Running with a pump

[Spideog]

Quite pleased with myself this week after running a 10 mile race in 1:00:31 on Monday. 

I might have done a little better if not for a bit too much Paddys weekend related drinking over the few days beforehand, but I had been generally running a bit rubbish for the last while as I was dealing with being newly diagnosed with hypothyroid as well. But having the insulin pump for a year now has really helped me do more training, made it easier to deal with racing and made it easier to fix high BG's after I over indulge in the usual sugary contents of post race goody bags.

Doing a half marathon next week which I did a couple of weeks after starting on the pump last year so looking to see how much of an improvement I can make over that course...then onto London marathon next month.

[sedge]

I need a rest now after reading your post!

Well done you - and good luck for the half and the full, gulp !

[Pattidevans]

It did the same for me!  Exhausted!  Fantastic for you though and good luck from me too.

[Spideog]

Thanks.

Just to add to my excitement* my race number for London Marathon arrived through the post today and all the details and that I get into a special warm-up area near the front as I qualified as a "fast, good for age" runner.



*I do acknowledge it's a bit odd, but some of us runners are a bit weird.

[sedge]

No we don't think you are odd ! - well I don't anyway.  I did used to run (only Fun Runs and stuff) and it can get a bit addictive when you are doing it because you can actually feel yourself getting fitter.

But then the girl I ran with started going straight from work which was halfway to another firend's house in the opposite direction so couldn't pick me up on the way and I was at work even further away and I just stopped.  Same as I stopped tap dancing when I couldn't get to the preferred venue at the allotted hour.  I didn't want o be pounding the streets on my own at night.  Would feel conspicuous in daylight but not so bad if you have company - even though you haven't got enough breath to speak !  (to begin with and again when you increase the distance)

[Spideog]

... and this weekend I won a team bronze medal in the British Masters Cross Country Championships.

[Pattidevans]

Ohhh WELL DONE!

[sedge]

Excellent - dedication beyond the call of duty!  LOL

[Spideog]

Thanks.

[Spideog]

Was running a half marathon today. I caught up with some guy relatively near the end and passed the time of day* for the little while we were running next to each other, he was starting to struggle a bit so I then pulled away from him on the next incline. As I was pulling away he shouted at me asking "Is that an insulin pump!?!?!" as he'd spotted it on my waist band. My confirmation resulted in an explanation something along the lines of "@%@ing hell, great running".

I think he must work in the a medical profession, or is related to a diabetic. It was an unusual shout of encouragement, but it certainly helped me today.



* It's mostly just grunts and unintelligible words at that stage of a race.

[sedge]

Oh that's great!

On Friday I was at a meeting (of diabetics, various types) and there was a young chap (well probably mid 30's LOL, a comparative infant!) there - heavily into technology and puter programing, actually working on some project for us - but we were all there in our personal capacity.

Over lunch I saw him showing his meter to his neighbour and recognised it immediately so crept up behind him, unhooked my pump from my waistband, put it in his hand and said 'Snap'.  We all laughed and then he turned slightly to show his was on his waistband on the other side of him.  Whereupon I exclaimed Crikey - you're not still using that blooming awful perspex clip are you? - why don't you get a skin for it like this which has a much flatter clip?  He hadn't looked at the website and didn't know they did them.  I said mine was free with the pump but they are only about £7 or something anyway - I'd try cadging one next time you ring up for supplies if I were you!  Far superior to the other thing.

So it sort of makes your day doesn't it, cheers you up etc to have a conversation with someone random where you both realise that the other person recognises and appreciates whatever it is?

And of course, that comment really would spur anyone on, in a race and put a renewed spring in their step - it's amazing what small things can do that LOL  (Like when it's warm and you have to run past eg burger vans, even ice-cream vans pumping out more heat and then just the other side there's a slightly downhill bit and just a touch of breeze - or when it's grey, muggy and still  and it starts to dirizzle just at the point when you are wondering if you can do it after all!  Lovely!  ROFL