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

The Bionic Woman!!!

Bionic Mom

Starting last Wednesday Naomi has become a bionic woman. That is when she started using her Continuous Glucose Meter or CGM.  This little machine (that looks like an old Ipod Nano) takes glucose measurements using a sensor that is attached to her belly every 5 minutes.  So instead to getting blood sugar measurements 4 times a day using her regular old glucose blood meter, she now has her blood sugar tested every 5 minutes all day and night.  

The Pros

The advantages of the CGM is that it allows a person to see what is happening to their blood sugar throughout the day. It allows you to see in real time how your blood sugar changes when you eat or take insulin. And it warns you (including in the middle of the night) if your blood sugar is dangerously high or low.  So what what this tool allows you to do is really see patterns in your blood sugar and attempt to control your blood sugar closely, with the reassurance that you will get a loud beeping noise if it is dangerously low or high.  As the husband of someone with Type I diabetes I can't tell you what a relief it is that she has this thing. Before, every time I would head out for a run in the evening (most of the times without my phone) I would get these moments and think "Oh crap what if she goes low and there is no one there to help her."  Sometimes this anxiety would overwhelm me and I would take off almost sprinting home and say "Are you OK?"  She would just look me like I was crazy.  

My worries are not unfounded.  I just finished reading a great book by James Hirsch called Cheating Destiny: A Life with Diabetes. James (a former New York Times and Wall Street Journal Writer) is the brother of Irl Hirsch who is a world famous diabetes doctor here in Seattle who Naomi works with. James, Irl, and James' son (who was 3 or 4 when he was diagnosed) all have Type I.  The book is an amazing description of the history of diabetes, the constant controversy regarding the pros and cons of tight glucose control, what it is like to live with and have a child with diabetes, and how research to find a cure is kind of stuck.  There are terrifying stories inside, including one about how James (who has had diabetes since he was a kid) is driving his SUV on the freeway with his son and he starts to feel strange, but keeps driving.  Before he knows it he loses consciousness, rolls the SUV, and is barely able to get himself and his son out safely.  Luckily a woman driving by sees this happen and calls 911.  He is interrogated by the police, they assume he is drunk.  He gets a CGM right after the accident to make sure this doesn't happen again and even takes it to court to show the judge (he was given a ticket for the crash) to prove that it won't happen again.  This is of course is the thing I fear most, Naomi's blood sugar going dangerously low and her being alone and unable to do anything about it.  The CGM is an insurance policy, at least for my anxiety.  It's also a way to get tight blood sugar control and hopefully prevent long term complications-my other equally important goal! 

And now to the Cons

The CGM is small, but it has to be within 20 feet of you all the time! That isn't fun.  And then there is the sensor and transmitter.  The sensor is injected under your skin and then attached to a sensor and receiver.  Its not so big, but it is not something any of us would want to have attached to us all the time.  You can't wear tight shirts without people seeing it and it is just weird to have something constantly attached to your body. AND you also have to still do those annoying finger pricks because you have to use your regular blood sugar meter to calibrate your CGM.  NOT cool! Also I have to say getting information about your blood sugar every 5 minutes 24/7 is overwhelming and stressful. Seeing your blood sugar swing way up for no apparent reason can be exasperating.  So the price of this close monitoring and the potential of tighter blood glucose control is the stress of getting continuous data whether you want it or not.  The last con is the cost.  This little thing is expensive and the insurance company doesn't want to pay for it. If not for Naomi's persistence there is no way she would have been approved for one until she had a car accident or had to go to the ER for low blood sugar.  The little sensors that have to be replaced every week cost $10 each (after insurance). Who knows how much they actually cost our insurance company. 

What it Means for the Family

Well we have all quickly grown accustom to the CGM. Oliver wakes up every morning and walks into our room and says "Mom, how is your diabetes? What does it [the CGM] say?"  She shows him the numbers and the little graph.  It's between the yellow (too high) and red (too low) lines.  He looks at it and enthusiastically and says "Good job Mom!  Dad did you see her numbers?  Her diabetes is really good. Good job Mom!"  Then he runs downstairs and plays.  I now take my phone on my runs but I do feel so relieved that she has the CGM to make sure she knows when her blood sugar is low.  Naomi, who of course is the one who really has to adjust, has handled it well.  It has been stressful.  She now sees the the big spikes in her blood sugar and the times her blood sugar changes and she can't figure out why.  Also the stupid sensor has started falling off, so now her stomach is covered in tape to hold it on.  But after one week, it seems that this little thing is going to be a helpful, though inconvenient, thing and it will be a part of our lives for many years to come.  

