tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58945906166639350352024-02-20T14:47:54.307+00:00are you the running guy?an plant based ultra marathon runner with type 1 diabetes...justmmbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15917709295737489150noreply@blogger.comBlogger283125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894590616663935035.post-27890719456925805062021-07-22T14:02:00.001+01:002021-07-22T14:02:15.904+01:00Hosting a UKRunChat HourI tweeted recently that watching people do epic things was awesome but also brought me down because I want to be doing that stuff and through injury just cannot. That may appear a very selfish view, but it really isn’t. I will always support and congratulate someone’s achievement without any other motive than genuinely being happy for them. A reply to my tweet from @tyrelady* said “How about being epic by hosting a session of @UKRunChat”. That set about the events that saw me host last nights hour from 8-9pm..
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The communications from UKRunChat were excellent – clear instructions on what to do and how to approach it and timings. I had 6 questions pre-canned and was good to go. There was time for a panic though as I figured out how to schedule tweets. I loaded up the schedule with my intro and then the questions all at 10min intervals.. I also, luckily, had a tweet loaded that said it’s 1hr to go.. I checked my phone, and that tweet hadn’t been sent. I ran up to the laptop to check and realised that whilst the times were all ok the date was inexplicably the 26/07! I hadn’t paid much attention as figured that the default was the current date. It isn’t.
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I corrected all the dates and that was it good to go!!
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My first question went out at 8:01pm… there was silence and a few replies. I did panic a little thinking that the first question had ruined it. I had killed UKRunchat! That was my ego talking because clearly, I was not bringing anything down!! There was a reassuring message from the UKRunchat contact and advice to release the second question. Then conversation then started, and I was running multiple conversation threads. The scheduling released the other questions at the right time and it kept flowing.
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I was really having a good time responding to people from all over and with all sorts of backgrounds. The running community really is a diverse and engaging one.
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There were so many highlights but as someone with type 1 diabetes the people talking about their conditions and desire to keep running struck the most resounding chord. There were a number of folks with Ulcerative Colitis and heart conditions too… what I really liked was that many of them said that they told their doctors that they were going to do x when they got out and that they did exactly that!! I know it’s not always easy for everyone on the back of a condition to do these types of things and we shouldn’t expect that just because we can with whatever condition we have others will be able to. It does serve as a massive inspiration though and I would urge anyone interested to, with proper consultation with their medical teams, to explore the options to start or increase their exercise regimen.. the message coming through loud and clear was how empowering it is and just how life affirming it is to be out in nature doing something..
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This was part of my reasoning around the ‘what are your proud of’ question too – I wanted it to be anything and that’s exactly what it was. For everyone talking about half and full marathons to ultra’s and beyond there were people proud of being able to run 25mins without stopping, or for having completed C25K or , and this was a personal favourite, for getting kudos from their nephew for running a 10km!
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Epic is truly in the eye of the beholder and to reinforce that, the running community supports everyone that takes part in this wonderful sport. Those with judgement need not apply.
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The hour was flying now and I even got a bunch of likes from Dean Karnazes – I had mentioned him in one of the questions about meeting a running hero and he must have been tagged in getting on for 20 tweets!
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As it drew to a close there were responses piling in across all the questions. It was great. I really enjoyed being at the heart of something that was so positive. It really was an epic hour and one that I would recommend anyone to do and one that I will do again for sure!!
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The questions I asked were<p/>
Q1. I have had type 1 #diabetes for nearly 20years but still train and run as much as ever just with a little more planning and prep. Do you have a condition that you manage? What would your advice be to someone newly diagnosed who wants to run?<p/>
Q2. Getting more into running now what are you proudest of? For me it’s my 3:15 marathon pb.<p/>
Q3. I’ve been lucky enough to meet Dean Karnazes and the late great Caballo Blanco - have you ever met a running hero and what was that like?<p/>
Q4. Have you bought any gym kit or gym machines through lockdown and do you actually use them?<p/>
Q5. I know us runners like to take our kit with us wherever we go so what experiences have you had running whilst on holiday?<p/>
Q6. Let’s finish with some day-dreaming and a question that has almost certainly been asked before - what’s the one event you’d love to take part in? London marathon? New York? Western states? Utmb? The london 10km?<p/>
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*I have actually meet the Tyre Lady, although I doubt she will remember, at the Cheltenham Challenge ultra a few years ago.. on a boiling hot-day I was walking up Aggs Hill (if you know you know) and caught up to her. I ran alongside for a while before pushing on.
justmmbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15917709295737489150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894590616663935035.post-2007381504089558192021-07-20T10:56:00.001+01:002021-07-20T10:56:15.499+01:00Ego, pride and humilityI saw a video the other day. There was a young American basketball player who was asked how he keeps his feet on the ground with the success he has had. His answer was, and I am paraphrasing, that if he looks back at what he’s done that’s his ego. If he dwells on that then he’ll fall going forward as he’s focussed on his ego. If he looks forward that his pride. However, if he stays focussed on the moment and in the present that’s humility. What a great answer!
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It got me to thinking a lot about how I have approached my own racing and to be honest my focus has been on pride and in all cases to my detriment. I have described it previously as ‘believing my own hype’ and then realising that it was just that, hype.
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The clearest time this happened was at the Cheltenham Challenge Ultra race a few years ago. This was three laps of 13.1 miles starting at Cheltenham Racecourse and heading up and over Cleeve Hill before coming back round. It’s a tough but beautiful course; a mix of tarmac, trail, hill, open scrub and woodland. There’s a moment as you head in through Prestbury where the view is across a field to St Marys Church the view has no modern distractions and must be unchanged since the 13th century when it was built.
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With a race like this I always think that the first lap is a freebie – that’s not to say it’s not hard but anyone tackling an ultra knows that they can run a half marathon (all things being equal). The second lap of this race is where it gets tough, it’s a steep climb to the top of Cleeve Hill and if you know it the radio masts. There was an aid station at the masts, and I had stopped to top up water and grab something to eat. As I approached the people on the aid station said I was doing really well and was in 4th not far behind the 3rd place. This, on reflection, was the worst thing I could have heard. Rather than keep going as I was, I increased my effort and got excited about podiums and the like. This was not even halfway into an ultra-distance race.
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You can probably guess what happened.. I put more effort in to try and reel in the 3rd placed runner. I paid for that increase and started going backwards through the field. The third lap was a real struggle and while I did make it to the finish line I finished in 7th place (there were only something like 15 runners). I should have learned my lesson but I have done that subsequently too. I start to feel good in a race and rather then recognising that and acknowledging that what I am doing is making me feel good I start to think I can push.
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The outcome in the Cheltenham Challenge Ultra may have been the same had I kept doing what I was but I would have not felt the same anxiety and disappointment when I was overtaken. I would have been doing my thing and content with that. It’s only pride that made me feel disappointed.
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I’ve been in this situation so many times.. the Winchcombe Marathon where after about 10 miles I was in 3rd place (I don’t even know where I finished in that race!), and recently the Cheltenham Half Marathon where I was in the top 10 for a good part of the race but pushing beyond my capability too early and paid for it.
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We are bombarded with well-being messages telling us to be present, to do one thing and do it well, to give that one thing our full attention. That young basket player nailed what we need to do in a short video – it’s not easy though and I can only think that’s because it’s a race and you want to do well and so start to visualise an outcome. Training the mind to not get carried away in these moments and to stay humble is the key. justmmbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15917709295737489150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894590616663935035.post-81772162933652144742021-07-15T16:33:00.001+01:002021-07-15T16:33:34.235+01:00Indoor rowing!
