Tag Archives: diabetes

5K – Finally, a fun event.

July 16, 2012 – 7:09 am

Sunday was the day for the annual Pikesville 5K run. It’s a very low key event, featuring hundreds of runners, most of whom live within a 15 minute drive of the course. We live about 5 minutes away, and I have to say: it’s nice to sleep in your own home the night before, wake up about an hour and a half before the start, and still have plenty of time to get ready.

So how did I do?

Race-wise, about as well as expected. Better even, considering I hadn’t trained very hard for this one. And this is a tough course. It’s almost entirely downhill for the first half; and since it’s an out-and-back course, it means the second half was almost entirely uphill. My time was 27:42 (did I mention I’m a slow runner?), 150th out of 541 runners. Sixteenth out of 47 in my age group. As I’ve said before, my goals in something like this are the same: 1) Finish the race, 2) Finish better than half the field, 3) Finish better than half the field in my age group. Based on that criteria, I did pretty well.

How ’bout BG-wise? Well, um…. not so good.

My morning reading was 68. That’s too low for me before vigorous exercise, so I had to eat something before the race, which I hate to do. But I got myself up to 152 before the race. I set a temp basal (0.55 units) for an hour. But then I definitely over-carbed at the post-race spread. A bagel, an apple, and some orange juice. Without bolusing. I paid for that later when I shot up to 323(!). So I had to go low with the carb count at lunch, and with a well thought out bolus, and I was back at 90 before dinner. What is it that I’ve read about? The Glucocoaster? Yeah, I was on that.

But the nicest part of the event, and of the day, is that Maureen and Rachel were able to be there to cheer me on. Also, I was able to run with several friends who also run every year. It’s a low-pressure, high-fun get together that makes me feel good. And I have to admit that I think I needed that right now. I’d share some more photos, but no one got a photo of me actually running in the race. So I only have this to share with you:

With our friends Jill & Iris after the race. Feels like a reunion coming to this event every year.

Hope your week is great!

By StephenS | Posted in Exercise | Also tagged , | Comments (1)

Like These Links

July 13, 2012 – 7:23 am

It’s Ladie’s day here at LTL… three posts from some inspiring and interesting writers:
 
 
Scully at Canadian D-gal has one of the many, and one of the most interesting takes on her experience at Friends for Life last week:
http://canadiandgal.blogspot.com/2012/07/friends-for-life-from-bloggers.html
 
 
 
Cara at Every Day Every Hour Every Minute has one of those great D-Meetup stories:
http://countrygirldiabetic.blogspot.com/2012/07/any-time-is-good-time.html
 
 
 
AmyT at Diabetes Mine talks about mixed emotions… yeah, me too:
http://www.diabetesmine.com/2012/07/ode-to-mixed-emotions.html
 
 
 
Enjoy the weekend!
 
 
 

By StephenS | Posted in Like these links | Also tagged , | Comments (0)

Low Tech.

July 11, 2012 – 7:00 am

When your infusion set is on its 5th day, and you really want to keep it from working its way out before you squeeze the last few drops of d-fuel from your reservoir, you’ll do just about anything to keep it in.
 
 

 
 
I’m kind of embarrassed to show this photo, actually. But not enough to change out my set a day early.
 
 
 

By StephenS | Posted in Pumps | Also tagged , | Comments (3)

Aftermath, Part 2.

July 8, 2012 – 4:28 pm

A freak storm came through the Mid-Atlantic about 11:00 p.m. Friday, June 29. The main part of the storm lasted 45 minutes, uprooting trees and downing power lines. More than 1 million residents lost power in the corridor from Baltimore southwest to Northern Virginia. Some are still without power.
Owing to the fact that all news is local, here’s the take from our little part of the world in the past week.

Some interesting things happen when you go through something like we have in the past week.

For some, it’s a bonding experience. I’ve suffered the way you have, and that connects us (PWDs understand this, yes?). Others feel that the way to bond is to tell us how tragic their story is; making their story sound worse than yours helps them feel more important. That bothers some people. But I understand that… it’s human nature.

Some people escape. Neighborhood’s a wreck? No power? Let’s find a hotel room, or go to our vacation home. Tweet when it’s over, bro.

Still others stick it out. Through thick and thin, hot and cold, wind and rain, they are there helping others where they can, and hunkering down when necessary. Not always nice– equal parts cranky and sweet, persistent and persnickety, every neighborhood needs these helpful, faithful residents.

And then there are the rocks. The ones who never talk about themselves but always find time to ask how you’re doing, if you need help with something, if they can pick up anything for you at the store. I try to share that kind of compassion, but I have to admit that sometimes my efforts come up a bit short.

Just some observations from connecting with my neighbors again this past week. Not a point to any of this, really. Except to say that I feel closer to my neighbors after everything we’ve been through. While I would like to get away to the mountains, I chose to stay. And although it’s trying at times, I try to help with a kind word, or an invite to the “Let’s grill all the meat in the freezer before it spoils” barbecue. Most of all, I’m so happy that everyone is safe. Nothing more important than that.

All of these photos were taken by The Great Spousal Unit or myself, and are within two small blocks of our home.

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By StephenS | Posted in Additional Inspiration | Also tagged | Comments (0)

Friends for Life Roundup – July 6.

July 6, 2012 – 7:12 am

As I mentioned Wednesday, the d-blogosphere is blowing up about the Children with Diabetes Friends for Life get-together in Orlando this week. I was going to try and post all of the links I could find once everything was over, but there are a lot out there already and I’m very busy with home stuff right now. So here are links to everything I could find. I am very, very happy for everyone who is attending and having the time of their lives. Keep those posts coming. And look for the #FFL12 Twitter hashtag.

Here’s what I’ve found so far, in no particular order. If you know of another post that I haven’t linked to here, let me know and I’ll add it to the list. For the first time, I’m also adding twitter handles.

Diabetesaliciousness: And So It Begins
Twitter: @diabetesalish
 
 
A Consequence of Hypoglycemia: Baker’s Dozen Podcast
Boothtacular
Twitter: @iam_spartacus
 
 
Candy Hearts: Friends for Life 2012: The First Days
Twitter: @MrsCandyHearts 
 

Six Until Me: Happy 4th of July
Twitter: @sixuntilme
 
 
Strangely Diabetic: Friends for Life, Round 2!
A thin line
Twitter: @Strangely_T1
 
 
Everything Juvenation at FFL: Juvenation Live at CWD Friends for Life 2012
 
 
A Sweet Life: Friends for Life 2012: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Carbs
Twitter: @A_Sweet_Life
 
 
 

By StephenS | Posted in Like these links | Also tagged , , | Comments (0)