No, not that kind of ITBS!!! It seems that I have recently experienced my first bout of Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS). (I’ve been dealing with the IT BS in the picture for years.) A few weeks ago on some of my longer runs, I noticed a “twinge” on the outside of my left knee. This is my “good” knee, as in not the one with a surgically repaired ACL. The few times it happened, I wrapped up my run at that point, stretched it out and called it a day - with no lingering effects (thankful that the few times it did happen, I was on a treadmill and could just stop without worrying about getting back home). Yesterday evening, I was near the end of a 10-miler, not on a treadmill, and it resurfaced. I stopped to walk, did a couple quick stretches, and resumed running. It would reappear shortly afterwards, so after trying the walk-run thing a few times, I caved in and walked the last .25 miles home - glad that it had waited until the end of this run when I was quite close to home.

This is a new one for me - and I’ve got a lot of learning to do to figure out how best to heal and prevent it from reoccuring, but I’ve found a TON of information on this since it appears to be one of the most common running injuries out there. So, why me, and why now. There are many thoughts on why this occurs, one of them being related to weight lifting, and muscle imbalance. Since I’ve been running for quite some time without suffering this sort of injury, I’m inclined to think that it has to do with my new strenght training - since the symptoms started around the same time as some of my new lower body workouts. Time now to talk with the trainers on some specific exercises and stretches, and talk with my Dr. that I am scheduled to see on the 29th anyway. The really good news is that I’ve caught this thing quite early, so I’m hopeful that I can deal with it without missing a ton of the training season. The bad news is that cycling isn’t recommended, so I may pass on the Tour de Cure this year - given my lack of training recently on the bike, it’s probably not a bad thing anyway. Will post when I have more info to share on this one.

So, the pump funny… Well, last Tuesday my sister was over, and as you know she uses the Paradigm Pump and CGMS just as I do. Usually one of our pumps will start the chirping, and we both reach to see who’s it is. This night I heard the beep beep beep of a Low Reservoir Alert, but instead of reaching for my pump I proclaimed, “Your pump speaks Texan!” You see, the pump doesn’t let you adjust volume for the beeps, just length, and my sister set hers to the medium length, where mine is set to the short length. So, while the chirps were recognizable, they seemed to come out with a bit of southern drawl to them. Anyway - I guess this joke is sort of like a VW commercial - “own one and you’ll understand.” But at least now we know who’s pump is lipping off!

Final thought - I haven’t abandoned the post-run BG spike topic - I’ve just been doing a bit more research, including adjusting my basals to test my theory. Hope to get back to that in the next week or so.

Full of IT, BS, and now ITBS,
Jamie, The Diabetic Runner

Not only have I recently watched the Michael Moore movie Sicko (and given just 2 stars on Netflix - sorry, but I liked his other movies better), but I’ve also recently played the part! I picked up something from the kids (or given the number of blog postings I’ve read at all your sites, maybe I got it from YOU, VIRTUALLY), a nasty stomach flu, and it’s been keeping me down this week.

I’m happy to say that I think it’s passed, and I can resume working out tonight. Funny thing - with all the challenges, and my obsessiveness over logging and posting my training data, I felt stressed about not running etc. I had to take a step back and come to terms with being human, admitting that I need to address my life and health in addition to my training. It’s not like I’m professional, and losing something by taking a break for a week, but it sure was hard to stop visiting the gym or lace up my shoes. With things now in perspective, I’ve regained my health, and am ready to rejoin the pack!

Thanks to the Diabetic OC for keeping me entertained the past few days,
Jamie, The Diabetic Runner

Here I was, walking down the stairs after a strength training workout, headed for the locker room to shower before returning to work. Suddenly I hear “We have a code blue in the men’s locker room, repeat code blue in the men’s locker room.” No more than 2 seconds after this is announced I see 4 men and women run towards the men’s locker room. One woman had an arm full of towels, and a man carried a gray kit that looked like a toolbox. I don’t even know how they could have grabbed those things so quickly, but boy were they prompt. Three seconds later, a woman comes running from behind asking me to make way as she too rushed in. Then I entered the men’s locker room.

People were croweded around an older man, holding him as he appeared unconscious. They were asking him if he could hear them…. to squeeze their hands if he could hear them, as they spoke his name (I don’t know how they knew him, but it was amazing.) I went to my locker to give them space… I have taken CPR and medic first aid courses, but knew these people were well trained, so as the thought of offering help crossed my mind, I could tell there were plenty of trained personnel already working on him - and the magic toolbox had first aid and oxygen in it. I made my way to my locker and as I heard them say, “put down some towels, and let’s lay him down,” something must have changed for this guy, because I heard the best line of the day - “Oh, there you are… Do you know where you are?” And a sigh of relief came over the crowd of people attending to this gentleman. They had called 911, and were asking him questions about hitting his head, and if he had fainted earlier in the day, etc…. I could hear the man answering their questions at this point, and a sigh of relief came over me too, petrified in the next row of lockers.