Training.

I will keep it short. I ran 63 miles last week, including a 22 miler on Sunday.  I felt great on my 22 mile run and could have run a full marathon.  I was even able to get down to race pace for a few miles.  I have 7 more weeks till the marathon and for the first time I am thinking my goal of a sub 3 hour marathon is realistic. 

Donate

Race day is getting close and we need to raise some money so we can either cure Type I diabetes (my preference) or at least get these CGMs to be smaller, cheaper, and more convenient.  

We have some work to do to get me to my goal of raising $5,000 so please donate if you have thought about it but just haven't had a chance.  Also please pass this on to others if you think they would be interested!  Thanks everyone for reading and your support.  Have a great last few days of summer.  

Click Here to Donate!

What is Type 1 Diabetes

What is Type 1 Diabetes?
Over the last year I have been struck by how few people actually know what Type 1 diabetes.  I think this is probably because Type 1 is so rare and though it is increasing, it is nowhere near the epidemic of Type II diabetes.  I have explained the difference to all kinds of people and I am trying to learn the details myself.  Here I want to give you a simple description of what Type I diabetes is.  I hope it is helpful, at least so you can explain it to your friends or kids (when they see Naomi injecting insulin). 

It's an Autoimmune Disease
Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disease like, MS, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and allergies.  This means that the body's immune system gets "confused" and attacks the body itself.

In the case of Type 1 the immune system attacks the pancreas.  The pancreas has two general functions.  One is to regulate digestion and the other is to control hormones, like insulin.  Insulin allows cells to "open up" and take in glucose (remember lots of things we eat get turned into glucose, it's not just sugar) so that the cell can use the glucose to make energy and do whatever that cell likes to do!  Without insulin the "door" for glucose is closed for cells and the glucose just floats around in the blood stream until it gets excreted through your urine.  This excess glucose cause havoc in the body, wearing out the kidneys, making you blind.  There term diabetes mellitus means generally "to pass through honey."  This comes from the sweet smell of the urine from untreated people with diabetes that was observed by the Egyptians and Greeks.

In Type 1 the immune system attacks a specific part of the pancreas, the beta cells.  These cells are located on an area called the islets of Langerhans.  The beta cells are what create and excrete insulin when our body ingests glucose. This keeps the glucose levels in our body at a "normal" level.  So in Type 1 diabetes, the beta cells are slowly or sometimes quickly killed by the immune system.  They then require injectable insulin to stay alive. 

In the last 20 or so years researchers have figured out how to transplant islets and beta cells.  This had great promise, as some people who received the transplants actually didn't require insulin after the transplant.  But after a few years almost all patients had to go back on insulin. Their immune cells attacked and killed the new beta cells.  Also people had to take transplant anti-rejection drugs for the rest of their lives.  The side effects can be more difficult and dangerous than just taking insulin.  But hope is not lost. While I am not yet up to date on the latest research in this area, researchers are now focusing on how to protect the beta cells from the immune system.  There is even some evidence that if the immune system can be kept at bay, the pancreas may be able to regenerate its own beta cells.  This could make islet transplants unnecessary. But like I said, this entire process is very complex and research is need to understand how to find a cure that is effective and feasible.  

Speaking of Research: 
If you want to support research to find a cure please support my fund raising efforts through the link below.  Thanks to Kate and Theresa for their kind donation!  We are now up to $700 towards my goal of $5000!  My marathon is now 10 weeks away and my training is going well.  I ran 29 miles this weekend and feel great, ran another 15 today.  I am averaging about 60 miles a week and getting stronger and faster.  It's great to get out in the Seattle sunshine while it lasts. 

Click Here to Donate to Mike's Fundraising Page  

Race Reports!

Racing Racing Racing

Well in May everyone in the family ran a race to support diabetes research.  I ran the Vancouver 1/2 Marathon, Naomi ran the Beat the Bridge 8k, and Oliver and Liam ran the Beat the Bridge Diaper Dash!  How did we do? Well Naomi and Liam excelled.  In barely any training Naomi ran a blisteringly fast 43 minutes and 59 seconds.  And training on a diet of olives, pickles, and hot dogs Liam finished 2nd place in the 1 to 2 year old race.  He loved it!  

Oliver and I also ran, but our results were a little less impressive. Oliver appeared satisfied with his effort and wasn't worried that he finished in the middle of the pack in the 3 year old race, even though he is 4 and a 1/2.  Watching him run, I think he has potential to be a great marathoner.  He "paced" himself across the entire 25 yards.

