I have never recorded a DNF in my running career…. until last night.
I was planning to run the 8 on the 8th run (another virtual race) on Sunday. That morning, I got up late, and because we were taking the kids to the SF Symphony’s Christmas for Kids, I decided I would be pushing it to try to get the run in prior to the event. I would run later in the day, or in the evening I thought.
Afternoon came, and nope - that wasn’t going to happen.
Evening came, and I was hovering a bit low, but it was about 3 hours after giving insulin for dinner. I try never to run within 3 hours of a bolus because it will almost guarantee I bonk with a low. I drank some juice and ate a slice of peanut butter bread to “get it up.” It didn’t really do anything… I still went over and started with a gel before running… my basal, by the was, had been turned down to 30%, a bit lower than usual, but I couldn’t get my BG up, so I thought this was okay.
I started off on the treadmill, only to 1). see the Golden State Warriors lose to the Lakers, 2). have lots of cramping and fatigue in my calves, 3). get low by 2 miles. Another gel, and actually a bit of walking to let it work its way in… I felt a bit better, and started to run again, but with some doubt that I would be able to finish… I’ll just keep running and walking I thought… something I usually don’t do. Another mile in, and I was feeling low, and the CGM let me know that the last 2 gels had NO effect!!!! Another gel, and another walk… then started up again… STILL feeling low, and still no movement on the GCM monitor…. I thought, Okay, mile 4 and I’m out of here… I hit mile 4 and packed it up - DEFEATED! and still in the low 70’s.
Of course as I headed home and showered, the gels started to kick in - lots of good you are doing me now I thought, then I bolused 3 units to keep from bouncing all the way to 200!
My first DNF - well at least I didn’t pay for this race I thought… I do worry however that one of these days, a day like this will present itself during a BIG, IMPORTANT race for me… then what? Will I have the common sense to stop running like I did last night? I hope so.
BONKED,
Jamie, The Diabetic Runner
3 people have commented on this post
Jamie, check out my notes on what Lauren (my sports nutritionist) told me yesterday. Waking up a bit late and the slight alteration in your eating habits may have had a HUGE impact on the lows during your run.
Gotta love the late gel kick in though!
Jamie,
Everytime I think that I have problems, I try to read your blog. Then I understand that my life really is a cakewalk.
When I bonk (knock on wood) it is because of something in my psyche that won’t allow me to face it and work it through.
You have the same plus a lot on the side. It may sound callous, but you inspire me because I really don’t have what you to deal with. True there is a macabre shadow that runs alongside of me in that I may have to face type II eventually, but I try (most of the time) to keep it away through my diet and exercise.
Thanks for the inspiration, man!
Charlie
Glad to be an inspiration, but it’s all relative - When I read Elijah’s story, I feel like I live the cakewalk - Funny how it works, we all have somthing we are trying to overcome. For me it’s diabetes, and I am pretty glad that’s it - I’ve accepted it, and have even learned to embrace it as you can see here!
Keep up the good work, and thanks again Charlie for all your kind contributions here - glad to have you as a friend!
Jamie