I recently took delivery of a NordicTrack RW600 rowing machine. It sits in my basement alongside the NordicTrack treadmill and exercise bike that I already have. They are all great pieces of equipment that really do help me primarily when I am recovering from injury. At heart I am a runner and yet of late I have spent more time on bikes/rowers and in the pool.
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Rowing is something I have dabbled with a bit in gyms over the years. I think my first experience of rowing was probably 18 years ago when in the work gym they ran an event called the Smilebuster triathlon. There was a sprint event which included a 1.5km row, 6km on a bike followed by 2km on a treadmill. There was also a Pro event made up of a 4km row, 15km on the indoor bike and then 5km on the treadmill. I took part in both events and while my times are a dim and distant memory, I remember doing the 1.5km row in around 5:30/40. I also remember how hard they were, and this was 18 years ago!
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I then worked in a new office with a gym and there was a challenge to row 5km in under 20 minutes. I remember doing it and how much it hurt, and I know I could do it sub 20 but the details are sketchy. Since then, I have rowed in gyms either doing 2km or 5km and trying to achieve sub 2min per 500m consistently.
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All of this has been on Concept 2 rowing machines.
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When looking to buy a rowing machine the decision to opt for a NordicTrack was made primarily as it has the large screen with workouts that you can stream to the device. In short, it’s a more family friendly machine than the more industrial looking and maybe scary Concept 2. It’s also more expensive so price wasn’t part of the discussion.
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The machine was delivered quickly and needed some assembly. It took my son and I maybe half an hour to get it out of the box, built, connected to the internet and ready to go.
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The immediate impression is that this is a lovely machine. It’s very aesthetic with a feel of being a quality build. A nice mix of matt plastic and metal with a nice screen.
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The mechanism is very quiet and it’s easy to listen to the music and coaching whilst rowing that comes with the iFit subscription. The handle is comfortable and attached to the machine via a nylon strap – this adds to the quietness of the machine perhaps over the Concept 2 that uses a chain. The foot-straps are easy to adjust and secure. A large Velcro strap that you pull across. Everything has been thought out and this machine shows it.
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As I am currently struggling and trying to recover from an injury, Achilles tendonitis, I have been using the machine a lot! Only this morning I did a half marathon on it as part of my training towards rowing a marathon. I hope to do this in maybe a month. This is where I have a question really and it concerns the performance of the machines. If you look at the indoor rowing events and races, look at the records and look at what the elite rowers train on it’s all Concept 2 machines. Is that because it is more realistic or do they just have a head start on marketing? There’s then a further question which is about the performance and are they different? If I am rowing at 2min per 500m on the NordicTrack is that transferable to the Concept 2 or is it harder or even easier?
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My effort this morning was 21.012km in 1:14:45 giving an average of 1:46 per 500m. I was working hard and the machine was on the lowest setting but this feels too quick.
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You could argue why does it matter – well it doesn’t but if I want to do an indoor rowing event and I think I’m a 1:46 rower but really, I’m a 2:05 rower I’d like to know that before I get on the machine! justmmbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15917709295737489150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894590616663935035.post-83597645171341027782021-04-06T10:53:00.001+01:002021-04-06T10:55:31.164+01:00Hypo.. Easter Monday was a rough diabetes day. The morning started well enough although a standard and regular breakfast did send my sugars surging with no dip back down looking likely. I started to add more insulin to the mix and eventually the upwards trajectory stopped and dipped back down. Inevitably it came down faster than it had risen and with a lot of insulin on board was not stopping.
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To rewind a little, it was about 4 o’clock in the afternoon and I needed to ring my dad, as I made the decision to do so my <a href="http://tomato.cool/" target="_blank">Tomato app</a> (this is the app that works with my <a href="https://miaomiao.cool/" target="_blank">MiaoMiao</a>) alerted me that my sugars were at 4.2mmol. I got something to eat and also grabbed the laundry from the washing machine and thought two birds with one stone. I can talk to my dad whilst I sort that out. While talking to my dad I noticed that I was struggling to find words and was not able to focus. He probably thought I was distracted and as he needed to go anyway we finished the call after an uncharacteristically short time.
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My sugars were showing as 4mmol, I grabbed some glucotabs and ate 4 of them. This finished the open packet on my bedside. I went downstairs and sat down at the kitchen table, Susie was cooking and asked if I was alright. I explained that I was struggling with a hypo, she got me some orange juice and I started on a fresh pack of gluco-tabs. I ended up eating the whole packet and still my sugars were not rising. It’s a waiting game now, my sigars were at 2.7mmol and I started to get the sweats. It was now 5 o’clock, Boris Johnson was doing the Covid briefing, and as we sat at the table, I fell asleep. Or maybe I passed out?
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Susie woke me and suggested I go and lie on the sofa. I did so immediately falling asleep again. I had checked my sugars before doing so and they were at 3.7mmol and rising. I think I was asleep for about an hour. When I woke, I was freezing cold, the massive sweat I had sat on my body cooling me. My sugars were 9.2mmol and still rising. I gave myself some insulin and when and had a hot shower. I stayed in there for ages not wanting to leave the warmth. Eventually I had to get out. I don’t think I have ever dried myself and got dressed so quickly! I went downstairs and had some dinner. My sugars continued to rise. The boom after the bust. Topping out at around 15mmol. They started to come down and before I went to bed were at 9mmol. I went to bed early and slept almost immediately. As is the norm I woke about 1am to go to the loo and checked my sugars, they were at 10.5mmol and I had no insulin on board.
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I used the pump to calculate and administer a correction dose. My sugars were then stable at around 9mmol for the rest of the night.
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I have not had a hypo like that for a long time. When this happens it’s an odd feeling. Like I am somehow disconnected from it and yet experiencing it vividly. I remember feeling a bit confused when I was on the phone with my dad and yet didn’t just say what was happening and that I needed to go. When I was at the kitchen table I don’t know if I fell asleep or if I passed out. Similarly, when I decamped to the sofa. Whilst I can remember the motions, they are clear as I imagine looking down on them and yet simultaneously foggy in that moment. This might be memory playing tricks on me, my recall making it clearer than it was at the time.
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Either way it felt like it was happening to someone else with me as a bystander.
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The legacy of this is a feeling of dehydration (my skin feels very dry and thin and I feel sticky inside), I have a persistent fog in my mind and a slight headache.
