Heat, diabetes & marathon training – oh my!

These weeks of marathon training are passing so quickly now. With only 16 weeks left to train until the Athens Marathon, we’re not losing steam. In fact, the training is starting to become more of a habit!

This week, the realities of summer heat, living with Type 1 diabetes and the rigors of training got real. Here’s what this week looked like and a few lessons I’ve learned.

What the heck?

I thought, if you’re following along, you might want to see what Rob and I are doing each day.

Mind you, each week is different! Each week brings different durations, intensities and more. We are not Olympic champions: we’re two regular people, with VERY demanding jobs, trying to train for the Athens Marathon!

I’d really love it if my finish line pics show me smiling versus dead. So, here’s what we achieved this past week.

Sunday: Aerobic Speed Endurance (35min)

Fantastic run! Strong. Beautiful afternoon run. Rob got sidetracked when he stopped to chat with some friends but that’s cool. Life is too short to not enjoy the journey!

Monday: Recovery

Yay!

Tuesday: Aerobic Endurance (40min)

We ran a steady pace around the river. We got up early and basically woke up while running. After, I asked Rob, “So when do you actually think you woke up?” and he replied with, “Probably half way in.” We were officially zombie runners on this morning. I remember the moment I think I woke up… I was rounding the corner of the marina, the sun was fresh and gleaming, the boats looked pristine and I knew it was going to be a great day! It was.

Wednesday: Tempo Run (40min)

Rob was my motivation this day. He’s the guy that requires copious amounts of sleep but strangely, on this morning, he got up, said, “Laura – let’s just get out there and get it done!”

If he hadn’t been so direct, I sincerely would have gone back to bed! My mind was tired from my work. I was exhausted with the many levels of having a customer service based career. I hadn’t been sleeping well and overall, I wasn’t in the best place mentally.

The mind is the force! The body simply follows.

That’s when I learned, the mind is basically the force. The body simply follows. After our tempo run, I thanked Rob for keeping me on track. The quick upbeat 40-minute run, with punchy run tunes, not only helped alleviate my negativity, but I also felt like I’d achieved a mental barrier. Had I listened to my mind, I’d have felt even more negative for not achieving my training goals.

Thank you Rob! We’re a good pair; a “power couple” as some have said!

Thursday: Strength (40min)

Oh thank goodness for strength training. Strength training is like peanut butter to me. It is so good.

I love everything about strength training. I even love the feeling of the sore muscles 1-2 days later. I love how strength training ups my metabolism and just makes me feel like I’m alive.

OK, enough with the mushy stuff. This was a rough one. I returned to my original strength way-back play-back kinda training regimen to help me build myself up again: P90X! I did a total body workout. My core needs help and I’m about as flexible as a toothpick right now, but progress will be made. I am committed!

Friday: Recovery

Yay!

Saturday: Strength (40min) + Aerobic Speed Endurance (38min)

I don’t know about you, but as someone living with Type 1 diabetes, my passion for strength training is often coupled with my hatred of the resulting high blood sugars. Strength training increases my blood sugars. Nuff said.

It has always been a bittersweet battle but the pros outweigh the cons. I have experimented with various regiments (like bolusing a little insulin before a workout). Anyway, after a good strength training session, my metabolism fires for nearly 24 hours.

After this specific session, my blood sugars increased for a short time and my metabolism was definitely more on par for the next 12-16 hours. This means, I required less insulin.

iLet Clinical Trial

I am currently in a clinical trial for the iLet (an artificial pancreas by BetaBionics). As a participant of this out-patient trial, we are encouraged to live life as we do! Regardless, the iLet definitely took notice of my increased metabolism from the strength training and tried to adjust my insulin doses accordingly. Pretty cool technology! I sincerely can’t wait to own an iLet. For now, I’m just excited to be part of its beginnings… one day, it will be available for all. I see true benefit for athletes living with Type 1 Diabetes or anyone just trying to be active using iLet artificial pancreas. Exercise has always been a stress in this life with Type 1 Diabetes. It will be fantastic!

In the evening, Rob and I tried to go for a quick speed run. Sadly, the Boston temperatures are so high right now that it was almost too difficult. My running performance suffered greatly!!

In addition, I had a spontaneous high blood sugar after dinner (I ate a salad – wtf?) so I started my run in a pretty bad spot. My blood sugars are always very controlled so strangely, this did not make sense and I was not used to having a high blood sugar.

Running a speed interval (a fairly intense, aerobic workout) with a high blood sugar is bad. Just don’t. Lessons learned. To describe the sensation, my energy level was epically low. In addition, my saliva turned to gum. I sincerely felt the need to spit (and I’m not a spitting kinda gal).

Do not run/workout with a high blood sugar. Just don’t.

Sunday (today): Aerobic Endurance (1h 05min)

I always love long run days! I was sad that the temperatures were (once again) so high here in Boston. I decided to use adult logic and not run. Instead, we walked!

Rob & I were scheduled to run 1 hour and 5 minutes at a moderate pace. To compensate for the crazy temperatures, we walked at a brisk pace to/from the pharmacy to pick up my osteoporosis pills (omg, I know. I’m really not an old gal, yet… I don’t think).

We both broke a sincere sweat and my Fitbit told me that I was in fat burn mode the entire way. Yay! 1 hour and 5 minutes later we returned home, completely drenched in sweat. Rob and I both changed our clothes, including our underwear(!) and felt much better. Sweaty underwear is never fun.

In Summary

This week of marathon training flew by. Rob and I are making great progress. I’m monitoring our metrics (yes, I love data) and our heart rate and speeds are improving each week. We are well on track for the Athens Marathon.

However, the cost of this trip is sincerely beyond our budget. On our walk today, we chatted about this. The registrations are thankfully refundable. We haven’t booked our flights.

As two crazy middle-aged kids, we know that if the trip doesn’t make sense, we will be adult enough to not go. This is on our minds very heavily right now. Neither of us are rich. Every penny counts. More to come.

PS. If Athens can’t happen, I have a full list of possibilities. Not giving up!! Our efforts are for our health, not our milestones.

Contact me or post below with any questions or comments!