Friday, July 31, 2009

Friday - Hill Repeats

Run: ~2 Miles
Terrain: Very Hilly
Time: 0:54:14

Pre-Run BG: 91 mg/dl
Post-Run BG: 141 mg/dl
Intake: 10 oz Chocolate Silk
Run Pump Status: 50% of normal basal rate


     Just some simple hill repeats right out of the driveway. Lucky me, I live at the top of a huge hill that I get to finish all of my runs going up. Aaccckkk! Today, was a good day though. Now high issues. If I could just translate this to Wednesday nights runs.





Thursday, July 30, 2009

Wednesday - Group Run

Run: ~6 miles
Time: 01:17:51
Terrain: Very Hilly

Pre-Run BG: 142 mg/dl
Post-Run BG: 230 mg/dl
Intake: small granola bar @ 5PM(run began at 6), 9 oz Protein shake, 1 Kids Cliff bar
Run Pump Status: 40% of normal basal from 5PM - 6:45PM, then up to 100%

     This sucks. I feel like type1 has a death grip on my training right now. I'm really struggling with this at the moment. I tried yesterday to make sure I had BG's, insulin-on-board, and the tail end of my last bolus done with all before the run. I finished lunch at 14:30 and bolused for it. So the insulin-on-board was dealt with. I monitored trending data from the CG and then did a finger stick at 16:45 (137 mg/dl). I also hydrated plenty until one hour before the run. In my mind I was all set-up for a great run.

    I got to where the group was meeting a little early. Finger stick was 139. Good. At 17:30 I went out a little early for a short and slow warm-up...about 1 trail mile. Came back drenched and picked some blackberries on the way. Nice.

    Met up with the group and did a finger stick one more time, 97 mg/dl. Not so great. OK, I ate a kids cliff bar. I'd forgotten my gle flask...dang-it. The group left at about 18:05 for the run and headed out at a moderate pace. At the beginning I was trying to stay focused and fall into a pace. About 1-1.5 miles into the run I look at the CG and it's telling me 172 with two up arrows. I left things as they were for another 20 minutes. Checking the CG again I am now given the 220 and two up arrows. Crap. Wrong place to be again. I'm thinking, "I'm really getting tired of this." Too many variables tonight for this to work well. I slowed back and was the last one in. I easily sprinted the downhills, slow ran the flats, and had to walk up the hills (couldn't keep the HR below 175 or so without walking). I was the thoughouly frustrated with this situation again. I am NOT giving in to this. I WILL make it work. I'd rather be low then to feel like this. It sucks. It makes me feel so pewny and small in effort compared to what I know I can do.

    Thinking about this, it seems like I'm becoming anaerobic while using the same effort levels I'm use to. Maybe it's just a fluke of events and timeing, but it sure as heck is frustrating.






Monday, July 27, 2009

Sunday - Long Run

Run: 13.5 miles
Terrain: mostly flat with mild hills
Time: 02:30:11

Pre-Run BG: 187 mg/dl
Post-Run BG: 167 mg/dl
Intake: ~8 oz Hammer Gel, 24 oz Strawberry Heed, 24 oz H2O
Run-Pump Status: 40% of normal basal rate 1st 4.5 miles, reg. basal rate to finish

   Today's' run had to happen and I really tried to make sure all things were level before the run, but about 1 mile into the run my BG started trending upward. I worked very hard at monitoring it and bringing it back into limits for performance. I've had problems lately with BG being a bit too high. Maybe that's because my work schedule has thrown me for a loop this week, my nerves are on edge, or I just haven't had time or physical oomph to get out and run. Anyway, ran a good 2.5 hours in a nice dry hot and breezy park trail. Thank goodness for a mostly shady trail. Aside from the BG begin too high for adequate performance for this run, all things went well. I continue to work on the pre-run BG/meal timing and preparation.

   With a long run as this was, I usually have to replace the tegaderm over my CG site after the run. What really holds it on very well most of the time though is Benzoin Compound Tincture - Alcohol 77%. This is actually labeled as an oral mucosal protectant, so most folks wouldn't think of using it for IV sites, but let me tell you that for a guy who sweats heavily...this stuff works wonders for me. I've been using it for most of my site adhesive for about 6 years.