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Today is another day though, right? justmmbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15917709295737489150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894590616663935035.post-6655125554841439512020-07-29T17:09:00.001+01:002020-07-29T17:11:17.115+01:00fast enough to clear the forest, slow enough to see the trees<br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">How you enjoy your running is such a personal thing but what
does it mean? It’s even harder to explain or define than why you run as you can
at least attribute something tangible to that question, “so I can eat cake”
or “to keep me sane”.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">I have had it levelled at me that I
wasn’t enjoying my running even if I thought I was and that I need to get back
to that. Like I was doing it wrong somehow, how could I enjoy my running if I
was pushing hard all the time. How could I possibly enjoy running hard or long or both? What do I know!?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">I heard a quote some time ago, I think it was attributed to
someone from the bike manufacturer Cervelo, it was, “fast enough to clear the
forest, slow enough to see the trees”. That really resonated with me at the
time and continues to do so, I take that into my running every time wherever I
am. That could be the streets around where I live, the hills in the area or a
trail or a different and new city or town. Being fit and able enough to cover a
distance that will see me able to take in sights and sounds and seeing things
that many won’t. Particularly early mornings when I tend to go out, you see a
very different city or trail first thing in the morning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">I have a couple of memories that really stand out for me and
my running. Moments where had I not been a runner I would never have experienced
them and are totally why I love running and what it gives me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">Majorca 2008<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">We were on a family holiday staying in Son Cutcut, nearby
was a hill at the top of which is the Santuari de Nostra Senyora de Cura, a
monastery that has since been converted to a hotel and restaurant. The views
across Majorca from the top are stunning. It is a beautiful spot. I had run up
there early one morning, no traffic on the roads and when I got there no-one
was around. Maybe a caretaker or gardener watering plants. Certainly there
were no tourists. Looking out across the land as the morning mist evaporated
under the rising sun was a beautiful moment. Whilst I am not a religious person,
looking out I found myself thinking that I could see why people did believe in
something other than what we know. It was just too perfect to have been an
accident of geology. I haven’t changed my views but I can see why people hold
them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">The Alps 2013<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">Staying in Abondance in France, a village towards the foot
of Morzine, one morning, again an early start, I ran to the top. Initially on
road then on trails and footpaths emerging at the top after seven-or-so miles of uphill
running (OK running and walking!). As I made my way up the mountain I was
looking across the valley and watching the sun peek through the gaps in the
peaks casting long shadows across the valley. At the top the views across the
valley were unquestionably and unsurprisingly stunning. The words do not do it
justice. But what made it all the more remarkable was there was no-one else
around. I was stood at the top of an Alp totally on my own. I am certain there
would have been other people in the area but where I was stood and as I looked
around there was no-one. Moments like this are why I run. To have that and be
able to experience in that way is just such a privilege. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">Paris 2015<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">I had a similar experience a couple of years later on another
family holiday. On our way back from the Dordogne we stopped in Paris for a few
days. I had snuck out of the hotel leaving the family sleeping and gone for an
early morning run. I made my way towards the Champs Elysee going through the Louvre
on the way. As I got to the Louvre I found myself in the area where the raised
glass pyramids are that you can look through and see down the underground entrance
level. There was not another person there at all. I had it to myself. A place
normally swarming with bustle and tourism and I was the only person there. It
was eerily quiet, the sun was still low in the sky with the shadows long across
the concourse. It was remarkable to be in a city and there not be anyone else around.
I have had similar experiences to this in London on early Sunday morning runs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">Those are three moments that I can recall off the top of
my head and whilst they are abroad and in new and exciting places they are
still runs and let me tell you I really enjoyed them. I have had experiences
within half a mile from my front door that have been rewarding in totally
different ways. Coming down a hill very local to me a herd of cows galloped down behind me, past me and beyond. Not one of them coming closer
than a couple meters to me. They just wanted to play. Seeing deer through the
woods and making eye contact briefly until they disappear silently. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">I’ve seen a family
of wild boar on the trails in the Forest of Dean, not something you see very
often and not as scary as I was expecting having always been told that they are
incredibly aggressive. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">It doesn’t always have to be an external stimulus to make it
enjoyable either. Those moments when you get to or close to a flow state are
sublime. No sooner have you started that you’re done and feel great without
really much specific memory of the middle bit. Being totally immersed in the physical
sensation of running so much so that everything else just fades to a
background. The canvas on which you painted your run. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">As I think more about what constitutes enjoyment I realise
that it’s completely personal and doesn’t actually need any explanation. Often it
will be beyond explanation. It’s a feeling, something deeply personal. I don’t think
it matters whether you are a 30minute 5km runner or a quicker than 15min 5km runner there is something that gets you out there doing it, it might be easier
to describe it as the why I run but if you don’t enjoy it you’re just not going
to do it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">How you enjoy it is entirely up to you and anyone telling you
otherwise is totally missing the point. It’s often said that when someone says something about you it is actually what they think of themselves and I’d suggest this is one of those
moments.</span></div>
justmmbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15917709295737489150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894590616663935035.post-21019614480889197852019-12-03T13:25:00.000+00:002019-12-03T13:25:57.398+00:00The Game Changers - a response to the responses..<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have been thinking a lot about the response to the <a href="https://gamechangersmovie.com/">The Game Changers</a> documentary that
was released in the last month or two. The response I have seen, as part of the
vegan community, is that this is nothing new. It’s almost an <i>I told you so</i>
sort of response. The benefits that the hero of the film describes and
experiences being what many vegans have experienced and continue to do so. I
include myself in that. Anecdotal it may be but that doesn’t make it wrong and
let me tell you that to me it those benefits are incredibly real.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The other response has been to debunk the claims in the
film. The tipping point for me was the Joe Rogan podcast (episode #1389) where <a href="https://chriskresser.com/">Chris Kesser</a> spent the best part of 3hrs
debunking the claims in the film. I started to listen as I thought I was
interested in the counter point. I managed about 20 minutes and then thought
why am I listening to this? It’s not going to change my mind and if anything I
will just get frustrated by what I am hearing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You come to a realisation that it’s just a different view
point and worse it’s just people arguing a point of view. The objectors to The
Game Changers site the lack of scientific evidence or the selective choice of
scientific evidence to support the claims that a plant based diet would be
better for all. The naysayers seek to debunk the science. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am no expert but I
am pretty sure you can find a scientific report or reference to justify more or
less any stance you want to take (with the exception that the earth is most
definitely not flat!). The Game Changers, much like Cowspiracy and What the
Health before it, offer a perspective that there is another way. The reality is
that many or maybe most people do not realise that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The other facts are that, particularly in the USA, but the
Western world has epidemic levels of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and other
conditions labelled as lifestyle conditions. Obesity rates continue to rise and
with it health has maybe never been worse. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Whatever we have been doing to date is clearly not working
for an increasing number of people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Considering this further you realise that there are no
pro-meat or pro-dairy documentaries. There are millions of pounds of
advertising and vast amounts of marketing telling us that milk, meat and eggs are
good for us. That we should consume for protein and strong bones and teeth. </span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">that what our pizza really needs is more cheese in the crust </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">that what we need
in our burgers are extra patties and bacon oh and more cheese</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">that milk has calcium
that makes our bones strong</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">that eggs are full of vitamins. </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It goes on and on. You then realise that this
marketing has existed forever. Or certainly in my lifetime. If you are of a
certain age you grew up in a world where consumption of this type was totally
normal without there really being a viable alternative.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Where’s the film that describes how a vegan, we’ll call him
Jack, who weighs in at barely 9 stone, has a pallid complexion and no energy.
He has tried to sustain himself on plants but it’s just not working. He is
vitamin deficient, his skin is dry and his hair brittle. Then someone in a
white coat looks at his diet and suggests that he starts eating steak and eggs
and maybe drinking cow’s milk. Over the coming weeks and months his body builds, his
energy and vitality returns and the once barely 10 stone Jack is now a heroic
12 stone of muscle and confidence. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That film does not exist. That film will never be made. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That for me is the crux of the argument. Debunkers want to
have their say as they want to protect their way of life and a film like The
Game Changers questions that. It shines a light on behaviour that has always
been that way. As a culture we grew up on meat and two veg. That was then and
this is now. Where are the videos of celebrities and athletes that continue to
eat meat telling us that? There aren’t any. Maybe they don’t need to as they
consider that normal, it was and has been so for many years, you could argue
that it’s been that way almost forever. The Game Changers represents a
challenge and shift to that normal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There is a lot of emotion bound up with food. We use food to
celebrate and commemorate. We share our tables with friends and family and
commune around food. A small subtle change to that makes everyone question
their behaviour whether they want to or not. Then the response is an emotional
one, people that continue to eat meat feel they need to justify themselves.
