I like to call it nervous anticipation. Not really nervous, but excited, but not really....I must get my head screwed on straight before Saturday!
I'm almost there. Getting lots of sleep and organizing my gear already...boy there's a lot of gear! Triathletes are gear junkies...just love the stuff!
I got a good run in this morning, and I'm going to do one last Levemir test tomorrow..then rest on Friday. I can't beleive race day is here!!!
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Swim Test #5...
...I think it's the 5th one. The blood sugars are really tightening up with this! My strategy this time was to not have those lows the night before, AND to cut back on the breakfast bolus to prevent the drop after my swim the last time. (I didn't post that one, I should do that!) The nightime bg's haven't been in the 40's kind of low, but 60-70's kind, and I don't want to wake up and race after that! For those of you who don't know this interesting tid bit....lows come in 2's, so the last thing I need is another low before, or during the swim.
Here's a little background on the details I'm going to give next. I was suppose to get up at 5AM to eat, and the alarm went in one ear and out the other. Maybe I was in the middle of a very good dream! By the time I actually heard NPR talking, it was 5:30. I jumped out of bed like I was late for a test, and fix my breakfast. Luckily my race day breakfast I can't cook, because I'll have no kitchen. That makes it easy! This late start means something...trust me, you'll see.
9PM-bg 87..6 units Levemir...25 carbs, so I don't go low during the night.
2:45AM-146
5:40AM-129...47 carbs...3.2 units Humalog...less of a bolus then last time
8AM-244...yep not enough bolus:(
8:45AM-249...not sure 'bout that! Swim start.
9:05-200
9:20-170
9:30-145..swim end.
9:45-hook back to pump
10:15-149
11:10-221....ok that one is curious...I didn't eat anything!
Matt and I have some ideas on what happened.
1. Late start with the swim. The low dose of Levemir may only have an action time of 10 hours. Which I clearly hit during the swim. We think that may be the cause of the high after my swim, since you won't see the effects of lost basal until then.
2. Change my bolus ratio a bit for breakfast to prevent the high.
3. By the looks of the drop during the swim, Matt believes that the basal dose is still circulating. It may have been on it's way out, but still there for the time I needed it.
Solution? Don't wake up late when you are testing something new!:) Going to try one more before race day! I'll make sure I set the alarm to wake the whole house up!
Here's a little background on the details I'm going to give next. I was suppose to get up at 5AM to eat, and the alarm went in one ear and out the other. Maybe I was in the middle of a very good dream! By the time I actually heard NPR talking, it was 5:30. I jumped out of bed like I was late for a test, and fix my breakfast. Luckily my race day breakfast I can't cook, because I'll have no kitchen. That makes it easy! This late start means something...trust me, you'll see.
9PM-bg 87..6 units Levemir...25 carbs, so I don't go low during the night.
2:45AM-146
5:40AM-129...47 carbs...3.2 units Humalog...less of a bolus then last time
8AM-244...yep not enough bolus:(
8:45AM-249...not sure 'bout that! Swim start.
9:05-200
9:20-170
9:30-145..swim end.
9:45-hook back to pump
10:15-149
11:10-221....ok that one is curious...I didn't eat anything!
Matt and I have some ideas on what happened.
1. Late start with the swim. The low dose of Levemir may only have an action time of 10 hours. Which I clearly hit during the swim. We think that may be the cause of the high after my swim, since you won't see the effects of lost basal until then.
2. Change my bolus ratio a bit for breakfast to prevent the high.
3. By the looks of the drop during the swim, Matt believes that the basal dose is still circulating. It may have been on it's way out, but still there for the time I needed it.
Solution? Don't wake up late when you are testing something new!:) Going to try one more before race day! I'll make sure I set the alarm to wake the whole house up!
