So I read something very interesting today, well interesting to me as a Nike+ user/fan. They are releasing a Nike+ SportBand that will allow users to use the Nike+ system without an iPod. Don’t get me wrong, I love my iPod nano, but this solves two of my problems. First of all, I can go ahead and buy a waterproof case for my iPod that will keep it dry when I run (and double for pool use), using the SportBand as the data collector instead. (the nano Nike+ module wouldn’t fit inside the waterproof case) Secondly, when entering a race that prohibits headphones, I can just leave the iPod at home, but can still track the run with Nike+. I know, I know, I could always have used it without headphones plugged in, but it is easier to slap a band on my wrist than to stow the nano somewhere - and I don’t have to worry about carrying an expensive iPod with me, instead I just have the (rumored price) $59 SportBand.

ALSO, and just as cool in my opinion, is the Nike+ Coach they are adding soon that lets you set up a training schedule online and integrate it with Nike+ data - can’t wait to get my hands on this as well.

I’ve been a big fan of Nike+ since the day it came out, so I find this news pretty exciting. In fact I was going to publish a “Readers Write” post about Nike+ in response to a question I was asked by a friend contemplating whether or not to pony up for the nano/Nike+ solution. I’ll post that in the “continue reading” link on the bottom here, because it still tells my tale of love for Nike+.

Jamie, The Diabetic Runner+

continue reading "Nike+ about to get even cooler!"

DR Reader and fellow Diabetic Runner, Blogger, and CGMS-er, Ryan Nichols, sent me the story of his first marathon as we were emailing, and after reading it I felt I had to ask permission to post it here, and he kindly obliged. It is inspirational, and brings back memories of my first marathon experience… If you’ve done one, you’ll understand, if you are thinking of doing your first, check this out for some added motivation.

Ryan Nichols writes:

About four years ago I was in Washington D.C. for a work function; it is so clear in my mind now. A co-worker and I were flying home on October 26th. We almost missed our flight because our cab had to follow an alternate route due to the Marine Corps Marathon being run at that time. If someone would have told me then that in four years I would complete a marathon on that same course, I would have said, “You’re absolutely crazy.” Not only was I disinterested in running, but I did not think it was possible because I have diabetes. Well, four years have passed and I have completed 2 half marathons . . .and on Sunday October 28th, I completed the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington D.C. My first marathon!

Since my diagnosis eight years ago, I have been very conscientious of my health. In December of 2004, my girlfriend convinced me to start running with her. After doing many casual runs and a few short competitive runs, she talked me into a 15k run (9.3 miles). I did this, but I was worried how my blood sugar would react on a run of this distance. Well, it did not go very well. I had to stop running five times (almost 10 minutes) to check my blood sugar level. I also consumed many carbohydrates in order to finish the race; my time was 1:34:22. I am a very competitive person, and I was not happy with that time.

I did not think about tackling a distance longer than 15k until I started on the Continuous Glucose Monitoring System (CGMS). In October of 2006, I ran my first half marathon, the Dayton River Corridor. I started on the CGMS about a week before the race. It was all pretty new to me, but it gave me a very good idea of my blood sugar levels. I ran a 1:52:11, but had to stop a number of times because my BS was a little low. About six months later I tried another half marathon, the Flying Pig Half Marathon. This race went much better. I did not have to stop as much to fuel because I learned how many carbohydrates I should consume in order to continue running without going hypoglycemic. I ran a 1:50:13 on a much tougher course and I did not have to stop at all during the race. I was also able to maintain good Blood Sugars! After having two half marathons under my belt, I decided I was ready for a full marathon.

I set my sights on the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington D.C. Because the marathon takes place at the end of October, the 16-week training program must begin in July. The training program is designed so that the early weeks in training are lower mileage, and then it builds up to longer runs. My hope was that because the longer runs were later in the program, the heat would be less of a factor. Unfortunately, the heat played a very big factor and made most of the training very difficult, but I figured it would make me that much stronger when the weather cooled. The CGMS played a very integral role in my training in these hot temperatures, as the heat can cause my blood sugars to do some crazy things. It causes the highs and lows to be much more sudden, and the CGMS allows me to react sooner.

