Yes, look at the race sight. Inclines would be good to incorporate. I was avoiding them because they seemed to twinge your hip a bit last time. But we can test them out again.
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Okay. It’s the same location as the last race… so some hills. Maybe some long ones. Maybe not. I really only remember 2 hills, but it was a lloooong time ago, and I was walking the path not running.
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Nicky, can you update us on your basal and bolus routine before/during/ after?
My son K has not quite figured his out yet. He still drops too much while running. Right now:
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He takes his basal down -25% 25 minutes before running
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He runs about 5 miles
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He brings his basal back up, boluses for his missed basal (25% of his regular hourly basal times the time he ran plus 25 minutes) plus for another 60-80 carbs to refuel.
But he typically has to take 12-20 carbs while running to remain flat. Then he often goes high after his run.
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@Nickyghaleb, I’m on my treadmill right now and just spilled my drink everywhere while I was drinking it. Thought of you! 
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Like sisters from different misters we are. 
You’re on the treadmill??? Get it, girl. 
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WAIT. You’re on the treadmill and writing?? 
I hope @Eric sees it… and he was lecturing me about taking pics of my meter. 
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Yes. But I’m not running. Bc I’m not a runner. I’m also apparently not a walker and drinker, either.
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And I’m pretty sure he was saying that as Yoda Eric, anyway. Like a visualization technique. Like Ricky Bobby driving with a blindfold on. That made sense before I typed it.
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Walking and drinking as a combination is tough. Don’t beat yourself up. 
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If you really want to know, I’d be glad to share.
I’ll be back in a few minutes with my typewriter.
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The list of things I want to write about in here is growing, but I’d like to write about today’s run, which was fantastic.
So I started at a BG of an 87 with over an hour of Zero Basal going in. Again, I was running around this morning doing chores, so I decided to extend the basal cut a little before starting. Actually, it wasn’t quite that organized though. I had it set for an hour but was mid-task when it ran out. I didn’t notice it was time and probably didn’t catch it until I had probably gotten about 20 or 30 minutes of insulin. So I set it for another hour and was on the treadmill shortly thereafter but with a little unintended insulin on board. I tested at an 87 just before turning it on and tested once a mile throughout the first hour (on my pretty pink meter bracelet). @Eric, I know you don’t need to know the Dexcom values, but I’ll only do it for a couple more days. So just close your eyes. 
Start: BG: 87 Dexcom: 96 (20g carbs)
1 mile: BG: 113 Dexcom: 108
2: BG: 115 Dexcom: 145 (20g carbs)
3: BG: 109 Dexcom: 137
4: BG: 104 Dexcom: 146 (4.6 miles— 20g carbs)
5: BG: 125 Dexcom: 163
6: BG: 148 Dexcom: 177
7: BG: 133 Dexcom: 179
I noticed today that I used kind of an old way of thinking because of having the Dexcom in front of me. Even though I was feeling nice and stable at 4 miles, I saw back to back readings of 146 on the Dexcom— and it made me worried I was going to start to drop. It wasn’t real, and I know it’s why you want me to just do finger sticks, but these are the things I need to happen in order for me to arrive at those ideas on my own (and therefore be able to claim they were my own in the first place). Anyway, because of fear and not reality, I did another 20g of carbs that I genuinely didn’t feel I needed. It was just interesting. It’s my new thing these days— considering the role of fear in it all. Anyway, after that round of carbs, I did climb steadily for a couple of miles. I’m not sure I needed it at all, but I definitely could’ve waited a while longer, and would’ve had I just been watching my BG numbers. It was fine though because the thing I least wanted was to head into the last 15 minutes feeling wobbly, and I didn’t. I was excited for the last 15 minutes the entire run, and when I got there, I felt great. First 6 miles, completed in an hour on the dot, were at about a 4.5 RPE, so I had plenty left to turn it up a little. I didn’t test during the last piece because I just wanted to enjoy the run and had a feeling i was plenty high anyway, and that was all fine. I finished at 7.9 miles in 75 minutes. And really wanted 8 but was happy anyway. I didn’t do any boluses before the end of the run today because I was still too nervous to do it with the last piece still ahead of me. Looking back, I probably would’ve been just fine doing a small bolus of .5 or so… as that’s what I’ve done on the last couple of runs.