That’s what I see the debunking as. An emotional response to something external
that actually doesn’t warrant it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It’s nothing more than choice. If you eat a traditional diet
and watch that film and it makes you maybe change your behaviour a little then
great. If it doesn’t have any affect on you then move on. The point of view
offered by meat eaters is just a different point of view. Their normal is being
challenged and they don’t like it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Normal is being redefined. There really isn’t anything normal
anymore.</span></div>
justmmbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15917709295737489150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894590616663935035.post-61822860544231930032019-11-21T11:17:00.002+00:002019-11-21T11:17:31.700+00:00Nike running shoes (no not the 'next %')<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you had told me 5 years ago that I would one day be
running in Nike shoes for not just road but road and trail I would have frankly
laughed at you. I had one experience with Nike running shoes some years ago and
it was frankly terrible. That was, truthfully probably more than 10 years ago
but it has only been the last year that I have tried them again and that they
have become my go to shoe. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgqRLh-vN4vR8Ka7LegqWykxVlGMOiy7c4iG8wtv8KLaZdHWrzApdIeNE2XtoW_xRmkmH726agFtSnIhUL3CFyfeQ02_fxbACjISCdor6OJ2Q-Q-j0TDe4CF6bISjxfuR3amCMvxTPIzs/s1600/IMG_5947.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgqRLh-vN4vR8Ka7LegqWykxVlGMOiy7c4iG8wtv8KLaZdHWrzApdIeNE2XtoW_xRmkmH726agFtSnIhUL3CFyfeQ02_fxbACjISCdor6OJ2Q-Q-j0TDe4CF6bISjxfuR3amCMvxTPIzs/s1600/IMG_5947.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1251" data-original-width="1125" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgqRLh-vN4vR8Ka7LegqWykxVlGMOiy7c4iG8wtv8KLaZdHWrzApdIeNE2XtoW_xRmkmH726agFtSnIhUL3CFyfeQ02_fxbACjISCdor6OJ2Q-Q-j0TDe4CF6bISjxfuR3amCMvxTPIzs/s200/IMG_5947.PNG" width="179" /></a><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It started with a Black Friday deal in November 2018 where I
bought a pair of the Nike Epic React Flyknit road shoes. I bought them as they
were advertised as being super-cushioned and I like soft running shoes. I
assumed that they were the Nike version of the Adidas Ultraboost which I had
been wearing for a couple of years and was not too far wrong. Whilst they are
similar in terms of cushioning they are very different shoes. They are my go-to
road shoe, I love the styling, the fit and comfort. They are also pretty
responsive and feel and perform fast when they need to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Nike Epic React Flyknit<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Things I like; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Styling</b>;
I always associated Nike with street wear rather than technical
specification and while these shoes have both they really do have great
styling. The first ones I had were the PRS ones designed for the Paris
Marathon, then some light coloured ones for summer and now some grey black
ones with the weather changing.. the style is a personal thing but you can
go as basic or as funky as you like with these off the shelf and that’s
without NikeID where you can personalise them. For me the black sole unit
looks awesome and I like that the outer sole is in pieces rather than
covering the whle underside of the shoe adding weight. There is heavier
sole protection around the forefoot and the heel. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Comfort</b>;
I wear a size 9 running shoe and these are no exception. I find the fit
really excellent but I do have narrow feet. If you had wide feet you might
want to try a pair in a store rather than buying online as not sure how
that would work out. The lacing system is perfectly fine and doesn’t add
any pressure to the foot at all. The upper is knitted and really sleek
with no seams or edges to catch your toes on. It’s the sole, though, which
is really the clincher. Its soft enough that I can run in them every day
without that residual fatigue that you get and that I have had from other
shoes.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Durability</b>;
I am all about shoe-durability! I want value for money so I am looking to
get the top end of the recommended 500miles shoe life. In the two pairs I
have retired I have got to closer to 550 miles in each of them with at
that sort of wear my left knee, it’s always the left, starting to feel it.
Of course durability is good but vfm is determined by what you paid for
them<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Cost</b>;
when these shoes came out they were advertised for £129.99 – pretty steep
but commensurate with a lot of running shoes these days. As much as I
wanted to try them I wasn’t going to spend that money on a trial when I
was a little unsure. Black Friday it was where I paid around £70 for a
pair. My thinking being that even if I didn’t like the I hadn’t wasted too
much money. Out of the box I knew they were awesome and wasn’t
disappointed. I mentioned above that I am now onto my third pair and have
not paid more than £70 any of them. They end to have them at Nike Outlet
stores and provided you can fnd a colourway you like the shoe is the same.
That’s value! <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Downsides</b>?
I don’t really think there are any downsides. At full price they are quite
expensive and some may be put off by that but then look around and you
will pay closer to half the book price. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Verdict</b>;
this is a 9/10 shoe! For me it ticks all the boxes I care about, comfort,
style, durability and price.</span></li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvlZ16-UpsCPyeBCqgje_pDPLj4jp2rMjjXIoRj_dJyFeiRC2jRu2YAFIM9AGc5VDKevOYx0nggay-kpHTpfeBxSTHRwivnndicyVh12HVk7UeZl4gGcGTCl067uUwH41nwfvs0yjH04/s1600/IMG_5995.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1125" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvlZ16-UpsCPyeBCqgje_pDPLj4jp2rMjjXIoRj_dJyFeiRC2jRu2YAFIM9AGc5VDKevOYx0nggay-kpHTpfeBxSTHRwivnndicyVh12HVk7UeZl4gGcGTCl067uUwH41nwfvs0yjH04/s320/IMG_5995.PNG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEW-d72x1lg7ccl10kBHA6ZPoGaz6vGzAWCRs_jm9gfntFHtBuwjzYpNTMWXn02YOBca4K65ku10Xudz-t68kpsnmAzgsNvcqo4XphUmeAXfCLxB-vgOmIZu_3F7xJUc08sfNUTzm0qNU/s1600/IMG_5948.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1156" data-original-width="1125" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEW-d72x1lg7ccl10kBHA6ZPoGaz6vGzAWCRs_jm9gfntFHtBuwjzYpNTMWXn02YOBca4K65ku10Xudz-t68kpsnmAzgsNvcqo4XphUmeAXfCLxB-vgOmIZu_3F7xJUc08sfNUTzm0qNU/s200/IMG_5948.PNG" width="194" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When I found myself shopping for some new trail shoes I
looked at what I had and why I was looking for new. I have some Adidas Terrex
that are a couple of years old (low mileage) and whilst a good, sturdy shoe it
feels exactly like that. More a shoe than a trainer. I keep them but will use
them for dog walks up the hill rather than any actual running. I also have some
Salomon maxi-cushion shoes, I forget the model. They were awesome but I find
that on long runs they rub my feet a little. Never in training, only in racing.