I went to Washington D.C. very confident that I could finish, but also very intimidated about the 26.2 miles distance. I read and heard numerous stories about a “wall” that exists in the marathon, and how the 20-mile mark is really the “half way” point. My goal for the Marathon was to keep my blood sugar in the range of 115 – 170, and to run the Marathon in 3 hours and 40 minutes. I have learned that if my blood sugar drops lower than 115 or exceed 170, I begin to feel it. Dropping below 100 is where problems really occur because it zaps my energy level, which takes a while to get back up. When I go above 200, I begin to feel a drop in energy, but it’s not quite as drastic as going low. This is why it’s imperative to always know where my blood sugar levels are.

Running a marathon is very demanding, but running a marathon with diabetes is even more difficult. These two factors make fueling (eating while running)imperative, because as you run your blood sugar levels drop. After trying many different products, I have settled on the Cliff Shot Blocks. There are six of these in a pack for a total of 48 carbohydrates. I carried four packs of these on me to last the whole race.

I woke up at 5 a.m. the morning of the race, and the start of the marathon was 8 a.m. My waking Blood Sugar was 160. I calibrated the CGMS, and I ate a protein bar (31g Carbs) and had a cup of coffee. I took my normal bolus for the meal. Right before I left the hotel room at 6:05 a.m., I checked my Blood Sugar one last time with a finger stick, which read 135. This would be the last time I would check my sugar (with a finger stick) until after the race.

The weather was perfect and the Inspirational talks by the Marines before the race were amazing! At 7:45 a.m., I checked my Continuous Glucose Monitoring System and it read 140, so I ate three shot blocks. I figured these would cover me for the next 3 miles. From that point, I took three shot blocks (24g Carbs) every three miles. My blood sugar never went higher than 165 nor lower than 125. I checked my pump for my blood sugar about every 10-15 minutes.

I tried so hard to hold back in the beginning, which I did pretty well. I stayed right ahead of the 3:40 pace group for about the first 16 miles. From there, I stayed with the 3:40 pacer. At about mile 20 I was going over my status in my head, and I kept wondering where was this “wall”? I continued this “status check” at every mile marker the rest of the way. It wasn’t until after the 25-mile mark that I felt a little twinge in my right hamstring going up an incline. I reached back and massaged the hamstring while I was running and it went away as the course flattened out. The hamstring turned out to be temporary, and with the crowds at the end, I felt like I floated across the finish line. I completed the race in 3:40:06.

Over the period of the whole race, my diabetes did not cost me a single second, and I attribute this to my training with the Continuous Glucose Monitoring System. When compared to my first Half Marathon, I would estimate that stopping to check my blood sugar cost me about four minutes. I did check my BS (finger stick) after the race and it matched my CGMS at 125!

If you are interested in seeing my splits you can go to http://results.active.com/pages/oneResult.jsp?pID=30850708&rsID=47350 My first half of the marathon was 1:49:01 and my second half was 1:51:05.

It is truly the most amazing thing I have ever done in my life, and I am already looking forward to the Flying Pig Marathon in May. My ultimate goal is to qualify for the Boston Marathon within the next three years. I truly believe that these dreams would not be possible without the use of the Minimed Pump and the Continuous Glucose Monitoring System. They have made this disease a starting gun instead of a roadblock in the race of life.

-Ryan Nichols

You can find Ryan’s blog at: http://www.runningthrudiabetes.blogspot.com/

Hey Ryan, Great race! Great blood sugars! Great report! Thanks so much for sharing,
Jamie, The Diabetic Runner

Jeff Howett Writes:

Hey Jamie,
I’ve been a type 1 diabetic since I was 21, and I’m 46 now. I’ve always been active in all sports. I’ve managed to keep my weight down all these years and experienced very few problems realted to this disease. I’m thinking about running again and wanted to know what you thought was the best running shoe for me. Recently I’ve experienced some pain in my right foot and have started putting inserts in my shoes for padding. What brand/type of shoe would you recommend for padding for the ball of my feet. I just bought some Misuno Wave Inspire II but haven’t had the chance to try them out on the road. Just wondered what you wear and or recommend.

Respectfully,
Jeff Howett

DR Responds:

Jeff,

First off, congratulations on living with diabetes for 25 years while keeping youself in shape, and problems to a minimum! This is great news, and an inspiration to the rest of us with less D-experience.

