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.

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.

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.

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.