I was asked to leave through the pool rather than past the scene of this poor man laid out naked on the floor with a towel covering his manliness. I finished dressing minus a shower, and while a woman, presumably the man’s wife, came in from the pool to see me dressing, wearing only my “undies”. There was no sense of privacy - and none needed, this was life and death for a few minutes… I made my way out to the car in time to see a firetruck and ambulance roll up and “walk” in. It seemed this guy was going to be okay. WHEW!

I sat in the car and literally had a quick cry as I recalled what I had just witnessed… Finally I made my way back to work, a little shaken, but very conscious of just how precious life is, and thinking of the face of the lady coming in to see her husband. When we die, or come close to death, the worst part may just be for those that aren’t coming along with us. I shuddered to think of my family having to deal with that scenario had that been me. I reassured myself that I am taking the best care of my health that I can, I watch my diabetes closely as I work out to avoid a similar situation, and I wear a RoadID when I’m exercising so that if something should happen, the angels that find me know what’s going on. I will stay within my limits, pushing them gently as I look to extend them, but know there’s more to life than just working out - like LIVING.

Hoping my only “code” in the men’s locker room will be the one to my lock,
Jamie, The Diabetic Runner

So yesterday I went for a run after work. I planned to do about 5 miles on the treadmill while watching some hoops on TV. Over the past few weeks, my mileage has been down and frequency down too, and as a result my annoying groin strain seems to have disappeared. It’s been pestering me for a few months, not to the degree that it did last year when I had to take 4 full weeks off to recover, but enough that after my runs I kept thinking how nice it would be to start and finish without this nagging feeling of “I hurt a little, and if I go further will I really reinjure it?” Well yesterday’s run was PERFECT, no sign of ANY nagging injury feelings. So as I passed the 5 mile mark feeling great I decided “it’s my 34th birthday, so I think I’ll run and hour and 34 minutes and see where I end up.” I did with no problems in the groin, and ended up at 10.47 miles. A great run.

BUT, I FORGOT SOMETHING…. on runs over an hour I usually slap on some Bodyglide on the thighs and under arms. I didn’t for this run, and as a result, my pits have some chafing from my singlet rubbing them for such an extended period of time… I didn’t notice the rubbing, or chafing until I hit the shower, and WHAM, you know that feeling when the salt water pours into a wound….YEEEOOOOW!

Not to sound like your mother, but wear clean underwear, and don’t forget to lube!

Elbows out today,
Jamie, The Diabetic Runner

I usually try to avoid taking anything I don’t need to be taking - but recently I feel like I’m on a first name basis with the pharmacist.

I went to the Dr. for an ear infection yesterday and he prescribed some antibiotics and ear drops - cool, and they are already working, but it made me think of all the crap I’m taking these days…

Left to right:
1). Novolog insulin via pump for my diabetes
2). Test strips, while not a drug, I use them to test my blood sugar
3). Ear drops for my recent ear infection - only 9 more days of use thankfully
4). Antibiotic for my recent ear infection - only 6 more days of use thankfully
5). Cozaar for my diabetes - it’s a preventitive thing, and also helps lower blood pressure.
6). Naproxen - I use this occasionally for runnning pains. It’s a non-steroidal anti-inflamatory
7). Dex4 - not really a drug but it’s fast acting sugar to quickly fix low blood sugars
8). Glucosamine - this is used for lubricating joints, and promoting healthy cartilage - for running (but I never remember to take this)

So whew! Am I ready to play baseball already? Will the combination of these make me a superstar? Nah, for now I’m just focusing on my diabetes and ridding myself of this ear infection so I can get back in the pool again. After all, I committed to doing a 70.3 next year - I must have been on something… why yes, I’m on a lot of things….

What are you on?,
Jamie, The Diabetic Runner

Kicked off the new year at a steakhouse, and finished dinner with the A1c-crumpling “Chocolate Indulgence.” I actuall wrote “A1C?” on the side of the plate… hope the person doing dishes is diabetic, and laughing still at my choco-scribe.

I’m back, and what I got for Christmas was some rest - my strained groin from last year has returned, and I’ve been giving up some miles in exchange for a healthy body - and it made me realize that training for marathons is hard on the body - so I’m planning to drop the March 1 Napa Valley Marathon in exchange for another challenge…. my first 70.3. For those wondering, it’s 1.2 miles of swimming, 56 miles of biking, and 13.1 miles of running. (followed by 24 ounces of beer drinking goodness!) I’m still committed to my running first and foremost, but want to tackle this beast next year!

RESOLUTIONS
This year I will allow myself only 1 hamburger per month.
This year I will allow myself only 1 donut per quarter.
This year I will contribute to the Diabetes 365 Project.
This year I will resume swimming and biking in addition to running.
This year I will run 1000 miles.
This year I will prepare for a 70.3 triathlon in 2009.

This year I will ROCK!

Jamie, The Diabetic Runner

Good news and bad news…

The good news is my training for the March Napa Valley Marathon is going quite well. All the little aches and pains in my lower right leg (the right knee had ACL reconstruction in 2001 BTW - and I believe most of my issues are the result of some sort of overcompensating) have vanished! I had a fantastic 12+ miler on Sunday. It was quite windy, but I battled through this and felt fantastic. Sometimes a great run like this is all that’s needed to keep my confidence and interest up as a runner, and boy was it an ON day.