Monday, July 21, 2008
A Sign From The Universe
Do I take it as a hint, or what? My scheduled long brick was quickly abbreviated by rain...and a lot of it!! But not before my friend Dana and I got a good hour in. She teaches spin class at the gym I use to belong to and needed to have the legs, and time to get there, so she was only going to half my distance. Any company on a ride is welcome no matter how long they can be with you! Plan A was to do an "out & back" with her for 25 miles, then I would do it again by myself. Then Plan B was implemented when I realized that I would have to do that monster of a hill twice. Hadley Hill, which we have all grown to have a love/hate relationship with. Yes, I do beleive in hill repeats, but there is a time and place for them, and this ride was not one of those times. The route was hilly enough without adding the monster in.
Since I was expecting to be back at my car, I didn't have my phone, but I did have enough gel, water, and emergency sugar. I felt confident that I was good to go, so Dana and I went our separate ways. At this point it is very cloudy still, very humid, and no rain was on the radar when we left. I figured I was good with the weather too.....until I rode 5 miles into my solo journey. In the words of Emeril..BAM! It really only started out as a sprinkle, which I can totally handle...then quickly turned into a flat out rain. Now I'm pissed off....is the universe trying to tell me something?? A sign that you won't ever be ready, and just hang it up?? This is really the last day of a good brick before the race, and I can't even get the miles in.
Does anyone have that kind of friend that knows you so well?? My uber friend Dana drove back to find me in the rain!!!! She and I both really don't feel safe riding in the rain...especially "new" rain when the pavement in extra slippery. I had 5 miles to go, and have not hit the monster yet, and she asked me if I wanted a ride back to the car. I thought about it, and really just needed to finish what I could, and determined to do it! I gotta tell you, I had a feeling she would show up, and when I saw her I felt a little relieved...even though I wasn't going be her "Driving Miss Nancy". She always has my back...and I have hers!
Up the monster I went, and a nice flat ride back to the car. I changed out of my soaked clothes, and drove home...trying to come up with a plan to salvage my brick. I made it 36 miles out of the 50 I wanted. But what I really wanted was the actual brick....bike straight to the run. Now my legs have rested which makes it very, very different. That damn Universe!! I'd like to tell it a thing or two!!
When I got home the sun was out.....OF COURSE the sun was out! Why would it keep raining after my bike is all packed up in the car and I'm home??!! ARGHHH...that damn Universe!
I changed into run clothes loaded up my waistpack with water/gel/keys/meter and of course the IPod. 10 miles here I come. Watch out Universe, you are not going to stop me now! Great run! The end was tough, but the end always is. My legs were a bit tired throughout, so I did have some effects of the ride...which is good, that is what a brick is all about!!
What is the lesson of the day?? Go with the flow...always have a number of plans in place.....and tell yourself there must be a reason for it all......and best of all you have to laugh. What else can happen right? Thank goodness the bg's were stable and stayed in the 140-170 range. I think the Universe was telling me I needed to run. That's my interpretation and I'm sticking to it!
Since I was expecting to be back at my car, I didn't have my phone, but I did have enough gel, water, and emergency sugar. I felt confident that I was good to go, so Dana and I went our separate ways. At this point it is very cloudy still, very humid, and no rain was on the radar when we left. I figured I was good with the weather too.....until I rode 5 miles into my solo journey. In the words of Emeril..BAM! It really only started out as a sprinkle, which I can totally handle...then quickly turned into a flat out rain. Now I'm pissed off....is the universe trying to tell me something?? A sign that you won't ever be ready, and just hang it up?? This is really the last day of a good brick before the race, and I can't even get the miles in.
Does anyone have that kind of friend that knows you so well?? My uber friend Dana drove back to find me in the rain!!!! She and I both really don't feel safe riding in the rain...especially "new" rain when the pavement in extra slippery. I had 5 miles to go, and have not hit the monster yet, and she asked me if I wanted a ride back to the car. I thought about it, and really just needed to finish what I could, and determined to do it! I gotta tell you, I had a feeling she would show up, and when I saw her I felt a little relieved...even though I wasn't going be her "Driving Miss Nancy". She always has my back...and I have hers!
