Alright guys. Between work, training, kids, life. I am always found with my Man Purse (as my wife would call it) for the last little bit I have been searching for something that will hold my pump, glucometer, lancet, and strips, and I have found it.
Now mind you I am particular. Not a big fan of bulky things hanging off me. I ran into this company PAKBARA that has a sweet little product with several sites for your pump line to come out. so it isn't as awkward depending on where you have it located. I have been using it testing it out this last week in numerous facets. At work hanging off my belt. In training on bike, running, etc.. and I love it.
So in a nutshell of I love the idea of not having to carry around my "man purse" as I go about my daily business doing my random daily things (work, training etc...)
Check it out
http://www.pakbara.com
Friday, May 20, 2011
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
St. George has humbled me
As most of you have known the last year I have been working towards the St. George Ironman. 2.4 mile swim in the Sand Hollow Reservoir, 112 mile bike around the Northwest side of the area and then a 26.2 Mile run in the area.
Preparations went nearly perfect we arrived in time to settle and prepare for an epic race. Race day morning was not rushed at all in fact I was quite pleased with how peaceful it was. The cannon went off and we were on our way. A few people climbed over me kicked me in the face and gut, but that was as is expected.
Transition one was seamless and I was off to a great start on the bike averaging 18-21 mph for the first 30-40 miles and then it went down hill from there. At mile 54 just before "The Wall" the infamous 17% grade climb I tested my blood sugars 610 no wonder why i was feeling crappy. I bolused and began to climb frustrated that my dexcom wasn't alerting me and working with me. I got to the top of the wall and started to descend off the back side hitting 45-50 mph speeds. The only problem was I started blacking out. I pulled over to a spectator that was helping a police officer block and intersection and attempted to down some electrolytes. That lasted for about 30 seconds and came back up. I tried to keep going but ended up blacking out again. I pulled over and passed out on the side of the road. Spectators were there to help me off my bike, but by then i was in and out of consciousness. I unfortunately was pulled from the race and unable to finish, but I knew things were right.
Lessons learned.
-Check things a bit sooner (blood sugar wise)
-Dont rely entirely on Dexcom
-Check pump site and possibly alternate to a second site.
-carry a spare syringe with you
-Drink water religiously before the race
In this situation i feel my training and preparation was on cue. I think overall, i could have paid better attention to how my pump was functioning.
St. George Redemption is underway.
REV 3 at Cedar point Ohio is my next full iron distance race which is planned for Sept 11, 2011. I am looking forward to it as I will be toe to toe with some of my favorite people.
Preparations went nearly perfect we arrived in time to settle and prepare for an epic race. Race day morning was not rushed at all in fact I was quite pleased with how peaceful it was. The cannon went off and we were on our way. A few people climbed over me kicked me in the face and gut, but that was as is expected.
Transition one was seamless and I was off to a great start on the bike averaging 18-21 mph for the first 30-40 miles and then it went down hill from there. At mile 54 just before "The Wall" the infamous 17% grade climb I tested my blood sugars 610 no wonder why i was feeling crappy. I bolused and began to climb frustrated that my dexcom wasn't alerting me and working with me. I got to the top of the wall and started to descend off the back side hitting 45-50 mph speeds. The only problem was I started blacking out. I pulled over to a spectator that was helping a police officer block and intersection and attempted to down some electrolytes. That lasted for about 30 seconds and came back up. I tried to keep going but ended up blacking out again. I pulled over and passed out on the side of the road. Spectators were there to help me off my bike, but by then i was in and out of consciousness. I unfortunately was pulled from the race and unable to finish, but I knew things were right.
Lessons learned.
-Check things a bit sooner (blood sugar wise)
-Dont rely entirely on Dexcom
-Check pump site and possibly alternate to a second site.
-carry a spare syringe with you
-Drink water religiously before the race
In this situation i feel my training and preparation was on cue. I think overall, i could have paid better attention to how my pump was functioning.
St. George Redemption is underway.
REV 3 at Cedar point Ohio is my next full iron distance race which is planned for Sept 11, 2011. I am looking forward to it as I will be toe to toe with some of my favorite people.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Sometimes its too much
So yesterday I got my run on. I was charged up for another epic 20 mile run on a rare beautiful spring day in the Northwest. I started prepping about an hour or so prior to with some Gen Ucan. My sugar levels were ideal, and so I gave myself a little bolus and disconnected my animas pump. (total time off pump 4 hr) Leaving out the door with my dexcom CGMS, headphones playing matisyahu, and my polar ft7. Your probably thinking wait a minute vincent were is your garmin?
