So this is how the short story goes:
I woke up race day at 4 AM with high BGs, ate breakfast and got my BG's down somewhat before the race. I thought they were falling but apparently not. I was using my race day basal rate profile, that becomes less and less throughout the day, ending up at 0.05 U/hr. I ate 2 gels before the swim, and 2 mid-swim and was high for the first 2 hours of the bike, during which I didn't eat. My swim time was 1:55. I felt great on the bike and maintained a heart rate in mid-zone 2 (aerobic zone). By the end of the bike, my blood sugar was steady at around 140-150, and the Dexcom was working great. My bike time was 7:04. I started the run and felt strong for the first 7-8 miles, at which point I started to deteriorate. When I noticed increasing cognitive symptoms, I decided to stop at the aid station (mile 9). I rested there and took some insulin and drank 1 cup of Gatorade during that time. I felt well enough to resume running after 30 minutes. My BG, which was rising before I stopped, went up, then down and then up again by the end of the run. I think it would be interesting to try and correlate my mile splits with my BG! My heart rate during the run was hovering between zone 1 and 2. I finished the run in 5:22, and the race in 14:42, with no episodes of hypoglycemia. However, the high BG's left something to be desired and, as I discovered, can have a much more negative impact on longer events such as IM than on shorter races such as marathons and half-Ironman distance triathlons (which are not that short I guess!).
I had a fabulous group of friends and family cheering me on in Coeur d'Alene and via the Internet elsewhere. Every time I crossed one of those timing mats, I felt a little cheer coming from those following the race on ironmanlive.com. Thanks, everyone!
4 comments:
I read every word you wrote in this version AND the long version. I've got tears in my eyes because I am just so impressed by your tenacity and the fact that you finished an IRON MAN TRIATHLON!!!!!!!!!!! WOW!
You had so much to keep track of with your BG's. Most people have to just deal with fueling their bodies and worry about fatigue, injury. But you had to keep track of an enormous load with your blood sugars and being prepared above and beyond what anyone else would have to think of.
Thank you for posting this. This was incredibly inspiring.
Hey nice job at IMCdA!! :) Woot! :)
Thanks! And good luck to you both in your own triathlon endeavors!!
Way to go Anne! What an awesome accomplishment!
Post a Comment