The bad news - I’ve yet to receive my replacement data cable for the CGM, so I haven’t been able to post my BG’s for quite some time now. And as we’ve crossed into December, it’s driving me nuts to see an empty calendar of BGs on the right side of this blog. I will call again to see what’s going on with the replacement. Keep your fingers crossed!

Data starved data junkie,
Jamie, The Diabetic Runner

Short and Sweet describes yesterday perfectly.

First of all, after a week off, I gave into temptation and put the new shoes on for a run. The shoes felt good, and more importantly, the foot felt great! No pain during or after the run, though I must admit it was indeed short and sweet, at just 2.5 miles. But it’s a step in the right direction.

Short and sweet also describes perfectly my succumbing to another temptation. Krispy Kreme.

GASP! Well it’s no secret that my biggest diabetic (and runner for that matter) flaw is my love of donuts. Yesterday morning I stopped at the market and rather than buying just one, I bought a 6-pack of donuts figuring I would share them with my co-workers… turns out they didn’t take me up on the offer, and I ended up finishing them ALL off on my own… DOUBLE GASP!!!! But I have another secret to put your gluco-conscious minds at ease. Here it is, my patent-pending addition to my pump: The donut button:

Back in the saddle, and determined to put in another 80 miles by year end to take my Nike+ total to the 500 mile mark! Two other quick thoughts… 1). Time to publish another podcast- SORRY FOR MY PROCRASTINATION 2). Thinking of writing a web application that graphs nike+ run data and continuous glucose monitor data in one nice graph to see BG’s while running… and possibly opening it up to other diabetic runners. Any thoughts?

Sweet Running to you,
Jamie, The Diabetic Runner

Here are the photos from last weekend’s race!

Notice the yellow “Pray for Elijah” wristband on my right wrist. This race and those smiles are for you Elijah!

What a happy looking runner. What wasn’t to love… the weather was fantastic, music was entertaining, water plentiful, and fellow runners all pumped up about a great race. Little did I know that my right foot wouldn’t be so happy the next day. As it turns out, last nights 5 miler was cut to 3 because the pain started back in after completely disappearing yesterday morning. Finished without putting too much strain on it, took some more NSAID’s, iced, compressed, and elevated - we’ll see how this weekend goes, but I have a feeling the missing “R” from the old RICE recovery method will be due next week, so expect to see my mileage fall off for a bit while I get back to 100%

Happy running to all,
Jamie, The Diabetic Runner

Huh?

Well here’s the scoop. After running the Rock’n'Roll Half marathon last weekend, I noticed some pain on the outside part of my right foot. +1 day after the event I wrote it off as normal, but when it continued at +2 days I wondered about it… I did some searching online and self-diagnosed it as peroneal insertional tendonitis, though I’m not too sure now. The reason for my uncertainty is this: Last night (+3 days), I took a NSAID, and this morning the pain is completely gone. No trace! And there had been constant irritation since the race. The stuff I had read lead me to believe that if this was in fact PIT, that it would linger for quite some time. The real test will be my run tonight - to see if the pain resumes with running as the description supplies. Otherwise everything was a perfect fit - the location, the absence of excess swelling, the cause (running on uneven surfaces - the race had a lot of running on very crowned streets - so much that I noticed it, could feel the effect, and tried to find flat surfaces). Hopefully it’s just a short-lived ache of running 13.1, and I’ll move on to the next 13.1 this weekend in prime shape.

So what about the thumbs…. Well on Tuesday, I received my new phone, a Palm Centro. And since my weekday runs are usually done at night in the gym, there was some competition for my attention, which was won by the phone, defeating the treadmill by a good 5 miles. Actually, given the foot issue, it was a no-brainer to spend time getting acquainted with my new little friend. In a word, it’s COOL! And my thumbs are getting a good workout! Hope they carry their share of the load this Sunday as I run.

In other news, I’m getting pretty psyched about the run this Sunday, and, just as cool, will get to run my pre-race-day run with Maddy, who is visiting San Francisco this weekend to run the Nike Women’s Marathon. We’re planning to head out for a few easy miles on Saturday, the day before each of us runs our own races. Looking forward to meeting her, as I’ve been reading her blog leading up to this race, along with many others’ that she has actually had the priviledge of running with in Florida. But really you guys, Florida? I’m sure it’s delightful, but the lack of humidity and consistently cool temperatures of the bay area are unbeatable… any chance in moving next year’s Great Dolphin Run to San Francisco? Just kiddin’!

Finally, I want to wish good luck this weekend to a bunch of bloggers/runners/racers that I seem to read about all the time:

Shirley: Siouxland Louis and Clark Marathon, October 20th.

Melisa a.k.a “Irish Blue”: Columbus Half Marathon, October 21st.

Petra: Amsterdam Marathon, October 21st.

Maddy: Nike San Francisco Women’s Marathon, October 21st.

Marathon Chris: U Can Finish 5 Miler, October 21st.

I don’t know if any of you make it to my blog on occasion, but just in case…

GOOD LUCK!,
Jamie, The Diabetic Runner