Thinking at how much I liked the Nike road shoes I looked at the trail
offerings and saw that the Wild Horses were getting a fair bit of attention and
good reviews. Based on that and added that I liked the styling I thought why
not?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Nike Wildhorse 5’s<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Out of the box there were two things that struck me; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The
styling and colourway<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The
size of the toe-box</span></li>
</ol>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYM-ehCElA_TP_CLvGCMkv8tbURZUk2o1a-jvNVCbrBFJkxxXP2EpmiHRhG8OEwM3_BAsoMBM_TElLsk9Pz2TeFhN9I7QMoL60vVikoBsTz8aRLfnDZ12NhI2SSmFyoW3huWWx6GvxJjs/s1600/IMG_5996.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="1125" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYM-ehCElA_TP_CLvGCMkv8tbURZUk2o1a-jvNVCbrBFJkxxXP2EpmiHRhG8OEwM3_BAsoMBM_TElLsk9Pz2TeFhN9I7QMoL60vVikoBsTz8aRLfnDZ12NhI2SSmFyoW3huWWx6GvxJjs/s320/IMG_5996.PNG" width="317" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I did think that I may have picked the wrong colour as they
are predominantly white and they are a trail shoe. They look good though and
rule 1 is that you have to look good isn’t it? I liked the toe box without
trying them on because I was a little concerned that maybe they had put some aggressive
tread on the road shoe and seen how it goes. That was patently not the case. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have worn these shoes on a number of trail runs now with a
mix of terrain and they are really a great. They shoe comfort is excellent, the
farthest I have run is a little over 20 miles in a race and there were zero
issues, no rubbing, no hot spots and no blisters. The shoe is probably not as
grippy as others out there the tread being reasonable rather than aggressive. I
have used them on lots of terrain types from wet leaves and mud through gravel
and sandy trail and they can handle all of that without issue. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In terms of my criteria; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Styling</b>; awesome! Bold and brash – better than a lot
of their competitors. With so much kit being just black and red why not a pair
that are white? Love them and they look even better now they are a bit dirty. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Comfort</b>; excellent, soft foam upper, good solid
rubber outsole and knitted shoe. Protection on the, very wide, toe-box for
stones and other debris. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Durability</b>; I get good vfm from trail shoes as most
of my running is on road. With more events planned for 2020 I think I will
probably be giving these a sterner test than I have many of my other trail
shoes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Cost</b>; the retail price for these is around £105 but I
have seen them for £88. You could argue this is cheaper than the current market
for similar shoes. I bought mine from Sportsshoes.com for £105 a few months
ago. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Downside</b>; I guess the colour could be considered a
down side but ‘m not sure that’s enough. Much like the Epic React Flyknit I
cannot see a negative. I am like this though, if I like something I don’t
really see the negatives and these are no different. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Verdict</b>; so far so good. I have run around 70-80
miles in these. They are grippy, tough, I like the toe box and I love the
styling. Quality shoe. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have said it before but when I review products I am
generally really happy with them. If I am interested in something new then I will
research it and get a physical look at the product before buying. By the time
it arrives I am a little bored of it already as I know a lot (everything) about
it. This applies for everything and anything whether it be running socks or a
race vest. That said my experiences are not false and that I really like these
products and have invested more than once in them speaks volumes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Epic React Flyknit is my go-to road shoe. I use it as a
workhorse for most of my road running. This can be anything from 2.5 miles through
to 20 and beyond. The shoe is just comfortable and on the occasion where I demand
more performance it can respond and give me what I want. That’s not to say that
there may be better shoes that are more specific, a racing flat or a workhorse
for commutes, but for a workaday shoe that you can race in or put down some
speed this is that shoe. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjql_A59LD8i2l65wvZcLm0rtjfOp04Es2tCN9SChgQkfc76kyNi837bn_MwswcOdbfcitVHn2kehgzPUGSRlAdY0jGaFgLCksr6_8GpWhYJ-UJRR_9G5CMP2SWLuUM719WFn8WhJtg62Y/s1600/MMB+_Run+_Pic.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="385" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjql_A59LD8i2l65wvZcLm0rtjfOp04Es2tCN9SChgQkfc76kyNi837bn_MwswcOdbfcitVHn2kehgzPUGSRlAdY0jGaFgLCksr6_8GpWhYJ-UJRR_9G5CMP2SWLuUM719WFn8WhJtg62Y/s320/MMB+_Run+_Pic.PNG" width="239" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I set my half marathon PB some 10 years ago, at Tewkesbury, with 1:27:15. Earlier this year I ran the Cheltenham half marathon finishing in 1:27:48 (this was for the course I actually did 1:27:01 for the half marathon distance) the point being that I am 10 years older and whilst I am generally in better shape and better trained I am still 10 years older and still ran a similar time. Oh and I was wearing a pair of Epic React Flyknits.</span></div>
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justmmbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15917709295737489150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894590616663935035.post-34945813177521967112019-11-15T12:43:00.000+00:002019-11-15T12:43:28.948+00:00right here right now<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have talked about how i struggle with the aspect of racing that is the mental side. When things are not going as i want or maybe the miles are not ticking over quickly enough i start to focus too much on that rather then the why i am out there in the first place. I experienced this a little at Roly's Run only last weekend. It's like race-fatigue really but i don't race that often at all... anyway those clever people at 33Fuel have a blog about this very topic and one of the strategies is to focus on what you are doing in that moment. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is a central tenet of mindfulness and "right here right now" will be my mantra as i head into the Broadway Marathon this coming Sunday. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The 33Fuel blog is here by the way; <a href="https://www.33fuel.com/news/mental-tricks-to-turn-your-race-around/">https://www.33fuel.com/news/mental-tricks-to-turn-your-race-around/</a>. </span>justmmbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15917709295737489150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894590616663935035.post-3286344178485054472019-11-12T09:50:00.004+00:002019-11-12T09:50:53.252+00:00Roly's Run (9th November 2019)<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was talking to someone who had done the 20mile edition of
this new event, it being the farthest he had ever run. It was now Monday
morning some 48hrs after this race had started and he was, in his own words,
“still buzzing”. That sums it up perfectly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Roly’s Run, a beautiful race with an even more beautiful
sentiment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am not going to go into that here but would urge you to
read the <b>About</b> from the race website here; <a href="https://www.rolys.run/about.html">https://www.rolys.run/about.html</a>.
The race HQ was Swanmore, a place I have never heard of and am thankful to the
sat-nav for getting me there. This is one of those places where, for me at
least, I actually have no idea where I was with any accuracy, somewhere between
Basingstoke and Southampton being the best I can do. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There were three race options; 15, 20 and 40miles. Routes
that were expertly devised and were predominantly on trails but with a real
mix. There was woodland, exposed ridge-line, steep hills, muddy paths, farm
track, an electric fence to climb over(!), stony trail, some compacted gravel
path, and a small section of good old fashioned tarmac. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Everything. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Add to that
fact that there was some +2,700ft of elevation gain in the 20mile race and it
made for a really challenging course. That this was RD Carlos’ first race in
the role was quite a feat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The 20mile distance was quite an interesting one for me
because, and this is all about context right, it’s not that far. I had the
route on my watch and not having used this before saw that there was a number
on the display. I wasn’t sure if this was counting up, down or even if it was
miles or kilometres. It turns out that it was counting down and was in miles.
Over 20miles I really liked this feature and it did give me a psychological
boost on more than one occasion, “it’s less than 5 miles to go…”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At the race briefing before the start there were some words
from Carlos then Rich’s dad spoke and read an email that he had received from
someone in the aftermath of Rich’s passing. The email he read was one I had
written and sent to them. This floored me and I went through a range of
feelings but mainly felt like an impostor of sorts. Whilst I knew Rich I didn’t
know him well, something I made clear in the email, that said I did see him
more or less every day and we did speak every day. There will be people that
knew him far better than me which I think is why I feel a bit of an impostor. It
was a lovely moment and I will be forever proud, in a small way, that I made a
contribution. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The best words though were reserved for Anna, Rich’s sister.
