Confessions of a Wanna-Be Minimalist Runner...

I'd love to be a minimalist runner, I thought last night, as I was reading the awesome feature on Tony Krupicka in this month's Running Times. No shirt, no socks, obviously no razor. The dude doesn't even own a phone. (BIG SIGH) That would be very very cool.

This is what I will be taking on the marathon:

Shoes, socks, shorts, singlet, gloves (if less than 50 degrees or so)
mp3 player
Sunglasses (or glasses if no sun)
Insulin pump
Ultra mini blood sugar meter, 3 strips, 1 lancet
5 eGels - 1 each for the 5/10/15 and 20 miles and an extra for a low blood sugar
My Garmin 305 (though I'm not taking the HR monitor)
A PaceTat. For $2.49, I consider that to be awesome insurance if the Garmin dies. And yes - I bought the 3:15 model.

Now then, to carry all of this, I have these:
e-Gel Gel Belt
RaceReady Shorts from ZombieRunner. In here, I'll keep the mp3 player, ultra mini and insulin pump. Oh yeah - a car key, too, cuz eventually I'll be going home.

Hardly a minimalist approach is it? Oh well, maybe next year.

Comments

  1. zanne4:04 PM

    marcus - thanks so much for all of your great comments & advice! i hear you on wanting to be a minimalist runner -- if only we could run 26.2 on our two feet & need nothing else to carry us through ... how dreamy! glad you bit the bullet on harrisburg - sounds like you are really ready.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous5:36 AM

    Marcus...good luck on your marathon. I've been a reader of your blog since my son, now 20 year old, was diagnosis with type 1 in June-06. I'm glad to see you're talking more about how you manage your BG levels during the race. This recent post was the first I recall knowing you use a Medtronic pump. My son uses one. Have you considered using the continuous glucose monitor? It would be really interesting to see what your BG trend was doing on a more real time basis. We are considering purchasing a CGM. Our insurance (BCBS of DE)still doesn't cover it. AL from RunningAhead.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Unknown7:28 AM

    Thanks for stopping by, Zanne and hope recovery week is going well.

    Al - Like you, my insurance won't cover CGM, either. Furthermore, I have doubts it ever will -- one of the most infuriating aspects of dealing with the insurance companies is that they tend to cover out-of-control diabetics more so than in-control diabetics. They rationalize that the out-of-control diabetics need the help, but the reality is that many of them are out-of-control because they're not willing to do what it takes to get "in control."

    Soapbox aside, I would be willing to pay for a CGM sensor for a marathon -- it would be AWESOME, but my particular pump would need the software upgrade ($750 if I recall?) and that part I'm currently unwilling to spend.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous5:15 PM

    Marcus...I just attended a CGM presentation by the local Medtronic's sales rep. The data it provides would be AWESOME like you say during a marathon. Since we already have the 722 series pump, I didn't pay attention to the cost of upgrading an old pump to use a CGM. For us, it would cost $1000 for the transmitter and a box of 10 sensors. The FDA requires Medtronic to state that the sensors should be changed every 3 days, but I hear you get at least 6 and probably 10 days out of each sensor. After the initial investment, a box of 10 sensors cost $350.

    I hear you about the out-of-control vs in-control insurance catch-22. We are trying to appeal to our insurance that a CGM will help catch the night-time lows. Probably a result of too many keg parties on campus. Anyway, because his A1C has been averaging 6% the last 6 months, he is considered to be in good control. So need for a CGM. What they don't realize is, he swings from 60 to 300 a lot during the day.

    Have a good race. Looking forward to the follow-up report.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous2:35 PM

    Hey Al,

    I am a "Sweet Victory" reader, and a diabetic runner that uses the Minimed CGMS... If you have any other questions about the CGMS, I could provide first-hand experiences to help get them answered.

    And as both of you point out, the out-of control users are more likely to get it, and less likely to use it. It's just another tool, and it gives VERY useful information.... if you actually use it...

    Contact info on my blog if you have ?'s (hope you don't mind my post here Marcus)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Unknown6:30 PM

    Not a problem at all, Jamie - I should've thought to point Al in your direction!

    M

    ReplyDelete

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