Me personally, I am starting to realize that I over analyze a lot of what I do and it doesn't always need to be as difficult, which can ultimately distract you from why you run, bike, swim workout... There are many times where knowing exactly were you have been and how fast your going etc... are important, but sometimes this overshadows why you do your thing. Sometimes its better to just simplify. So I set my course and ran quickly reminding myself why I love to run the simple mechanics of the run. The focus of your gate, your breath, the beat, and the next ten feet, something I hadn't done for some time. With my blood sugars within range from the slow drip of my lemonade ucan and my pace keeping in the ideal range, and my heart rate in low zone 3 monitored from my watch other than that "nothing else mattered"
Really grateful for the challenges life has thrown at me over the last few years. Although it hasn't been easy it sure has helped me not to take for granted the things around me
Me personally, I am starting to realize that I over analyze a lot of what I do and it doesn't always need to be as difficult, which can ultimately distract you from why you run, bike, swim workout... There are many times where knowing exactly were you have been and how fast your going etc... are important, but sometimes this overshadows why you do your thing. Sometimes its better to just simplify. So I set my course and ran quickly reminding myself why I love to run the simple mechanics of the run. The focus of your gate, your breath, the beat, and the next ten feet, something I hadn't done for some time. With my blood sugars within range from the slow drip of my lemonade ucan and my pace keeping in the ideal range, and my heart rate in low zone 3 monitored from my watch other than that "nothing else mattered"
Really grateful for the challenges life has thrown at me over the last few years. Although it hasn't been easy it sure has helped me not to take for granted the things around me
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Fellow Triabetes Captain
I just wanted to share with you all another Team Captain from Triabetes
Svati YOU ARE MY HERO!!!
Intro: Diabetes and Exercise (or, why I started this blog)
You could say that diabetes and running have been my main extracurricular activities for the past several years. Succeeding in both of these areas demands a lot of hard work, with great rewards as well as disappointments. Sports and chronic illnesses can, on their own, teach individuals about discipline, dedication, and persistence. For me, trying to make distance running and diabetes mix has been the biggest lesson of all.
Type 1 Diabetes is primarily a problem with balance – the balance of food, exercise, and insulin in the body, which is easily maintained in most people with healthy pancreases. It’s sort of like an equation. Actually, having to think about everything I eat, test my blood sugar constantly and fine-tune my insulin doses might not be so bad if only there was some perfect mathematical formula. Unlike equations from algebra class, though, diabetes cannot be solved or balanced. There are tons of variables to throw into this one, and anytime I factor in running, my favorite activity, I end up with an inequality. Different types of workouts require different amounts of insulin; the number of carbs I eat before a workout depends on how many miles I plan to run; for hours after exercise my body might be more or less sensitive to insulin than it usually is.
I will always believe that joining the cross country team as a high school freshman was the best decision I’ve ever made; distance running, while not always easy, is incredibly rewarding. There were many times when I thought that diabetes was a good reason for me to abandon the sport, though. One of my favorite phrases throughout high school was “diabetes and distance running don’t mix!” It’s true that balancing blood sugars and insulin, hard enough on its own, seems to become exponentially more difficult when sports are added to the equation. But finally I have decided that the extra work required to train and race safely with diabetes is worth it. There will be no more questioning or wavering on this issue for me, mainly because of the many amateur and professional diabetic athletes I have come to know and admire over the past few years.
I’ve met diabetics who’ve climbed Mount Everest and diabetics who’ve completed Ironman triathlons. I’ve met a whole community of people with Type 1 who not only refuse to let this disease stop them from being active, but actually encourage regular exercise and outdoor adventuring as a way to make life with diabetes better. This is where Insulindependence comes in. Insulindependence, or "iD," facilitates and strengthens this community of athletes with diabetes, and this community inspires me in a way that my high school running coach never could: it acknowledges my everyday struggles with diabetes but insists that it is possible to achieve peak performance as an athlete if I just struggle a little harder sometimes. Insulindependence has pioneered the concept of “experiential diabetes education,” which is learning and practicing diabetes management skills through sport. The idea that sport can actually improve the quality of life with diabetes, and can be an important educational tool for individuals with diabetes, is truly revolutionary.
