DSMA February Blog Carnival, Part Two

The most awesome thing I've done in spite of diabetes is ...
In January 2009, I was on the phone with Rebel when she told me that she was going to try to qualify for the Global Heroes race.  "You should do it too."  And I agreed.  The deadline for the application was April 1.  I didn't have much time to start training (it started the next day).  I looked up a training log online and started my work (I would link it for you, but I don't remember which one it was.)  I liked this training log because it wasn't about how fast you were going, just that you were doing it.  It was a 7 day per week program, but included a day of rest, and a day of stretching.  It also included days of other exercise, based on how long you did it.  To complete these days, I would head down to cross-country ski or to the hotel between where I was living and school and do laps at the pool.  I was dedicated.  And even though I'm not a runner, I did it.  The log scheduled ten weeks, and I had 9.5 between the day I decided to do it and my race, which was 10.5 miles.  On one of those weeks, I got sick.  It wasn't the flu, but it knocked me out, that's for sure.  I can remember driving to school early, running a 5 mile loop, and then sitting in class for an hour (extra fidgety since I hadn't showered yet - I had changed though).  Still though, there was a lot of anxiety.  But c'mon, who doesn't want the chance to win a $1000 to give to a diabetes group in your name?  I was determined to do this.  I went to my parents house a few weeks before the race and ran an 8 mile loop.  My mother drove by at one point, and I only walked when I was sucking down a juice box (or tabs or something, I don't remember the specifics).  But I finally felt empowered that I could run this race.  My father was nervous and didn't think I could do it; not because I couldn't, but because we don't train the same way.  And if he was the one that was training, he couldn't have done it the way I did.  I didn't care how long it took, all I needed to do was finish, and then tell the Global Heroes how medical technology helped me, and why I'm an awesome person.  (Not in so many words, but basically).  My dad, his friend & I drove down to Connecticut and I ran.  And ran and ran and ran.  And if you're thinking that 8th mile must've been hard.  You're wrong.  The third mile was the hardest.  And this race had so many hills it wasn't even funny.  I knew that this was something that I wouldn't be doing very often in my life, so I gave my father my camera to document and prove that I did it.

Finish Line

So that backpack.  The camelbak portion was filled with half gatorade and half water.  I was on a 30% basal (if not lower) for 3-4 hours.  I also had my meter, a bottle of tabs, juice boxes, peanut butter crackers, and maybe plain water?  All I know is that beyond anything I didn't want to stop and open it.  There were two women in front of me, and they nicknamed me pinky.  And they told my father: "Pinky never stops running, how does she do it?"  And I didn't need to stop and open my backpack.  The best thing about this day is that I don't remember what my diabetes did that day.

I didn't do this in spite of diabetes.  I did this because of diabetes and for diabetes.  In the process I lost 30 pounds (they're all back), I gained confidence & I realized that even though it seemed crazy, I did it! I didn't win the chance to run in Twin Cities, and I believe it's because I don't have a great ability to write about how awesome I am.  I've never been one to think "I deserve ____ because ____."   But I did this for the chance to help others, and I'm hoping to run a race like this again.

This post is my February entry in the DSMA Blog Carnival.  If you’d like to participate too, you can get all of the information at http://diabetessocmed.com/2011/introducing-the-dsma-blog-carnival/