Sorry, I know there are a lot of things to remember with all of this. A lot of things we went over but there was so much stuff we talked about it’s easy to lose track of some of it. Just all the things that need to be taken care of before it starts. I apologize that I did not emphasize them enough.
The first is that you want to put in a new infusion set on the day before. And if losing them is common, tape it down. Also this isn’t possible with an OmniPod, but with a tubed pump I would have a second infusion set already in, so you can just plug into it if you need to. That’s a low-cost precaution. No downside to doing that. Unplug your pump from the bad one and put it into the backup. Simple thing to have ready for next time.
The second thing is that I mentioned having an extra meter in your SPIBelt. All of those E’s you were getting, it would have been good to swap it out. Gatorade and sweat and water cups and humidity really screw up meters. I always race with 2 on me, and have extras available along the way if I need to swap out. I went through 3 meters one race.
Anyway, tough stuff with the BG and the meters. But great effort and congrats on the sub 2 and the top 10 place. That’s what I was hoping for you. I already mentioned the pacing to you, good lessons to learn. I am happy for you. All the best to you.
Wow, that is fantastic!! Great job and time! I’m sure most of, if not all, of the other 87 female runners had no where near the BGs you were contending with from early morning and throughout the race! Makes a difference, as we all know! You persisted though, and even at the finish your BGs were actually great, so great job getting that high down and staying down through the race, and having a fabulous finish!!!
I know you are not extremely happy with some of what happened. Maybe that will ease up after you sleep a little bit and wake up in the morning. But some of that dissatisfaction is a good thing. That is part of what will drive you to keep striving for better. Not being complacent with it is part of what will keep you hungry. I am glad you are not 100% happy about it. A hungry wolf runs faster.
Second, there is a great quote from Pre, who said success isn’t how far you got, but the distance you traveled from where you started. We began working together on this a year ago. I knew on day one who you were. I saw everything I needed to see on day one. And there have not been any surprises for me. Look at how far you came in that year. Don’t look at the 13 miles. Look at that year.
Next, remember that your will is forged in the fire of adversity. Any struggle you had in this race is what will make you stronger. Hard runs make you stronger. And tough races do that even more so.
Finally, no words I offer can ease any of the hard things you went through. I know it would be nice if I could say something magical. I know you would like that. But by now you know who and what will make it go away. At this point you know there is only one person who can make any of the unpleasant parts of your race feel better. That one person who can make it better…get in touch with that person. It is the only person you ever need to make proud. Nobody else matters in all of this. Talk to that one person about it. What do you need to do to make that person happy? Ask her. Whatever she tells you to do, you work your ass off and do it. Maybe not next time, but at some point. All of your dissapointment goes away then.
(Note for everyone else, I am not saying she should be disappointed. I am proud of her effort. I think she did great. But she’s just not 100% happy with it yet. In a few days it will feel better for her.)
There are amazing results @Nickyghaleb, even more so because you started with less than ideal blood sugar.
I was supposed to keep to the pace of 10 min for the first mile and 9:13 for the next 4. Dropped that ball. Nothing over 8:38 for the first 7 miles. Then mile 8 had a really ugly hill. Almost everybody walked. I ran—afraid that if I walked then, I would walk the rest. I probably should’ve walked. Actually, I probably should’ve followed the pace for the first 7. That may have done the trick, too.
I think it’s really hard, with all the adrenaline and when you feel really good, to pace yourself and go slow when you just don’t feel like you’re going that fast!!
Seriously, you’re in the top 10 percent of all the competitors. Pretty freakin’ awesome.
@Eric, thank you for the really thoughtful post. I’m working on it.
And I just wanted to leave a very quick and tiny note in here letting you guys know, whoever is looking, that I’m off for a much needed break. I figured I might just want to regroup before picking my next race. Thank you guys for everything. You guys have sent me off a completely different diabetic than what I was stumbling in here, and I owe you the world. I’ll be back soon.
I’m sorry you got passed at the end (am I? No, honestly, probably not sorry. Because I am not competitive and think sub-2 hours with the day from hell and the week before sick sounds ■■■■■■■ amazing!)
Anyhow I hope your break is good (is that an FUD break? A running break?)! And that you can recognize the success in your accomplishments.