Monday, July 20, 2009

Sunday - Long Run

Run: 8.5 Miles
Terrain: Mostly flat with a few baby hills
Time: 01:27:30

Pre-Run BG: 188 mg/dl
Post-Run BG: 131 mg/dl
Intake: ~6 oz Hammer gel
Run Pump Status: 45% of normal basal rates

   I'm a little behind schedule for my long runs dew to a lower back injury. I'm on it now though. So today I did what I could, something just shy of the scheduled run. Next Sunday, I'll run for at least 2 hours, and hopefully a little more then that. I feel like I did well today though. Not only did I do my usual basal rate drop 1 hour ahead of time, but also during the run I kept a very close eye on my effort. I focused a lot more and kept the HR at no more than 150. I think this was crucial for me and I plan on doing this more often with all long runs. I took my time warming up (~ 2-3 miles) and then kept an eye on the heart rate. Not pushing the HR above 150, I have to say I felt much stronger. I think I 'm going to change the pace I've been going out at, and after warm-up, slow down a little also. I think I have been a lot closer to an-aerobic then I may known for the past little while. So, I'm going to focus on this and try to repeat Sunday's performance level and power feeling. I really did feel much stronger then I have on a run in a long time.

   The other thing I did different this time was to use the little carry pouch that came with my "One-Touch Ultra Mini" and attached it to my Fuel Belt so I could do a physical BG check during the run and get at the meter easily. That little pouch was perfect for carrying the meter for me.


Friday, July 17, 2009

Friday - Hill Repeats

Run: ~2.5 Miles
Terrain: Very Hilly
Time: 0:57:13

Pre-Run BG: 134 mg/dl
Post-Run BG: 89 mg/dl
Intake: 16-18 oz chocolate Silk
Run Pump Status: 40% of normal Basal Rate

    Just another day training, except this one is with hill work. No problems for this run. It was however one of those days where I just didn't want to get out and run. We all know though that it's these types of days when running is most important and usually when you feel the best post run. As was the case today. Today I ran 7 repeats.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Wednesday - Group Run

Run: 5.5 Miles
Terrain: Flat to Very Hilly
Time: ~60 Minutes ( there was a quarry cool-down stop)

Pre-Run BG: 200 with 2 ^^
Post-Run BG: 134 with 2 down arrows
Intake: 4 oz Hammer Gel (at about 170 and 2 down trending arrows)
Run Pump Status: 30% normal basal


   Tonight was a tough run. I hate it when I enter a run with these circs. In attempting to make sure my glucose was between 130-180 1 hour prior to the run...I over estimated and also had to calibrate the CG. So, I took too many carbs to start and didn't know I was already trending upward because of the calibration. I have got to keep a closer eye on that. The result was a crappy performing run. A BG of anything above 210-220 for me equals a high HR that doesn't come down easily and shortness of breath that just plain makes me feel like a weakling. I hate it. Aside from more accurately setting myself up before the run, I've got to figure out some strategy that will allow myself to bring things into "The Zone" and not drop me during the run. I took .9 u out on the trail because I was at 236 with 2 up arrows (trending upward quickly) and cut my compensation dose very low....just not maybe low enough. Next time maybe I'll cut it to like 1/8th of what I would normally take. I got the Tempo in, but it freaking sucked. The performance level was definitely not there. Also, once again a few hours prior to the run I had this sensation of seeming short of breath or almost like a little pressure (though it wasn't) in the upper chest. I can't explain it, but it's almost like it was a precursor to what I almost knew was going to happen...and sure enough. This happened last when I was up on Lookout Mt. , and it happened the same exact way. I've got to figure something out here and I will.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Monday - Easy 30-40

Run: 5.5 Miles
Terrian: treadmill
Time: 0:40:13

Pre-Run BG: 130 mg/dl
Post-Run BG: 101 mg/dl
Intake: 4 PB crackers, 6 oz Choc. Silk (prior to run)
Run Pump Status: 30 % of normal basal rate