With the crowd having moved from the hall to the start line she told a story of
how Rich if he heard someone moaning about how they couldn’t do something would
always mutter “not with that attitude” – this got a loud cheer. Everyone stood
there had the right attitude for sure. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">With that we were all off – a mass start with a lap of the
field before heading into the woods and off. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As much as I like to take part in events and races I
struggle with them a little. I pretty much want them to be over and start
counting down immediately. I do not know why I feel this way but it happens
every time. I have thought that maybe it’s because I don’t race enough because
when I am training I have no issue whatsoever with the running and will run all
the time. I am definitely intrinsically motivated and like doing my own thing.
If anyone can shed some light for me please do! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Much like the Cheltenham half I found myself running alone,
not fast enough for the lead pack but faster than the throng behind me. This
suits me though, I train mostly alone and am comfortable with that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The woodland sections were a highlight for me, running along
twisty trails and jumping over roots and puddles is great fun. There were a
couple of sections like this and they reminded me of some of the more pleasant
aspects of running the Wendover Woods 50 a couple of years ago. Running in the
woods always feels fast, maybe it’s the proximity of the trees and bushes or
the agility and responsiveness that you need to avoid the obstacles that come
at you with no pattern. Stride length and rhythm cannot be consistent as you
adapt to the terrain just to keep each step as sure footed as it can be. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The aid stations were amazing and well stocked – as was the
race HQ with tea and coffee flowing, cake and enough fruit to keep this vegan happy :) – the Marshall's were all lovely and
super-positive on what started as a bitterly cold day for them and ended as a
bitterly cold and wet day as the forecast rain moved in. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The rain started with
a bit of drizzle and I had around 3miles to go. I did think about stopping and
putting my jacket on but figured that would be hard as my hands were frozen and
it would be a lot of faff for what would be, hopefully, 25 minutes. I can cope
with being wet for 25minutes. It was the right decision but by the time I
reached the race HQ it was coming down pretty heavily. I was so grateful I
finished when I did as for the rest of the day it was relentless and would have
been miserable for anyone still out there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That’s why we do this though isn’t it? This is not a unique
thought but we spend so much of our time sat in comfy chairs and comfy
environments that to truly know what you are about and what you are capable of
takes disruption. Moving from a heated car to a heated office or home is nice
sure, we all like that, but really what does it tell you? It takes real
determination to finish something when it hurts, remind yourself that you paid
for the privilege to be there, your suffering is what you paid for. You get it
done not because you paid, that’s the last thing on your mind, you get it done
because it matters and because giving up is not an option. It doesn’t matter if
it’s a 5km or a 50mile it’s your discomfort and what you derive from that which
keeps you moving. The joy on finishing makes it all worthwhile and pretty soon
you will be looking for the next event. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The people that don’t get it are missing out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I often find myself getting lost in races. I stop looking
for the signs and switch off a little. I had the route on my watch which vibrated
every time I veered slightly off course (these were minor adjustments rather
than wrong turns) but there was so much signage and route marking it was pretty
impossible. Again, Carlos and his helpers did a fantastic job. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The 20mile included an out and back up Old Winchester Hill.
Quite a climb in two parts with an exposed ridge line joining them. The wind on
that ridge was howling and cold. Fortunately it wasn’t a particularly long
stretch but for those coming along an hour or more later when it was raining
that would have been horrible. At the top of the hill there was a stretch over some
softer terrain to a checkpoint where it was then a case of turnaround and head
back. This meant that you could see other runners coming through on the 20mile
course as you passed them over this 5 or so miles out and back. What surprised
me most was that there weren’t more runners. I am not sure what the split was
of 15/20/40 mile runners but I didn’t see as many as I would have expected. It would
be a long day for some. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Back at the final checkpoint and into the last 5 or so miles
to the finish there was possibly my favourite section. Having commented on how
running in the woods is great fun. There was a section on whati assume was an
old railway line or something similar. Flat, straight and tree lined it was a
beautiful stretch of trail with just the occasional dog walker. There was time
for one final sting in the tail with a short sharp climb on wooden steps up
from a field onto the lanes and the way to the finish. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The finish was in the field where we started. The rain was
now coming down pretty heavily and yet there were a couple of hardy souls
cheering and shouting. Possibly the most enthusiastic man I have ever met
shouted my finish time as I crossed the line. I thanked them for cheering as I ran
in then made my way to the hall to change and get some food. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In the hall there were a few finishers sat eating and
talking about their races. I grabbed a veggie chilli (really tasty!) and some
coffee, sat and ate. After a litre of 33Fuel energy drink and a couple of 33Fuel
gels something savoury was welcome.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I ran this race at a high limit, based on heart rate, I was
certainly working hard all the way around and did the whole thing on a litre of
energy drink and 2 chia gels. I keep saying it but the products from 33Fuel are
just excellent. No stomach issues and easily palatable. I am running the Broadway
Marathon this coming weekend and will adopt a similar nutrition strategy. As for
my diabetes, I started with a blood sugar of 12mmol and finished with a sugar
of 5.9mmol. Nothing too excitable all the way round and, more importantly, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>no issues. I set my Omnipod to a -50% basal
rate for 7hours and used my phone to read my Libra patch as<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ran. Perfect! In my kit bag I was carrying
the libre reader (in case my phone died), my PDM for the Omnipod and also insulin
pens (both Levemir and Novorapid). I have been in a situation before where on a
really cold day the Omnipod has failed and I didn’t have any pens or anything in
my kit bag. I often talk about the <i>do-learn-do</i> mantra and this is
something that I definitely learned from. The other tp, and this was from the people
at Omnipod, was to actually wear the pump on the abdomen when doing something
like this as it is less exposed than it would be on the arm so less likely to
succumb to colder temperatures. Needless to say I did this and it worked a treat.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Do-learn-do! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Back in the hall I was handed a goody bag with some chocolate,
a cap (Rich always wore a cap when he ran), a discount voucher for a run store
and a rock. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h3 style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The rock is significant as, and this is taken from
the race website; </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">MEDALS ARE OVERRATED......</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">so everyone that participates will get a rock instead!
Some time ago when <a href="https://run4rich.co.uk/" style="box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Rich</span></a> (Roly)
and I were packing for an 86 mile coast-to-coast hike I saw a huge rock next to
his backpack with a smiley face on it. I asked Rich what it was and he said
"...oh that's 'Boris the Rock' ... we're taking him with us". His
pack was so heavy that he sometimes had to be pushed up to his feet to get him
going!</span></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></h3>
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<span style="color: blue;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No-one knows
what happened to Boris, but every runner/walker will get a 'mini-Boris', as a
memento of the race. Feel free to carry it around with you on your next big
run/hike!</span></i><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Someone near opened their back and took the rock out. Each
piece of rock was personally engraved. A lovely personal touch that frankly
capped (see what I did there) a fantastic race and even better event. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I did ask Carlos if this was going to lead him to a new
career as an RD to which he answered no but he did say that he would continue
to put this race on. I, for one, will be there next year.</span></div>
justmmbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15917709295737489150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894590616663935035.post-81875984324466626022019-10-04T13:31:00.003+01:002019-10-04T13:31:26.767+01:00Cheltenham Half Marathon - September 2019<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Whenever I race I over think it. I am constantly doing
calculations in my head, “at this pace it will take me this long to finish” and
“I am this far from the finish which means I need to run an x minute mile to
hit my goal.” I know I should just relax and be in the moment but I rarely if
ever am. This is a total opposite to when I just run for my own fitness,
recreation and training. I like to make sure I am not dawdling but just work
within the time constraints I have. If I have an hour or two I fill it. If
running was split into two parts, training and racing I am much more about the
training and the process of that than I am the racing. I don’t race often and
probably for that very reason.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So to the Cheltenham Half. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I started over thinking it when I saw the weather forecast.