Up the monster I went, and a nice flat ride back to the car. I changed out of my soaked clothes, and drove home...trying to come up with a plan to salvage my brick. I made it 36 miles out of the 50 I wanted. But what I really wanted was the actual brick....bike straight to the run. Now my legs have rested which makes it very, very different. That damn Universe!! I'd like to tell it a thing or two!!
When I got home the sun was out.....OF COURSE the sun was out! Why would it keep raining after my bike is all packed up in the car and I'm home??!! ARGHHH...that damn Universe!
I changed into run clothes loaded up my waistpack with water/gel/keys/meter and of course the IPod. 10 miles here I come. Watch out Universe, you are not going to stop me now! Great run! The end was tough, but the end always is. My legs were a bit tired throughout, so I did have some effects of the ride...which is good, that is what a brick is all about!!
What is the lesson of the day?? Go with the flow...always have a number of plans in place.....and tell yourself there must be a reason for it all......and best of all you have to laugh. What else can happen right? Thank goodness the bg's were stable and stayed in the 140-170 range. I think the Universe was telling me I needed to run. That's my interpretation and I'm sticking to it!
Friday, July 18, 2008
Swim Success #2!!
Test #2 with the Levemir was another success. I really think I'm getting it dialed in now!
Here's how it all went down:
9:30PM-take 4 units Levemir
10:30PM- lower basal to .1
2:30AM-232...I beleive from a high fat meal late that night. I didn't bolus for the whole correction for fear of a low 3 hours later in the pool.
5:00AM- 183...higher then I would like, but there's that bolus from last night
5:30AM-start swim
6:00AM- 159
6:15AM-129
7:00AM-152...after swim
7:30AM-176...eating breakfast, bolus 3.2u with 10u Symlin
10:00AM-127...not quite that 2 hour window, but good enough!
VERY stable bg's I think. Matt agreed. Next step? I'm going for 5 units. I think I may even try to mimic race day on Monday by eating 2 hours before and then swimming. We'll see....I'm doing a L O N G brick on Sunday. I'm shooting for a 4-5 hour. Bike 50, run 10. Last one before Aug 2. If I'm not tapped out from that, then I'll go for it. Otherwise I'll shoot for Tuesday morning.
Here's how it all went down:
9:30PM-take 4 units Levemir
10:30PM- lower basal to .1
2:30AM-232...I beleive from a high fat meal late that night. I didn't bolus for the whole correction for fear of a low 3 hours later in the pool.
5:00AM- 183...higher then I would like, but there's that bolus from last night
5:30AM-start swim
6:00AM- 159
6:15AM-129
7:00AM-152...after swim
7:30AM-176...eating breakfast, bolus 3.2u with 10u Symlin
10:00AM-127...not quite that 2 hour window, but good enough!
VERY stable bg's I think. Matt agreed. Next step? I'm going for 5 units. I think I may even try to mimic race day on Monday by eating 2 hours before and then swimming. We'll see....I'm doing a L O N G brick on Sunday. I'm shooting for a 4-5 hour. Bike 50, run 10. Last one before Aug 2. If I'm not tapped out from that, then I'll go for it. Otherwise I'll shoot for Tuesday morning.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
The Training Triathlon
I train, I train, I train...and I train during a race. Ahhhh....the sweet smell of some success! I admit, I've been a little unmotivated in my training, and I will share no details about that because I'm committed to being the "glass is half full"!! But today is a day to share. It started out frustrating, then went to calm, then on to comical, and maybe a little pain stuck in there. Yes, tons of emotions on such a beautiful day. This race I used as a training race. The plan was to not go "all out". I was just trying to get the body moving, and prepare for the Half IM.