    All things well, this was just an easy 30-40 minute run for maintenance and miles in the bank. Nothing to say about it really. No problems or issues.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Friday - Hill Work

Run: ~3 Miles
Terrain: Very Hilly
Time: 0:53:55

Pre-Run BG: 131 mg/dl
Post-Run BG: 98 mg/dl
Intake: 6 oz. Chocolate Silk Pre-run
Run Pump Status: 50% of Normal Basal Rate

Today, was a beautiful and cooler morning to start my hill workouts. The one somewhat redeeming factor about living on the big hill we live on is it's great for workouts (though not pleasant when you leave from the house on a 10 miler and have to finish your run up that sucker). I gauged myself perfectly. I started with an OK BG and took the Silk to bump it. I might have to find a larger hill as by the end of the last repeat I was like 40 ft from the edge of my driveway and the top of the hill. Got the HR's going and felt the push so it was a good run. The cool thing about hill work is that you literally see yourself progress as you're running, unlike a tempo run for example.





Thursday, July 9, 2009

Wednesday - Group Run

Run: 6 Miles
Terrain: Hilly and Windy (Rather Intestinal Trail)
Time: 0:58:43

Pre-Run BG: 161 mg/dl
Post-Run BG: 110 mg/dl
Intake: ~6 oz Hammer Gel
Run Pump Status: 50% of normal


    Perfect weather this evening for a nice little trail run in the park. Today, I started ticking off planned runs from the training program I've jumped into. So today's run was a Tempo Run. Six miles around the lake on what I would have called a rather intestinal-like trail. I hadn't been on this park trail before and being so much closer to home....I like it. Plus it's longer then the 4.2 miler that has been the main park run close to home. Options are great. Today, I turned my basal rate down to 50% of norm 1 hour prior to the run. Got to the park did a 20 minute warm up and then took-off with the group for a 2 x ( 8t / 2e) set. So, I got moving at a sustainable "t"ough pace and did that for 8 minutes. Then, a 2 minute recovery of "E"asy running. and then repeated. After the second set I finished the run at a moderate level and slowed down at the end. The sugars were freaking perfect. About half-way through the run I rad the CG as stating I was trending downward, so I kept up with the gel. However, at the same time I felt that my glucose was actually starting to jump from glycogen usage. Indeed, this was proven when I got back to the car and with in minutes the CG graph did a 360. Good, I knew what my body was saying. Next time I'll try to remember this and either slow down on the gel or, most likely, take a small amount of insulin to bump this down. I was very happy with the BG this run.





Friday, July 3, 2009

Friday - Slow Run / Speed Walk

Run: ~7 Miles
Terrain: Moderately Hilly
Time: 01:57:13

Pre-Run BG: 149 mg/dl
Post-Run BG: 78 mg/dl
Intake: 1 trail bar, 1 plum, 2 apricots, 1 cheese sandwich, 6 PB crackers
Run Pump Status: 50% of normal


   This was a treat. It was a nice little walk through moderately hilly park woods and trails at Long Sault Conservation Area. Plenty of open field and wooded trail. I would call it a trail runners dream. My glucose got a little low at about the lunch break time, so we stopped shortly after, I refueled the glucose tank, and ate lunch. Beautiful hiking out there and perfect 70 degree weather.






Thursday, July 2, 2009

Thursday - Easy Run

Run: ~6 Miles
Terrain: Park Walkway - mostly flat, some hills
Time: 01:15:13

Pre-Run BG: 133 mg/dl
Post-Run BG: 131 mg/dl
Intake: 3/4 oz Hammer Gel
Run Pump Status: 40% of Normal


OK, another "walk -in-the-park", but in the park this time. This was a perfect greenway run down to the lakefront. Nice and quiet. I enjoyed the run with my wife and a few black tree rats. I'm use to seeing grey ones, so it was interesting to see the black ones. Once again the glucose levels were good. I gelled up about every 30-40 minutes. Worked well.