It was forecast to be wet and windy. Not just wet, thunder and lightning. I
fretted and stressed deciding that while it might be wet the temperature would
be ok so I was going for a t-shirt, a gilet and cap. That made sense and was
sorted. I reconciled that if the rain eased then I could probably pack the
gilet into my flip belt. Inside the race village I bumped into someone I knew
who said that the weather had changed and there was some blue sky there now. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Panic. No sense of perspective whatsoever. I didn’t even
check for myself, and there was time. I just retrieved my bag from the bag drop
and put my gilet and cap away. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It actually turned out to be the right decision but cost
some mental energy before we had even started. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The race was due to start at 9am. The crowd made their way
out there ahead of this to warm up, do any final prep and find the right
starting chute. I joined the 1:30-1:45 start. I was hoping for sub 1:30 but
wasn’t really confident enough to join that group or to put it out there
formally. After a slight delay due to a car being on the course the race
started and we were off. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There was quite a crowd for the first part and I settled in
behind the 1:30 pacers. My initial thinking being that if I could hang with
them for a few miles I could then push on if I felt able. Being ahead of them
would guarantee a sub 1:30. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This plan lasted about 500 metres. It actually, weirdly,
felt very slow. I guess that was a combination of adrenaline and that the start
is downhill. A quick rethink and the plan changed to being; if I get ahead of
the 1:30 group I can push on - if they then catch me I know what I need to do
to get to sub 1:30. Off I went and put down a 6:38 for mile 1. I maintained
this tempo and had a pretty comfortable and uneventful race really. I went
through 10km in around 38:30 and that was when I started with the sums again. I
was trying to calculate a finish time and how much I could afford to slow down.
More mental energy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The crowds through the town, particularly Montpellier,
Leckhampton and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the Suffolks were great.
I had a lot of shout-outs as I had found myself running alone. I was behind a
group of around 50 or so that were leading and the rest of the field were
behind me. The strong start I was having being not quite enough to get me to
the front but quick enough to keep me from the masses. It was great to see
friendly faces out there and particularly those from the Bath Road Beers run
club massive! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This was the first race I have done as part of a run club and
it was really good fun doing so. It was good to head to the course with the
group and then meet with others once there. At the finish there were volunteers
from the club handing out medals, water and even a hug! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Back to the race; it was around mile 10 that I started to
struggle a bit, the course loops up and down and crosses the roads around
Pittville Park. This was quite demoralising as the racecourse represented the
finish and yet it was out of reach with yet another loop. It would get worse. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I hit the racecourse and really ran out of power. Mile 10
had been 7:07, mile 11 was 6:58 then 12 and 13 were 7:02 and 7:04 respectively.
While they are good mile times in context they are a drop off from where I was
at the start. I had paced totally wrong and was running out of juice. To make
it even worse as I hit the race course with some 2+ miles to go I heard the
announcer call out the winner! Brilliant!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The section around the racecourse was pretty grim. Some
short muddy intersections to exposed tarmac service roads where the wind just
blew into your face whichever way you were facing. It was only 2 miles on this
section and I was again doing maths to calculate what I’d need to do. In the
end I was glad it was over and felt like I trickled over the line. I did get a
shout out from the announcer as I did though which was cool.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My finish time was texted to me pretty much instantly;
01:27:53. Good but 38 seconds outside my PB set at Tewkesbury around 10 years
ago. Closer inspection of the Strava file revealed that my half marathon time
was actually 01:27:01 with the race coming in at 13.23miles and not the
regulation 13.1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It is around 10 years since I last ran a half, my finishing
time then was 1:27:15. Whilst I was really happy with the time I know I can do
better if I can do it smarter. There is also that feeling of dread that comes
with a race like this. Running hard for 13.1 miles is, well, hard. I run a lot,
most days in fact, yet rarely get close to sub 7 minute-miling. That I averaged
6:38 is, to me at least, quite something. I have generally been able to turn a
pace when needed and this is not through specific training just through
strength of running. The fact that I run a lot and have some strength from that
means I can turn a pace – it’s just not something I do very often. I also have
for the past few years not done any events where I needed to run fast. Ultra’s
being about getting it done, for me, and not racing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A lack of experience told for me in this race. I didn’t
really understand what my race pace could and would be so just ran. Knowing
what I know now I would start at around 6:40/45 pace for the first 3-3.5 miles
or so and then look to up the pace finishing stronger. On that basis I think I could
take a minute off that time as while I was spent at the end of this I was
strong for the majority of it. Better pacing would have helped that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I also need to relax a bit (a lot); I run all the time so
not sure why I find races so stressful. Maybe because I don’t race often I always
feel like I have to do something. When I say something I mean against the
context of my own performances. I am still chasing PB’s and want to do well. I have
an uneasy relationship with being competitive. I don’t consider myself
competitive but I clearly am. I hope that this doesn’t manifest against people I
know and run with because ultimately what I want is only to do the best I can. What
goes on around me is almost irrelevant I am only racing myself in these
circumstances.</span></div>
justmmbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15917709295737489150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894590616663935035.post-37412715545377108402019-05-14T10:17:00.003+01:002019-05-14T10:17:22.994+01:00Do you use an insulin pump? Then check your prescriptions...<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Not that long ago you would have probably had an MP3 player
of some sort, a phone, a GPS for the car (one of those that you fixed to the
windscreen), a camera, books of paper maps and maybe something like a palm pilot that worked when you
were in WiFi.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Now you, probably, just have a phone that does it all. All your
eggs (insert plant based alternative for this metaphor to work) are in one basket.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I found myself in this position on Friday evening. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">My OmniPod needed changing something I did very efficiently
(it takes me so little time to do this now). Within a minute of completing the POD
change the PDM displayed an error screen advising me that the POD was not
working and should be removed. I removed it as instructed but then found the
PDM screen to be frozen. None of the buttons worked and it wasn’t going into
auto-shut off as it normally would. I called the technical support line and spoke
to a chap that helped me through the reset function. After a few attempts where
the reset was not working the decision was taken to supply me a new PDM. In
view of the weekend this would be provided to me by Tuesday. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The tech support guy asked me if I had backup kit that I could
use to which I confidently answered yes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I was only partially right! I have insulin pens that I carry
all the time just in case. However what I had not realised was that the Levemir
I use was out of date by 6 months, something I only realised after I had
injected it, it didn’t do anything bad to me, in fact I don’t think it did
anything at all as when I woke in the morning my sugars were at 17mmol –
unheard of for me even when I was struggling with overnight sugars. The NovoRapid
by comparison was in date but by a matter of days. This was now Friday night
close to 10pm – how would I get prescriptions updated in time? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I called NHS 111 and felt like a total fraud as this was not
an emergency or something medical this was a lack of preparedness on my part. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I explained the situation and was advised that a Levemir prescription
would be available for me at a specific pharmacy for the morning and that I should
contact them first thing. The Pharmacy opened at 8:30 and I was at the door when
they did. They had no record of my prescription at all and suggested that it
might have gone to my normal pharmacy that I use for this. They opened at 9am.