Going to bed a 9PM when it's light out is a bit strange. What am I 7 yrs. old again??? I desperately needed to sleep so I could wake up at 4:30AM, yep that's right, 4:30. I had to drive about 1.5 hours to get to the race site. I packed my car the night before, and set out all my clothes...I even set up the coffee pot! Oh, do I need that coffee when it's an early race day. I printed out my map, and off to bed I went.
The morning brought me no surprises...except for being tired still after 7 hrs. of sleep. Which is a lot of sleep for me, so why was I still tired? It's just the 4:30 smell I guess. The body is use to the 5:30 AM smell.
I made some scrambled eggwhites, and had some yogurt with a Zone bar. The breakfast of champions huh? I poured my big mug-0-coffee and got in the car WITH my map. Why is the map an issue? This is where the "frustrating" emotion comes in. Well....I got to where the map told me, and I had printed out the directions to the Waterloo State Park Headquarters...NOT Portage Lake where the race was. Really good thing I like to get to races early, because now I have time to find where I'm going. I grabbed a park map and found my way to the lake. Yes, I was still early.:)
I set up my transition area in my favorite spot on the rack...on the very end where there is space to spread out. What can I say...I'm a high maintenance diabetic! I don't want my meters or pump to get knocked around! Luckily there was an area just for the female triathletes...the men had numbered spots.
So now the wait....and more waiting. Everyone is now making the trek down to the water...and I'm still waiting....waiting for the last possible minute to take off the piece of machinery I wear. With my wetsuit halfway on...and the rest of my swim gear...I walked peacefully down to the water. Peaceful is an emotion that I didn't mention earlier...but I was. I had been listening to my IPod all morning tuning everyone out to get to that peaceful place so I could focus. This is probably the only thing that is nice about doing and event by yourself, you don't know anyone, and no one will bother you.
I got to the water and immediately got in to warm up. I was excited to try out my new wetsuit. I recently got a full one for the big race, and was anxious to use it!
This swim was BY FAR the best swim I have ever had during a race! Maybe not time wise...but comfort level wise. Remember I didn't want to go "all out" during this race. So I kept a nice moderate pace, which is slightly slower then race pace. I found I was sighting the buoy's better, and not losing my breath. I wish I could have seen what the HRM was reading...that would have been interesting.
I did the run/walk out of the swim to T1, and this is the comical part. More like..."oh crap...do I laugh or cry" part. After the battle with the removal of the wetsuit, I went through the usual routine that I follow in transition. While putting my racebelt on I notice that my infusion site is becoming loose. It's not sticking well at all, which never has happened to me, during a race or otherwise! I beg anyone that I see for tape....I figure duct tape could hold it until I'm home. No luck and I decide to put the racebelt over it around my waist. That should hold it. It did...for the whole cycling portion! I kept checking....like I could do something about it anyway. Now my mind is going...should I quit if it comes out? Should I just suck it up and go on? Hard to do the right thing during a race because there are so many things going through your mind.
I check on the site in T2...still the same, so I bolus a little for a high bg (posting sugars at the end). Racebelt still holding...and I go on. The run is on rolling hills, dirt roads and ends on a 1.5-2 mile narrow trail run. Unbelievably gorgeous!
About a mile into the run it happens...site is gone, and so is the insulin!! I wonder if I could break open the reservoir and drink the insulin..wouldn't that work??!! I continue and try not to think about it too much. But the whole incident took some time away from the run, and now people are passing...probably wondering what the hell that chick is doing. I walked a few hills, and drank water at every aid station, and made it to the trail section. For some reason my pace picked up during that part....maybe I just wanted to get it done so I could go to the medical tent for some diabetic drugs:) None the less, I passed a few who passed me, and then the finish line.
They called my name and he said "you don't even look like you broke a sweat"...sweet talker...I was dripping salt!
I see the paramedics and hope they have what I need...well, because why would I bring extra supplies???!! Usually I do, but not this time. Is that Murphy's Law or what?? Of course they don't have insulin...just regular first aid stuff, and yes, tape. Where were they after my swim?!