When I got off the treadmill, my BG went up to a 164. I gave myself 2 units IM and started some calisthenics. Within 20 minutes, my BG was at 204. I did a pump bolus of another 1.5 units and continued my exercises. I was back to a 154 maybe 20 minutes after that, and it’s been pretty smooth sailing since.
That’s a lot. I felt great, and my RPE never went above a 7. My legs feel wonderful, and I haven’t been tired in the least. I could’ve run again. In my head at least.
My race is on February 17th… I just looked up the information. Please tell me that’s what we were shooting for?? I hope I didn’t confuse the date anywhere…
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I can try.
With 3 kids, my schedule can change by the day. I try my best to knock out the basal prior to starting, but if I can’t, I just take extra carbs at the start of the run as well as throughout it. The most important thing I’m learning is that I can, to some extent, create a relatively ideal scenario as long as I am grouping things right. Keeping that in mind, I still prefer to knock out the basal in order to avoid having to take in a bunch of carbs during the run. If I could take in none, that would be preferred. That’s probably going to be pretty hard to do, but I can certainly contain it just by decreasing my insulin on board before starting.
Ideally, I have been trying to but my basal down to ZERO approximately an hour before starting my run. I can only do this though if I know I can start in an hour. If I go too much beyond the hour, I’ll start to climb, and that’s not what I want either. If my blood sugar is relatively flat and normal, and I’ve reduced my basal to zero an hour before starting, I can usually get in a couple of miles before needing to treat. It will depend on my starting BG, but I can hope for 2 if starting on the lower end and 3 if starting a little higher. I’ve also learned to treat at first sign of a low. I was stubborn before and had a tendency to wait too long. It’s been quite helpful to treat early. I’ve also changed my thinking to allow myself to err on the side of too many carbs rather than the alternative. I’m running after all. If I start to climb, I can add a spot of insulin, and it will probably get working right away.
I also am doing insulin at the end of my run and have begun giving myself a bolus just prior to cool down… as needed, obviously. When I have included that Zero Basal AND have had carbs along the way, I’m just not in that much danger of a real plummet. I have plenty working in my favor to help me avoid it. So I’m less afraid of adding some insulin toward the end because I, too, can really take off after a run and struggle with keeping my blood sugar down. If I feel like that’s where the signs are pointing, I just get the insulin going while I’m still moving and add bigger boluses as soon as I’ve finished. I’ve got a long way to go on my post-run numbers. I can do some pretty serious roller coasters, but I’m just keeping at it… and things are improving.
I know this is probably more vague than what you’re asking for, but it’s how I’ve had to do it. When I can plan, I plan, and that never hurts, but I’ve had to learn how to work with what’s available. I still crash sometimes, but I haven’t had to stop because of one since starting running. I think that’s because of what @Eric has taught me to do with the significant basal reduction prior to starting or the carb accommodations if that’s not possible. I started an 8 mile run today at a BG of 87. Never would that have worked in my previous diabetec life.
Don’t know if any of that helps??
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I removed the Dex numbers just to simplify it and make it easy to see.
Your numbers after starting are 113, 109, and 104. You have had zero basal for a while, and 40 grams of carbs. You are pretty much flat here!
I think that last carb amount was not necessary (the one at of BG 104). I think you are saying the same thing as I am. You can take some carbs at mile 4, but maybe with some insulin at the same time.
All good stuff today. Great to see this and great to learn what your body is doing. Wonderful job today! 
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This is a step-back week, with less intensity and less mileage so you can recover a little bit and to rest up for the Saturday time trial.
This will be a frustrating week for you. Not much here all week. Don’t complain, that’s just how it is.
