So I might have set a 5k PR last Monday.
I have a rule with myself that the closer a race is to my house, the more I feel I need to do it. Currently, there's a 4 miler four miles from my house and a 5k three miles from my house - both of which I always hit. On Memorial Day, the Run for Literacy 5k debuted, just two miles from my driveway. How do you say no?
Like most first year races, it was small, with only 102 finishers. I had a goal of 19:30, but felt it would take a great run to get there. When I hit the mile mark at 5:52, I knew it was either a great mile or a stupid start.
The course was flat and fast and I went through the 2 mile mark at 12:20.
Since the beginning I hadn't done much passing. I'd settled in at 10th place, well behind the lead pack, but well ahead of the main pack, which is pretty much where I always am. Around the 2.2 mile mark, though, I saw one of the high school kids in the main pack falling back and I made a move on him. I surged twice but he pushed back both times, not wanting to let me ahead. But knowing that if it came down to a kick he'd bury me, I surged once more and left him behind.
In the end, they had me at 19:25. However, the Garmin also had me at 3.03 miles, so it's hard to say. It felt like a 5k, though, so I'll take it.
*
Tomorrow is the Lancaster Red Rose Run. As I've heard (and since said) many times, it's kind of the prom for Lancaster County Runners. The five mile course is awful (all uphill the final two) and the weather is almost universally hot and humid. But just as you generally go to your prom, most of the runners in Lancaster will be there if for no reason than to see every finisher's name and time in the Sunday paper.
Last year I limped home to a 33:48 finish and I'm not too sure that tomorrow will be much different. My plan is to run the first two miles around 6:20 each, though it should feel like 6:30's given the fast downhill start. I'd like to not fall apart so bad on the third mile this year, though that part of the course (which I often train on) seems to be a dead spot for the Garmin. All in all, I'd like to get under 33 minutes, but this likely isn't the course for it, so I'll go out like an idiot and see what happens.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
I forgot my anniversary....
No, not that one. That 16th anniversary is coming up and we're celebrating it by spending our first night without the kids. Yes, you heard that right: first night without the kids, ever. That's worthy of a blog post in and of, itself, but nevermind...
Sometime last month (I truly don't know the date), I passed my 25th anniversary w/ diabetes. Twenty five years. The "silver" anniversary, if you will. Random thoughts:
* 25 years without a complication, which is really all that matters. One spot on one eye, that went away by itself. That's it.
* Five kinds of insulin, along the way: Pork Regular, NPH (was it beef?), Synthetic R, Synthetic N (after the others were discontinued --- I was on the piggie stuff 'til the end) and Humalog
* I originally had one of the first Accu-Chek monitors (which I believe cost around $400 and took about three minutes to do a test), moved to a Diascan (sp?), which took 70 seconds. Then I think I went to my first OneTouch, which I think took 20 seconds, before moving on to the Ultra's, UltraSmarts and Mini's about eight years ago. Plus, I've got some European one I had to buy when I left my UltraSmart on a plane to England a few years ago.
* Back then, we used a lot of urine strips, too, but I couldn't tell you the last time I used one.
* I'm on my second insulin pump.
* I've had two ambulance rides, and a third ambulance to my house, but the last was over 17 years ago.
* I rarely wear a medical ID and somewhat consider it redundant, given the insulin pump. But still, I should.
* I think I've only had a few A1C's over 10, and most of them were in college.
* Most of my A1C's were in the 7's until I went on my pump. Now, nearly all are in the 6's.
* Diet Coke only became widely available in the months right before I was diagnosed and it was a godsend. I became hooked immediately and though I prefer Diet Pepsi today, I'll always be grateful to Coke for that.
* Truth is, it's been easier more times than not. I've had a harder time being a good parent, finding (and keeping) good jobs, and trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon than I have had trying to keep my blood sugar under control. Of the struggles in my life, diabetes is there, but it's low on my list, and for that, I'm grateful.