My race was somewhat disappointing.  My goal was to run the Vancouver 1/2 Marathon under 1 hour and 30 minutes. It was a brilliant day and I got the VIP treatment literally. I got to warm up in a special tent, got to use a private bathroom.  I stood only a few rows behind the elite athletes.  When I turned around and looked back at the 12,000 runners behind me it seemed as if they went on forever! After the gun went off I felt great for the first few miles. The course goes straight down hill into the city with amazing views of downtown and the mountains.  Then you loop through China Town and at about 4 miles it gets hilly!  What!? Hilly!? Seriously?! The course map said nothing about hills and my treadmill has never gone above 1.0 incline.  As I went up the first hill I realized I was likely in trouble.  I ran as hard as I could to keep under my goal pace and made it half way right on pace.  But after a few more hills I fell off the pace. And then at mile 10 when I saw a huge hill in front of me, I thought my day was done.  I even walked a little at a drink station at the top of the hill.  Then I honestly kind of dogged it through Stanley Park.  With about a mile left a guy pushing a kid in a baby stroller passed me. Well at that point I swallowed my pride and gutted out the last mile. And no the guy with the kid in the stroller did not beat me.  I finished in 1:32:52 and in 219 place overall. This wasn't my goal race, the course was harder than I thought it would be, and I clearly have a lot of work to do to meet my goal of running a marathon under 3 hours.

While the race didn't go as well as I wanted it to, there were some highlights of the trip.  First we got to hear a free New Pornographers (famous Canadian band) the day before the race and we all got to hang out in the VIP tent after the race.  Vancouver is a beautiful city and if you want to run a beautiful but challenging 1/2 or full marathon give Vancouver a try.

What's Next
Well life has obviously been busy since these races and its been hard to find time to post an entry. I am going to focus these next 2 months on really getting some helpful diabetes content.  So stay tuned and get reading for some learning.  A big thank you to Penni for her donation last month!  This brings us to $600!  Thank you to everyone who has donated so far!
I should have listed to your advice about how hilly Vancouver was Penni.  Remember below is the fund raising link. Please consider donating!  Thank you!

Click Here to Donate to Mike's JDRF Fundraising Page

It's Race Time Baby!

It's Race Time
Well after 8 weeks of training it's time for the my first race of the year, the Vancouver 1/2 Marathon.  I will be toeing the line at 7 am this Sunday to "enjoy" running 13.1 miles through one of the most beautiful cities in the world.  My original goal was to finish under 1:25--about a 6:30 per mile pace.  If I am honest, I don't really think that is possible.  I was honestly really out of shape 8 months ago, I am still carrying a few extra pounds around, and I haven't been running fast enough in training to run as fast as I wanted to this weekend.  The great news is after only 8 weeks of serious training I feel like I am in decent shape and I am really hoping to finish under 1:30 minutes.  This would put me right on pace to run my goal time of under 3 hours for a full marathon this fall.  My real running goal for this year is to FINALLY run a marathon under 3 hours this fall. So right now I feel pretty good about where I am at and I am fired up for the race this weekend and for a great marathon training season in the summer.

Looking Back and Looking Ahead
It has been 3 months and 7 posts since I started this blog and I think I am off to a good start.  I really admire anyone who writes a blog or does a podcast.  Man it's a lot of work.  Doing research and developing content, writing it up, and publishing it.  I don't know how people can do it every week.  Looking back I feel good about getting Naomi and our family's story out there.  I have also learned a lot about Type I diabetes.  AND we have raised $500 for Type I diabetes research!  That is 10% towards my goal of raising $5,000 this year!

It's just a start though. I have lots of running to do before my first marathon, probably about 1,200 miles, a whole lot to learn about diabetes, a bunch of blog posts to write, and $4,500 still to raise for Type I diabetes research.  I am excited to meet these challenges this summer!

Running is a Team Sport
So this is race week.  Running to me is the ultimate test.  There are no tricks, no fancy equipment, no teammates to carry you, no coaches out on the course.  It is you alone, running.  Whether the course if flat, windy, raining, or 400 yards too long (like it was for me last year), you chose how hard you run, you chose to give up or leave it all out on the course.  But running is NOT an individual sport.  All of us run for something and most of us run for someone.  I started running for my sons many years before they were born. After my dad had multiple heart attacks and a stroke I decided I better get in shape so I could be there for my kids. Now I run for Naomi who has let me run every day for 7 years, for Liam who when he sees me wearing my running stuff runs to the basement door (where the treadmill is) and says "Daddy go running?" and for Oliver's amazing smile.  While I have so many people who have supported me -including all of you- and I have so many people who inspire me, this weekend I run to fight the disease that threatens the one's I love most, Type I Diabetes. I run to suffer just a little to fight for a cure so that Naomi doesn't have to suffer anymore. I run so my boys never have to know what it is like to inject insulin. I run in fear and with hope.