Insulindependence is, I guess, the reason I started this blog. Being selected as a 2011-2012 Captain for iD's Testing Limits program has given me a year-long task through which I will have the opportunity to help others in a meaningful way and learn more about myself at the same time. Seeing how many other iD Captains maintain blogs made me realize that this experience is something worth chronicling. This blog may only last until next summer, when my formal assignment as a TL Captain ends, but we'll see... maybe I'll enjoy blogging so much that I'll stick with it long afterward.
Svati YOU ARE MY HERO!!!
Intro: Diabetes and Exercise (or, why I started this blog)
You could say that diabetes and running have been my main extracurricular activities for the past several years. Succeeding in both of these areas demands a lot of hard work, with great rewards as well as disappointments. Sports and chronic illnesses can, on their own, teach individuals about discipline, dedication, and persistence. For me, trying to make distance running and diabetes mix has been the biggest lesson of all.
Type 1 Diabetes is primarily a problem with balance – the balance of food, exercise, and insulin in the body, which is easily maintained in most people with healthy pancreases. It’s sort of like an equation. Actually, having to think about everything I eat, test my blood sugar constantly and fine-tune my insulin doses might not be so bad if only there was some perfect mathematical formula. Unlike equations from algebra class, though, diabetes cannot be solved or balanced. There are tons of variables to throw into this one, and anytime I factor in running, my favorite activity, I end up with an inequality. Different types of workouts require different amounts of insulin; the number of carbs I eat before a workout depends on how many miles I plan to run; for hours after exercise my body might be more or less sensitive to insulin than it usually is.
I will always believe that joining the cross country team as a high school freshman was the best decision I’ve ever made; distance running, while not always easy, is incredibly rewarding. There were many times when I thought that diabetes was a good reason for me to abandon the sport, though. One of my favorite phrases throughout high school was “diabetes and distance running don’t mix!” It’s true that balancing blood sugars and insulin, hard enough on its own, seems to become exponentially more difficult when sports are added to the equation. But finally I have decided that the extra work required to train and race safely with diabetes is worth it. There will be no more questioning or wavering on this issue for me, mainly because of the many amateur and professional diabetic athletes I have come to know and admire over the past few years.
I’ve met diabetics who’ve climbed Mount Everest and diabetics who’ve completed Ironman triathlons. I’ve met a whole community of people with Type 1 who not only refuse to let this disease stop them from being active, but actually encourage regular exercise and outdoor adventuring as a way to make life with diabetes better. This is where Insulindependence comes in. Insulindependence, or "iD," facilitates and strengthens this community of athletes with diabetes, and this community inspires me in a way that my high school running coach never could: it acknowledges my everyday struggles with diabetes but insists that it is possible to achieve peak performance as an athlete if I just struggle a little harder sometimes. Insulindependence has pioneered the concept of “experiential diabetes education,” which is learning and practicing diabetes management skills through sport. The idea that sport can actually improve the quality of life with diabetes, and can be an important educational tool for individuals with diabetes, is truly revolutionary.
Insulindependence is, I guess, the reason I started this blog. Being selected as a 2011-2012 Captain for iD's Testing Limits program has given me a year-long task through which I will have the opportunity to help others in a meaningful way and learn more about myself at the same time. Seeing how many other iD Captains maintain blogs made me realize that this experience is something worth chronicling. This blog may only last until next summer, when my formal assignment as a TL Captain ends, but we'll see... maybe I'll enjoy blogging so much that I'll stick with it long afterward.
Friday, March 18, 2011
snake bite????
Man!! I need to get better at this blog thing. I swear-its way too far and in between that I get my posts in.
Well, this last month I had the privelege of visiting Triabetes Captain, Jenny Crandell and her family. It was a privilege to be invited to run with them at the Ragnar Del Sol in Phoneix Az. As we were leaving the parking lot after the start of the race, there was a nice big sign that said BEWARE of RATTLESNAKES....SWEET!!!!
Report:
Race start was cold, frosty and in the middle of Nowhere, AZ...Wickenburg, I think. It was great!! felt like I was in some cowboy flick. We were off to a great start with 20 roadkills from the first leg-our momentum was epic. For my first run, I couldn't have asked for better conditions. The weather warmed up, the sun was out, the shirt was off and man-it felt great to get some sun on the skin. My run brief but perfect.