Sometime last month (I truly don't know the date), I passed my 25th anniversary w/ diabetes. Twenty five years. The "silver" anniversary, if you will. Random thoughts:
* 25 years without a complication, which is really all that matters. One spot on one eye, that went away by itself. That's it.
* Five kinds of insulin, along the way: Pork Regular, NPH (was it beef?), Synthetic R, Synthetic N (after the others were discontinued --- I was on the piggie stuff 'til the end) and Humalog
* I originally had one of the first Accu-Chek monitors (which I believe cost around $400 and took about three minutes to do a test), moved to a Diascan (sp?), which took 70 seconds. Then I think I went to my first OneTouch, which I think took 20 seconds, before moving on to the Ultra's, UltraSmarts and Mini's about eight years ago. Plus, I've got some European one I had to buy when I left my UltraSmart on a plane to England a few years ago.
* Back then, we used a lot of urine strips, too, but I couldn't tell you the last time I used one.
* I'm on my second insulin pump.
* I've had two ambulance rides, and a third ambulance to my house, but the last was over 17 years ago.
* I rarely wear a medical ID and somewhat consider it redundant, given the insulin pump. But still, I should.
* I think I've only had a few A1C's over 10, and most of them were in college.
* Most of my A1C's were in the 7's until I went on my pump. Now, nearly all are in the 6's.
* Diet Coke only became widely available in the months right before I was diagnosed and it was a godsend. I became hooked immediately and though I prefer Diet Pepsi today, I'll always be grateful to Coke for that.
* Truth is, it's been easier more times than not. I've had a harder time being a good parent, finding (and keeping) good jobs, and trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon than I have had trying to keep my blood sugar under control. Of the struggles in my life, diabetes is there, but it's low on my list, and for that, I'm grateful.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Back in the Groove....
As we head into week 2 of the Marathon Plan, things seem firmly back on track.
Rather than a 3+rest+2 as planned last week, I did five days in a row, with no problems. This week, my schedule will probably require a 4+rest+1, which will be easier and the long run only goes to 11 miles. My pace is also fairly close to pre-injury speeds, too.
More than anything, I'm comforted with a really light travel schedule over the next few months. I'm speaking on one panel in NYC, which will be a day trip, and aside from that, my only travels are for fun, not for business. Moreover, the kids will be out of school soon, too, so I start work earlier in the day and get every other Friday off for summer hours. All in all, I'm heading into a season with ample opportunity to get fit and fast.
RE: Dexcom, hmmmmm, my first impression of the company isn't super ideal. When the rep took my info last week, he told me the next thing that would happen would be his assistant would contact me for more info, but he warned me to "call if it went longer than a week." Keep in mind - this isn't for an ANSWER: this is to get in the game. It's been six days and all I've heard is cricket, cricket. But tomorrow I'll shake the tree of commerce and see what falls out.
Over the past 48 hours, I've seen Star Trek and rented Taken. I'm giving the first 3 stars and the last 1, which is interesting only because before I saw them I would've predicted the opposite.
Rather than a 3+rest+2 as planned last week, I did five days in a row, with no problems. This week, my schedule will probably require a 4+rest+1, which will be easier and the long run only goes to 11 miles. My pace is also fairly close to pre-injury speeds, too.
More than anything, I'm comforted with a really light travel schedule over the next few months. I'm speaking on one panel in NYC, which will be a day trip, and aside from that, my only travels are for fun, not for business. Moreover, the kids will be out of school soon, too, so I start work earlier in the day and get every other Friday off for summer hours. All in all, I'm heading into a season with ample opportunity to get fit and fast.
RE: Dexcom, hmmmmm, my first impression of the company isn't super ideal. When the rep took my info last week, he told me the next thing that would happen would be his assistant would contact me for more info, but he warned me to "call if it went longer than a week." Keep in mind - this isn't for an ANSWER: this is to get in the game. It's been six days and all I've heard is cricket, cricket. But tomorrow I'll shake the tree of commerce and see what falls out.