So… I don’t know who paid any attention to my last message in here, which I actually kind of thought would be my last message in here, but I’m here to apologize to my IPad and to admit I was acting like a complete dud . Just 100%. And I’m not proud.
But I’d also like to tell you, IPad, that it’s really been a big week, annnnndddd… that’s about as good an explanation as I can come up with… because I don’t feel like sitting around making stuff up. I was just acting dumb.
I told my friend, Eric, that I don’t handle these things well. No matter what a result is, my brain only processes the negative parts. It’s annoying, but I’m usually able to do most of it internally. Not this time. Did it here, and I’m sorry. I am still not entirely sure why my brain did what it did, but I think it was about what happened after the race more than it was about what happened during. I’ve really learned how to put diabetes on the back burner in my life and not let it dominate, and whatever doubts I had about the race were about the running part. I wasn’t worried about the diabetes part. And I’m not even sure that’s what the problem was. My blood sugar was a 156 at the end. They called it a heat stroke, but whatever it was, nothing feels more diabetic than being unable to walk away from the medic’s tent in the end. So that’s what I think I responded to, in a less than mature way, here.
I told Eric my plans, and all he had to say was “why?” He pointed out that I have found a great deal of happiness here and to stay away was a bad plan. I realized I haven’t just found great happiness here but experience it on a daily basis. That is a bad plan, and he is a smart guy.
Anyway. I’m trying to get myself right again, but I’m already back running, and I am trying to spend some time analyzing things. That always helps. Even if I’m doing it wrong. I learned something very important yesterday and had to laugh it was so stupid… My Contour Next One “E 2” error code that I kept encountering during the race… means… insufficient blood. There was nothing wrong with my meter. There was something wrong with my aim. I’d be cracking up right now except I know how negative of an effect it had during the race… and … just…… wow.
So I apologize sincerely for being dramatic. Break’s over. I’ll just poke around quietly until everyone’s forgotten it all.
You’re doing a thing that I do where I’m sure everyone saw what I did with as much emotion as I felt when I did it…
…I assumed you had a lot going on and were processing. You’ve tackled huge projects with all of us watching so that we could learn from you. That’s a lot of pressure sometimes!
You know how I know you’re unlimited? You ran a half marathon and you were pissed about a 156. Yup. Impressive.
I’m sorry you were so sick at the end. I’m sure that felt very diabetic (great phrasing, btw). And I bet that was scary. And defeating at the time. That all makes sense.
Regardless of why you want or don’t want or might need a break, I doubt anyone is taking it personally. What is personal is how much everyone wants the best for you and each other. That’s all I care about.
Hopefully you’ll keep pushing boundaries with exercise with @Eric’s help so I have something to read about and maybe emulate one day…in analogy form…with something that’s not exercise.
You don’t owe anyone here an explanation from anything I’ve seen. You did awesome. Sometimes the cheerleader for everyone else (that’s you, dummy) needs some people cheering for her extra loud for a bit.
@Nickyghaleb, we are here for you, whether or not you have time for us. I think you do a great job bringing up things, but everyone needs a break now and again. Happy to have you when you have time!
@Nickyghaleb you have a home here, and regardless how you feel about your race, no one will hold it against you (or they answer to @Eric) . You are a stud! Half-marathon? seriously? way to go! Where else can someone like me live vicariously through another’s accomplishments?
BTW, heat stroke will put you off your game for a week or so. Everything just seems off, and sometimes you feel like you were hit by a truck. It goes away. Hope you don’t.
@Nickyghaleb I’m so glad to hear that you’re on the mend! You are an amazing woman who has done amazing, unlimited things! Thank you for showing all of us … all the possibilities life has to offer, including the ups, downs, and the inbetweens!
No need to explain anything. You’re a baller and are entitled to however you’re feeling or felt. I’m still so happy you finished and absolutely crushed the time.
Also I loved that your mom posted in the facebook group Moms will be moms
I learned something very important yesterday and had to laugh it was so stupid… My Contour Next One “E 2” error code that I kept encountering during the race… means… insufficient blood. There was nothing wrong with my meter. There was something wrong with my aim. 
I’d be cracking up right now except I know how negative of an effect it had during the race… and … just…
… wow.
Moms will be moms