Second run approx. same distance with a nice uphill for a good portion. Felt great-really enjoyed the cool crisp night air, but felt really spooky at times. At this point we were somewhat in the lead of the pack(We over estimated our team's pace by far and ended up starting a bit too early, which put us at the head of the pack for most of the race). As a result, at most of the exchanges we didn't see too many people, there weren't as many cars, and as we progressed our kills got fewer and fewer and so by my second run it was just me and the desert.
I had the privilege of accompanying a fellow teammate and first time "ragnarian" as she was leary of her second midnight desert running. Between the occasional coyote sightings and the ferocious havalinas, I didn't blame her. So I gladly accepted the invitation to run again. It was great- we joked a bit and were enjoying the night run and I quickly forgot any immediate threat that might be looming around the corner. As I wasn't paying too much attention, i wasn't aware of what was waiting for me in the distance, and within moments i instantly felt something grab onto my leg and peirce my skin. I panicked!! As I jumped I heard rattling noises come from my right side. I started to freak out which I'm sure made my running buddy panic even more. I started to settle down and with my little headlamp assessed what the issue was. Dang semi trailers and their wire laden wheels that are blown out and lay to bake on the side of the road. I had perfectly stepped into this coiled mess and felt wire pierce a small portion of my calf. I had heard the metal drag along the concrete which was a tad deceiving as it made a bit of a rattling noise as I dragged it along the road. Relieved it was nothing more than that, we continued on.
Third leg was perfect!! A tad sleep deprived, but felt great. Legs were fired up and ready to enjoy. As I started my longer of the three runs, the sun joined me over my left shoulder showing the gorgeous horizon of cactus, sage brush, and gorgeous snow peaked mtns in the distance.
Our run finished relatively early at noon in beautiful Tempe Park.
Many thanks to the Crandell family for allowing me to join in and be a part of such a great group.
Well, this last month I had the privelege of visiting Triabetes Captain, Jenny Crandell and her family. It was a privilege to be invited to run with them at the Ragnar Del Sol in Phoneix Az. As we were leaving the parking lot after the start of the race, there was a nice big sign that said BEWARE of RATTLESNAKES....SWEET!!!!
Report:
Race start was cold, frosty and in the middle of Nowhere, AZ...Wickenburg, I think. It was great!! felt like I was in some cowboy flick. We were off to a great start with 20 roadkills from the first leg-our momentum was epic. For my first run, I couldn't have asked for better conditions. The weather warmed up, the sun was out, the shirt was off and man-it felt great to get some sun on the skin. My run brief but perfect.
Second run approx. same distance with a nice uphill for a good portion. Felt great-really enjoyed the cool crisp night air, but felt really spooky at times. At this point we were somewhat in the lead of the pack(We over estimated our team's pace by far and ended up starting a bit too early, which put us at the head of the pack for most of the race). As a result, at most of the exchanges we didn't see too many people, there weren't as many cars, and as we progressed our kills got fewer and fewer and so by my second run it was just me and the desert.
I had the privilege of accompanying a fellow teammate and first time "ragnarian" as she was leary of her second midnight desert running. Between the occasional coyote sightings and the ferocious havalinas, I didn't blame her. So I gladly accepted the invitation to run again. It was great- we joked a bit and were enjoying the night run and I quickly forgot any immediate threat that might be looming around the corner. As I wasn't paying too much attention, i wasn't aware of what was waiting for me in the distance, and within moments i instantly felt something grab onto my leg and peirce my skin. I panicked!! As I jumped I heard rattling noises come from my right side. I started to freak out which I'm sure made my running buddy panic even more. I started to settle down and with my little headlamp assessed what the issue was. Dang semi trailers and their wire laden wheels that are blown out and lay to bake on the side of the road. I had perfectly stepped into this coiled mess and felt wire pierce a small portion of my calf. I had heard the metal drag along the concrete which was a tad deceiving as it made a bit of a rattling noise as I dragged it along the road. Relieved it was nothing more than that, we continued on.
Third leg was perfect!! A tad sleep deprived, but felt great. Legs were fired up and ready to enjoy. As I started my longer of the three runs, the sun joined me over my left shoulder showing the gorgeous horizon of cactus, sage brush, and gorgeous snow peaked mtns in the distance.
Our run finished relatively early at noon in beautiful Tempe Park.
Many thanks to the Crandell family for allowing me to join in and be a part of such a great group.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Cold Water Swimming
Found this great post on cold water swimming
http://triswimcoachonline.com/tri/swimming-in-cold-water/
http://triswimcoachonline.com/tri/swimming-in-cold-water/
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