Great race, and lessons learned! Here are the stats:
4:30AM-179, 35cb, 3.5u, 10u Symlin
6:20AM-150, turned basal up to .50 for 2 hours
7:05AM- 140
7:30 AM-116, 7cb., went with my gut on this, probably didn't need the carbs
After swim-203
After bike-224
Lost site
End of race-297
12PM-249, home, bolus 2u correction, 45cb. bolus 3.3u
Cut my lawn..where did that energy come from?
3:20-73...there's the low I was looking for!
Now I'm going to bed and I'm at 131 after Mexican food and a beer. Nice treat!
Going to bed a 9PM when it's light out is a bit strange. What am I 7 yrs. old again??? I desperately needed to sleep so I could wake up at 4:30AM, yep that's right, 4:30. I had to drive about 1.5 hours to get to the race site. I packed my car the night before, and set out all my clothes...I even set up the coffee pot! Oh, do I need that coffee when it's an early race day. I printed out my map, and off to bed I went.
The morning brought me no surprises...except for being tired still after 7 hrs. of sleep. Which is a lot of sleep for me, so why was I still tired? It's just the 4:30 smell I guess. The body is use to the 5:30 AM smell.
I made some scrambled eggwhites, and had some yogurt with a Zone bar. The breakfast of champions huh? I poured my big mug-0-coffee and got in the car WITH my map. Why is the map an issue? This is where the "frustrating" emotion comes in. Well....I got to where the map told me, and I had printed out the directions to the Waterloo State Park Headquarters...NOT Portage Lake where the race was. Really good thing I like to get to races early, because now I have time to find where I'm going. I grabbed a park map and found my way to the lake. Yes, I was still early.:)
I set up my transition area in my favorite spot on the rack...on the very end where there is space to spread out. What can I say...I'm a high maintenance diabetic! I don't want my meters or pump to get knocked around! Luckily there was an area just for the female triathletes...the men had numbered spots.
So now the wait....and more waiting. Everyone is now making the trek down to the water...and I'm still waiting....waiting for the last possible minute to take off the piece of machinery I wear. With my wetsuit halfway on...and the rest of my swim gear...I walked peacefully down to the water. Peaceful is an emotion that I didn't mention earlier...but I was. I had been listening to my IPod all morning tuning everyone out to get to that peaceful place so I could focus. This is probably the only thing that is nice about doing and event by yourself, you don't know anyone, and no one will bother you.
I got to the water and immediately got in to warm up. I was excited to try out my new wetsuit. I recently got a full one for the big race, and was anxious to use it!
This swim was BY FAR the best swim I have ever had during a race! Maybe not time wise...but comfort level wise. Remember I didn't want to go "all out" during this race. So I kept a nice moderate pace, which is slightly slower then race pace. I found I was sighting the buoy's better, and not losing my breath. I wish I could have seen what the HRM was reading...that would have been interesting.
I did the run/walk out of the swim to T1, and this is the comical part. More like..."oh crap...do I laugh or cry" part. After the battle with the removal of the wetsuit, I went through the usual routine that I follow in transition. While putting my racebelt on I notice that my infusion site is becoming loose. It's not sticking well at all, which never has happened to me, during a race or otherwise! I beg anyone that I see for tape....I figure duct tape could hold it until I'm home. No luck and I decide to put the racebelt over it around my waist. That should hold it. It did...for the whole cycling portion! I kept checking....like I could do something about it anyway. Now my mind is going...should I quit if it comes out? Should I just suck it up and go on? Hard to do the right thing during a race because there are so many things going through your mind.
I check on the site in T2...still the same, so I bolus a little for a high bg (posting sugars at the end). Racebelt still holding...and I go on. The run is on rolling hills, dirt roads and ends on a 1.5-2 mile narrow trail run. Unbelievably gorgeous!
