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