So join me.  If you have wanted to donate now to my fundraising campaign now is the time to do it.  If you wanted to comment on the blog, do it (I need the encouragement).  If you want to learn more about diabetes, now is the time.  It's race day.  It's time to lace up your shoes and race like hell. Who knows what will happen but you will never know unless you try.

Click here to Donate to Mike's JDRF Fundraising Campaign  

A Dark Day in Boston

Three Years Ago

Three years ago Naomi, our 16 month old Oliver, and I jumped on a plane to Boston. I had qualified for the Boston Marathon!  We checked into our hotel, met up with my best friend Josh and had a great pasta dinner.  I didn't sleep that night.  Josh and I met up and we caught the bus to the start in Hopkington. We waited with 37,000 other runners, met people from all around the world, and then headed to the start.

Now I am not that fast, but I ain't slow either.  I can run a marathon in 3 hours, which typically means I finish in the top 100 in most marathons.  This means I run by myself for most of the race, maybe running with a few people once in a while. Even in larger races like New York or Chicago, I would still be pretty far up in the pack.  But in Boston you are surrounded by thousands of people who are faster or just as fast as you (most people have to run a qualifying time to get into Boston).  I mean I was beat by a guy dressed up as Miny Mouse.

And the people of Boston.  They are amazing.  I mean really they are unbelievable  At most marathons there are a few people cheering every now and then with a bunch of family and friends at the finish. But at Boston there is an entire city cheering for you.  You absolutely cannot hear yourself think for the last 5 miles.  You still hear the screaming when you go to bed that night.  It is the most amazing feeling.  There are people 20 deep, people high up in the trees.  They are cheering for you.  Most of them know nothing about running and could really care less about the elite runners.  That day they cared about the women from Canada behind me (I heard "GoCanada!" at least 100 times) and the couple who wore shirts that said "Just married!" (the wife beat me, but I beat the husband).  When you make that turn on Boylston you feel like you are running onto the field at the super bowl.  The people, the noise, the energy. It was without a doubt the most amazing athletic experience of my life.  And best of all your beautiful wife and your 16 month old son are waiting for you with a sign at the finish line, sharing in this amazing experience.

Then a bomb explodes.  And everything changes.

There was no bomb 3 years ago.  I crossed the finish line, got my medal, found Josh (who beat me by 20 minutes or more), then find my wife and kid, and headed back to the hotel.  It would have never crossed my mind that competing in a marathon would endanger my life and the life of my wife and kids.

But that is exactly what happened today. Today the greatest day of many peoples athletic lives was obliterated by someone who was full of hate.  Today children died, people lost their legs, lives are forever changed.

Life is like this I guess.  One day you are coming home from the Redsox game and boom everything is different.  I have run every day (except the day I forgot) for 7 years and I have never taken a day of running for granted.  On almost every run I have the thought "this could be it, the last one."  I have been so lucky to have the opportunity to run every day.

Today I have felt intense anger and sadness, as well as a little guilt and anxiety.  But as these intense emotions pass, I am reminded that change is the only constant and that every day is best spent living it to it's fullest. Whether you suffer from diabetes, cancer, the flu, depression, or you are just having a bad day, make the most out of every day you are given.

Today I put on my Boston Marathon shirt and went for a run.  About 10 minutes into the run the sky turned black and it hailed like hell.  After surviving the hail, I stopped looked up and saw the most amazing rainbow.  Within minutes the rainbow was gone and I ran home soaked to the bone. I got home, still sad and angry about what happened today, but still so grateful that I could run today, that I had the chance to have this amazing experience on my run today.  Grateful that I was able to run the Boston Marathon and that the amazing city of Boston has a special place in my life. Grateful that I have my family and friends. Hopeful that I will be able to run again tomorrow. Hopeful that I will be back running the Boston Marathon soon.

For now, I am only weeks away from running the Vancouver 1/2 marathon.  My training is going well, ran 24.5 miles this weekend, 6 more today.  I think things will go well at Vancouver and think I am on my way to a great summer of training and fundraising for Type I Diabetes research.

Thanks again to everyone who has supported my fundraising efforts, especially Sterling and Serena who were very generous with their donation a couple of weeks ago.