About a mile into the run it happens...site is gone, and so is the insulin!! I wonder if I could break open the reservoir and drink the insulin..wouldn't that work??!! I continue and try not to think about it too much. But the whole incident took some time away from the run, and now people are passing...probably wondering what the hell that chick is doing. I walked a few hills, and drank water at every aid station, and made it to the trail section. For some reason my pace picked up during that part....maybe I just wanted to get it done so I could go to the medical tent for some diabetic drugs:) None the less, I passed a few who passed me, and then the finish line.
They called my name and he said "you don't even look like you broke a sweat"...sweet talker...I was dripping salt!
I see the paramedics and hope they have what I need...well, because why would I bring extra supplies???!! Usually I do, but not this time. Is that Murphy's Law or what?? Of course they don't have insulin...just regular first aid stuff, and yes, tape. Where were they after my swim?!
Great race, and lessons learned! Here are the stats:
4:30AM-179, 35cb, 3.5u, 10u Symlin
6:20AM-150, turned basal up to .50 for 2 hours
7:05AM- 140
7:30 AM-116, 7cb., went with my gut on this, probably didn't need the carbs
After swim-203
After bike-224
Lost site
End of race-297
12PM-249, home, bolus 2u correction, 45cb. bolus 3.3u
Cut my lawn..where did that energy come from?
3:20-73...there's the low I was looking for!
Now I'm going to bed and I'm at 131 after Mexican food and a beer. Nice treat!
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Swim Success!!!
These are the simple pleasures in a diabetic triathletes life!
I've been contemplating what to do about the swim for my Half IM. So my diabetes guru, Matt, came up with a solution. Maybe not a solution, but another trial and error to try out!
The problem with long swims using a non-waterproof pump is that you are without insulin for a given length of time. For me, that's around 1-1.5 hours in the pool. I'll say it again...that's just not normal! You can't expect blood sugars to stay in range without some insulin on board. So the solution you ask?? There is a long acting insulin called Levemir, which is new to me since I've been pumping for so long. The idea was to get some insulin on board that will stay on board. I injected 3 units last night around 9PM, then turned my pump WAY down to nothing an hour later. Through the night was perfect.
1AM-119
5AM-woke up, 104
5:30-start swim
5:45-128
6:05-123
6:45-124
Pure perfection! I haven't had number like those during a morning swim...ever I think. Afternoon swims I have, because there is more circulating insulin.
Now it gets funny...after all the a success I get home to a 201. Not quite sure about that one...Matt I'm sure will have answers for me. I bet that Levemir is gone...3 units really is a very small amount.
I'm keeping close tabs on it this morning. Wondering what will happen after breakfast. All and all VERY happy about this!!!
I've been contemplating what to do about the swim for my Half IM. So my diabetes guru, Matt, came up with a solution. Maybe not a solution, but another trial and error to try out!
The problem with long swims using a non-waterproof pump is that you are without insulin for a given length of time. For me, that's around 1-1.5 hours in the pool. I'll say it again...that's just not normal! You can't expect blood sugars to stay in range without some insulin on board. So the solution you ask?? There is a long acting insulin called Levemir, which is new to me since I've been pumping for so long. The idea was to get some insulin on board that will stay on board. I injected 3 units last night around 9PM, then turned my pump WAY down to nothing an hour later. Through the night was perfect.
1AM-119
5AM-woke up, 104
5:30-start swim
5:45-128
6:05-123
6:45-124
Pure perfection! I haven't had number like those during a morning swim...ever I think. Afternoon swims I have, because there is more circulating insulin.
Now it gets funny...after all the a success I get home to a 201. Not quite sure about that one...Matt I'm sure will have answers for me. I bet that Levemir is gone...3 units really is a very small amount.
I'm keeping close tabs on it this morning. Wondering what will happen after breakfast. All and all VERY happy about this!!!
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