Here’s my thoughts on shoes, err feet and running I should say. First off, I really believe in paying for a good pair (read few pairs) of socks! When I started running, I wore cotton, because that’s what I had, and I didn’t know any better. *NASTY BLISTERS ENSUE* I went to a running store and told them I needed new shoes because I was getting blisters, a big no-no for us feet-conscious insulin consumers. They asked what kind of socks I was wearing, and immediately pointed out my first mistake. I’ve tried several brands and have found one that I love (and have NEVER since gotten a blister): Balega Enduros. They are well ventilated, something I also look for in a shoe, to keep my feet dry (an important part of not getting blisters), they have a bit of padding in them, more than other socks I’ve tried (every little bit helps as I have knee problems), and most importantly, NO COTTON!

So, feet are covered with great socks, and now it’s time to put on the rubber that we put to the road. I’ve not tried a gazillion different shoes. I HAVE tried Nike Shox, Asics GT 2080’s, Saucony Hurricane 8’s, Pearl Izumi, and finally Asics Gel Kayano’s. I found the Nike’s to be cool looking, but terrible while running… I used them for 2 weeks, and had more aches and pains than I could shake a stick at - just my personal experience - plus I under-pronate, and this shoe offered little stability - something else I learned about at the running shop. The Asics GT’s were great, I wore these when I started out and couldn’t really complain, but then again, I knew so little back then, that any ache or pain I had was always contributed to being a noob. The Saucony’s were my workhorse shoe - I trained and ran my first marathon in these, and they worked quite well for me, some cushion, and some stability. When they were dead (I shoot for 300 - 400 miles) I went to look at shoes again, but wanted to try something different. Pearl Izumi was a brand I knew for all their triathlon and cycling gear, and they had recently put out a pretty cool looking shoe that I HAD to try. Looks, GREAT, ventilation, SUCKED. The running shop I go to let me take them home and try them out on a treadmill with the expectation that if I didn’t like them, I could return them - needless to say these went back to the store. I left the store with some Gel Kayano’s - they are an upgrade from the GT’s I had started with - offering some stability, plenty of ventilation, and more cushion (esp. in the fore-foot - like you, I wanted more cushion for the balls of me feet). I LOVED THEM. Now I continue to buy just these. While they won’t prevent me from developing an overuse injury, I’ve yet to experience the pains I had in the past, and haven’t had a blister or black toenail yet (I buy them 1/2 size bigger than the rest of my shoes).

You mentioned inserts. Whenever I buy shoes they recommend inserts, as the inserts that come with new shoes are typically crap. I used them with all my shoes until my second pair of Gel Kayano’s. I got lazy and didn’t put them in, but haven’t had any problems. I guess it’s a personal thing, but if you are looking for more cushion, they are highly recommended. I will add my own experience here though. When I tried “running” inserts, the arch always seemed too high - maybe this was the way they support the arch, and while I’m not flat-footed, they seemed too high to me, so I was always buying FLAT inserts for the cushion without the higher arch areas. Also, if you do use them, be sure to cut them to fit properly, and if you notice them while running, I would suggest trimming them - as you really shouldn’t notice that they are in your shoe - I guess that goes for trying shoes in general - the best fitting shoes feel like a natural extension of your foot. If you feel any pressure when trying them on, you can imagine this pressure x 300 as you wear them for long periods of time while running.

So those are my experiences, but here is the best advice I can give you while finding new running shoes, advice I was once given and am simply passing on: Find a good running shoe store and have them help you find your shoe. Everyone’s body is different, there is no one perfect shoe, only one perfect shoe for YOU. And it’s not always easy finding it, but experienced people can help narrow down the field, meeting your individual requirements, and then you can focus on a few shoes until you find the right one. When I say running shoe store, I don’t mean Foot Locker or something, I recommend a shop that specializes in all things running. If they don’t make you try on shoes and run while they watch you, looking at your gait, FIND ANOTHER STORE. And make sure the person you are working with is an experienced runner, and not just a high-schooler working a summer job. These specialty shops typically employ experienced folks that know what to look for in your running style, and know which products are well suited for you. After that, it’s a matter of trying them out until you are happy. Sure it costs more to go there, rather than purchasing online, but their input, and things like my ability to return a less-than-perfect fit are some of the benefits they offer, and if you ask me - IT’S WORTH IT.

There are other readers/runners here that put in many more miles, and have been doing this much longer than I have, so please chime in with your advice by leaving comments as well…

Hope this helps, and good luck rediscovering running,
Jamie, The Diabetic Runner