your legs start to burn.  You start to panic.  You start questioning what you are doing.  A voice starts saying "slow down, just walk, you can quit."  You start to bargain with yourself, "It wouldn't be so bad if I quit. No one will care."  Funny enough not having enough carbs might just be your problem (similar to hypoglycemia).  With some carbs you will probably completely recover within a minute or two. If you recover, its off to the finish line.  With the race over you feel exhausted and relieved. Over the next few days you can barely move, but within days you are back to "normal."  In a marathon, an Ironman, or an ultramarathon your success and your suffering are all related to how you manage your carbs.  Too few you "hit the wall."  Too much and everything in your stomach will come out of one end or the other.  So finding just the right balance is key, no matter how fit or fast you are.

T1D is literally a never ending marathon.  It is a life sentence.  There is no finish line, no relief, just constant monitoring and management, adjustments, and problem solving. Everyone with Type I has to run this never ending marathon. For some the course is harder than others.  Some for whatever reason can run it more effectively, make it look easy, just like those tiny Kenyan guys who look like they are running on air for 26 miles.  But even for those who manage their illness well, TID wears on you. Day in and day out it wears on you.

Like many other people, I chose to run a marathon (maybe I will even do an ultra). But people with T1D don't chose to run their marathon.  So let's raise money to find a cure.  A life with T1D is a race that no one should have to run.  Let's raise money for TID research that helps make life easier and less painful for those coping with the illness everyday. If you know someone with T1D (oh hell anyone with diabetes) reach out to them, ask them some questions, serve dessert right after dinner.  It's easier to run a marathon with some friends.

Thanks again to everyone who has donated to my JDRF campaign over the last 10 months. If you have been thinking about donating and haven't, now is the time to do it!!!  All the money goes straight to JDRF to support research funding.  If you are new to the blog please check it out.  I hope it is helpful.  If it is interesting or helpful please consider donating.  Using the link below.  Thanks everyone!

Click here to Donate to Mike's JDRF Fundraising Campaign