Save your frustration. Bottle it up and hold on to it all week long. Unleash it on Saturday.
Week 9:
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Monday, 1/21
LT Training
1/2 mile warmup @ 9:00-10:00 pace
3 Repeats:
- 1.5 mile @ 8:00 pace (7.5 mph)
- 1/4 mile @ 10:00 pace (6.0 mph)
(The last rep at 6.0 mph also works as your cooldown. Total today = 5.75 miles, counting warmup)
Tuesday, 1/22
30 minute Easy Run
9:30-10:000 pace
Wednesday, 1/23
Rest day, stretch and core only
Thursday, 1/24
400’s
1/2 mile warmup @ 9:00-10:00 pace
4 Repeats:
- 1/4 mile @ 7:13 pace (8.3 mph)
- 1/4 mile recovery @ 10:00 pace (6.0 mph)
1/2 mile cooldown @ 9:00-10:00 pace
Total today = 3 miles
Friday, 1/25
25 minute Recovery Run
10:00 pace
Saturday, 1/26
Time Trial
Get to bed early on Friday. Wake up and have breakfast 2 hours before your run.
1/2 mile easy warmup
Take a short break for a few minutes, walk around, drink some water, check your BG. You will not need carbs for this effort. Starting low is fine as long as you are not dropping quickly. Do your best to be flat for the start.
- 2 miles at target pace
We will discuss the target pace for the 2 miles later…
Sunday, 1/27
Rest day, stretch and core only
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Can we discuss it now??
Oh! And I’m traveling between the 31st and the 2nd. I will be able to run early in the morning on the 31st, there should be a treadmill where I’m going on the 1st, and then I’ll be back in time to run on the 2nd on my own treadmill. I just want you to know I’m traveling, but I think I shouldn’t have to miss anything.
That’s a big cut, right?? Like 9 miles??
Yes.
Let’s do it on Friday. Rather than you spending 5 days thinking you can’t do something or worrying about it, I want you to spend just 1 day showing yourself what you can do.
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Okay.
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Just saw that it was supposed to be a 1/4 mile cooldown… I did a half. Honest mistake. Again. I’ll read all the way to the bottom before starting next time.
Anyway, everything today was great. I started a little higher than I wanted, but that was strictly a problem with my not being able to walk away from FUD before I started to rise. I was busy talking and should’ve been busy getting my stuff on. It was still not too bad— I started at a BG of 136. I did my half mile warm up and then the first 1.5 mile at 7.5. It felt good at maybe an RPE of 6. I checked by meter during my first 1/4 mile recovery and was still at 1 138. I decided I could make it to 3 miles before taking any more carbs and then added 20g at that time. I did the second 1.5 miles at an RPE of maybe 6.2?? Not much difference than the first. I tested again during the next recovery and was at a 138. With just the 2 miles left and after the other day’s spike, I nixed the idea of more carbs. This time I tested with meter while at the 7.5 speed as I approached 5 miles. I was a 144. Maybe a 148. I did a .5 unit bolus and finished the last 1.5 miles at about an RPE of 7. I tested again as soon as I entered the cooldown and was at a 168. I did another bolus by pump for 2 units and finished with a slow half mile. I jumped again after getting off of the treadmill to a 188 and then onto a 204. I chose a 2 unit IM bolus this time figuring I would either need all of it to help cover the high or would just need to have a banana if it turned out to be too much. I was hoping for the banana, but I didn’t need anything for almost an hour after the run. However, I didn’t stay high for long either… maybe a few minutes at 200 and back within 175 for another couple of minutes and then between 120 and 150 for an hour. Finally I dropped and got my banana.
I think that’s it. Really enjoyed it. 
Oh! I did not check my Dexcom once today. No reason to. I was happy to have it just be the meter and me.
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Did you eat anything before starting, or was the rise totally from the ZB? How long was the ZB?
Nothing before I ran, and the ZB was … probably more than an hour. I set it for 2.5 hours this time so it wouldn’t turn back on during my run but probably was slow getting onto the treadmill…