Over the past 48 hours, I've seen Star Trek and rented Taken. I'm giving the first 3 stars and the last 1, which is interesting only because before I saw them I would've predicted the opposite.
I Feel My Blood Sugar Rising
Using sex to sell diabetes meds? Frankly, I prefer that over Wilford Brimley.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Dusting Off the Blogshelf
When last before we were so rudely interrupted....
1) My injury was followed by a week's worth of meetings and culminated in an overseas trip to France & the UK. Because this isn't a travel blog, I'll cut to the chase: my spring marathon season is officially over.
Now mostly mended (aside from a nasty bug I picked up during an otherwise wonderful trip), I've just started Day 1, Week 1 of Hal Higdon Intermediate II, culminating in the Allentown Marathon in mid-September. Nothing says you're early in the marathon plan like a three mile run, which is what the plan had me do over lunch.
2) While in the UK, I was fortunate enough to do the London Tower Jog --- 10-12 (who's counting?) laps around the moat of the Tower of London. This being the UK (or being a jog?), they didn't count my laps, or my time or the people I beat. But I did get a t-shirt and a finisher's medal, so who am I to complain?
3) Thank you muchly for all of the CGM advice. I have decided to move forward with....... DexCom! Reasons for my decision:
a. I'm a contrarian.
b. The sensor is smaller.
c. When my Medtronic pump warranty ends next year, I hope to move to an Animas pump
d. If C doesn't come to pass, I'll go with a new Medtronic pump and since the Dex warranty will be out by then, I could move to Medtronic CGM
e. I don't hate Medtronic, but I don't love them as much as I used to. I think it's time we saw other people. It took Medtronic six months to fix the billing error they were responsible for, during which time they (temporarily) put my account on hold. When you're a guy who pays his bills, that tends to piss you off. And for better or worse, I hold grudges.
4) During the next few weeks, I'll be dealing w/ my insurance and DexCom, though I'm hoping a lot of my research has me set up for a decent process. And if I have time, I'll talk about it here.
So..... that's that. I feel as if I'm over a really tough period in terms of work and injury and such. I'm a little out of shape from what I'm used to, but also feel like I've now got the time to get back on the track. So, choo-friggin'-choo.
1) My injury was followed by a week's worth of meetings and culminated in an overseas trip to France & the UK. Because this isn't a travel blog, I'll cut to the chase: my spring marathon season is officially over.
Now mostly mended (aside from a nasty bug I picked up during an otherwise wonderful trip), I've just started Day 1, Week 1 of Hal Higdon Intermediate II, culminating in the Allentown Marathon in mid-September. Nothing says you're early in the marathon plan like a three mile run, which is what the plan had me do over lunch.
2) While in the UK, I was fortunate enough to do the London Tower Jog --- 10-12 (who's counting?) laps around the moat of the Tower of London. This being the UK (or being a jog?), they didn't count my laps, or my time or the people I beat. But I did get a t-shirt and a finisher's medal, so who am I to complain?
3) Thank you muchly for all of the CGM advice. I have decided to move forward with....... DexCom! Reasons for my decision:
a. I'm a contrarian.
b. The sensor is smaller.
c. When my Medtronic pump warranty ends next year, I hope to move to an Animas pump
d. If C doesn't come to pass, I'll go with a new Medtronic pump and since the Dex warranty will be out by then, I could move to Medtronic CGM
e. I don't hate Medtronic, but I don't love them as much as I used to. I think it's time we saw other people. It took Medtronic six months to fix the billing error they were responsible for, during which time they (temporarily) put my account on hold. When you're a guy who pays his bills, that tends to piss you off. And for better or worse, I hold grudges.
4) During the next few weeks, I'll be dealing w/ my insurance and DexCom, though I'm hoping a lot of my research has me set up for a decent process. And if I have time, I'll talk about it here.
So..... that's that. I feel as if I'm over a really tough period in terms of work and injury and such. I'm a little out of shape from what I'm used to, but also feel like I've now got the time to get back on the track. So, choo-friggin'-choo.
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