I waited int ha car and called them as soon as they opened. They had nothing
either. I went back to the 111 service and they promised to chase it up within
an hour and get back to me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">An hour passed and I called them, they had no record of my
call so we went through the process again. This did yield a result with the out
of hours doctor calling me and saying that a prescription would be at the original
pharmacy within the hour. I went back to them on the hour and there was nothing
that had come through. They were now close to their closing time so issued me
an emergency prescription using a paper based facility that they had. I had my Levemir
that was in date! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The other issue was that I use my PDM to test my blood sugars
too. With this not working I needed to find a spare meter. I had one with a
nearly full barrel of test strips. Over the weekend I was fine on insulin pens
and using my Accu-Chek Aviva Expert. However I then realised that I did not
have any spare test strips. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">All of which takes me back to the first point. Technology is
great when it’s working but with increasing reliance and seeming reliability comes complacency. I have
used an OmniPod for a couple of years and bar the occasional pod failure have
not had any issues. The PDM failing is more serious than that. Not only is it my
insulin delivery method it’s my blood testing method too. Without doubt the two
most important technological dependencies that I have. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">My
health and well being depends on it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The lesson has been well and truly learned. I have now got
(or have on order) prescriptions for insulin pens for Levemir and NovoRapid, I will
check the expiry dates of these and add them to my diary so I know when they
expire and do not get caught out again. Similarly I will have a couple boxes of
test strips for my backup monitor and if they have an expiry I will do the
same. It took a lot of chasing around and calling on resources that are over
stretched to try and sort this on a Saturday morning, something that was wholly
avoidable had I been prepared. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The issue isn’t that the PDM malfunctioned or that NHS 111
couldn’t get a prescription through its that I never thought about it. I
thought I was prepared with spares for what I needed but as I have not really
needed them I wasn’t. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">If you are an insulin pump user you need to do this
(assuming like me you haven’t already); <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Check
your backup kit – do you have pens/needles/test strips and insulin<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Check
the expiry date on the insulin and either order replacements (making sure
to throw away the old stuff) or add the dates to your calendar/diary so
you don’t miss it<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Make
sure you have back up test strips and that your meter works (and that you
have batteries for it)</span> </li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Technology is remarkable these days, things do not often
just fail. This leads to complacency which is exactly where I found myself. In
a jam because of that. Hopefully, if you’ve made it this far into the post, you can avoid this! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Massive shout out and thanks to the people at <a href="https://eu.myomnipod.com/become-a-podder-sample-pod?countryname=UK&languagename=English&gclid=Cj0KCQjwzunmBRDsARIsAGrt4mv5DKEFvvTlhkeFu2xu23Oj5yOOhr_eR7cICiMh0MZqeUA6j61EJbkaAjTZEALw_wcB">MyOmniPod
support</a>, <a href="https://spapharmacycheltenham.co.uk/">Spa Pharmacy</a>
and <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/urgent-and-emergency-care/nhs-111/">NHS
111</a>.</span></div>
justmmbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15917709295737489150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894590616663935035.post-51497257163338849202019-05-09T09:03:00.000+01:002019-05-09T09:03:08.382+01:00Winchcombe Cross Marathon - 5th May 2019<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Advertised
as a marathon with +2,500ft of elevation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Well,
the distance is right (although I got lost and did an extra couple of miles)
but the elevation is way off. Closer to +3,400ft! The Winchcombe Cross is a set
of race distances all run in the same day on similar courses. A half marathon,
marathon, 37 mile ultra and 50miler. </span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I was
doing the marathon having made the decision earlier this year to not do ultras
for this year at least. </span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Registration
opened at 7:30 with a start time of 8:30. I was up early and stressing about
the day so headed over earlier to catch the Ultra start and see Rob who was
doing the 37miler. </span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Training
for this event has been good from an overall mileage perspective (around 600 so
far in 2019, but distinctly lacking long runs. I’d done a 15 and a 20 miler
prior to the event and have been averaging maybe 38 miles a week. </span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">There
was a race briefing at 8:20 before we started at 8:30. </span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The
route starts with an easy section down to Winchcombe high street, across the
road down a hill then onto the trails. Leg 1 was an out and back to Temple
Guiting, I was surprised at the amount of tarmac but the views were
stunning. </span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The
weather was perfect really, slightly cool with some cloud but dry and little/no
wind. </span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The
field strung out as runners settled into their own pace. I had a plan to run
9min miles for as long as I could figuring I could get to 20 miles at that pace
and then just finish the last 10km by any means. </span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I had
a thought that I could do something between 4hrs and 4.5hrs. Come the end I was
slower than that but happy enough with my day. </span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Heading
into Temple Guiting I somehow missed the arrows marking the course and ran past
the turn for the checkpoint. By some distance too, maybe by 3/4 of a mile.
Realising my mistake i turned around ran back but knew that any chance of
hitting my targets just got harder. </span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I was
doubly disappointed though as at the point I went wrong I was in 2nd place. I
only knew this as I had crossed on the route with Rob who told me. By the time
I righted myself on course I was way back, it was only 7 miles in and so there
were plenty of runners piling in behind me. I don’t know if there was a bit of distraction
in hearing I was in 2<sup>nd</sup> and believing my own unfounded hype. I was
trying to just keep my pace steady and stick to targets because it was early in
the race and genuinely as much as I would love to do well in a race I don’t
ever have expectations of doing so. </span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">To
compound the issue, I then went wrong leaving Temple Guiting! Just not paying
attention and thinking too much about how to make up lost ground rather than
focusing on the moment I was in. Another turn round when I realised and more
emotional drain. The physical impact would happen a little later in the race. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Making
my way back to the race HQ for the next leg I made up ground on some runners
and was pretty comfortable. I went through the checkpoint as quickly as I could,
keen to continue to make up some ground. It was at mile 15 that I had a physical
problem of sorts. There were runners ahead of me and as I crossed a field that
was pretty rutted I took my eye of what was in front of me for a second and twanged
my ankle. I say ankle but on reflection and examining where I have some
soreness it is actually on the outside of the shin a couple of inches above the
ankle bone. My foot gave way and I felt my leg twang, like elastic as I corrected
the instability on the ground. The pain shot up through my leg and for a second
I thought that was it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It
calmed down and I set about walking to see if I could just walk it off. I have
had situations like this before and have the mindset that provided it’s not hanging
off I will finish. This is primarily borne of not racing a lot and so when I do,
I want to finish. I think that if I maybe raced more often I would be less
concerned. I walked a bit and it eased. The rest of my race would fall into a
pattern of run walk, running on tarmac and downhill was quite sore but uphill
and flat was fine (although I walked the uphills too!). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Leg 2
was, for the marathon, a loop. Running through leg 2 and then rather than
coming back, if I was doing the ultra, continuing around into leg 4. This made
for a better running experience as while the terrain was stunning it’s nice not
to retrace your steps. Plus the 4<sup>th</sup> leg took in the famous <a href="https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/belas-knap-long-barrow/">Belas
Knapp</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">As I approached
this there were more people around as this is a spot for tourists and walkers.
Up to this point there had not really been anyone around other than those in
the event itself. As I got to Belas Knapp I did think about the ultra-runners
coming up that way. The climb out of Winchcombe is pretty brutal gaining close
to 750ft in the space of maybe a mile or two. Running down this was hard
enough. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">As you
pass Belas Knapp there’s a steep field that takes you down to a small wooded section,
you clear that then it’s downhill past the cricket club and back onto the high
street. Running down through the field I could hear thunderous footsteps behind
me. My first thought was that cannot be one of the event runners? It wasn’t. It
was a small bout maybe 10 years old running full tilt through the long grass
and having the time of his life. His sister, slightly older, was behind him and
much more tentative. He stopped just in front of me and as I got close I asked
him if he was racing me. He replied that he was and took off again. So fast! I
think that even if I had not run at all I could not have let the handbrake off
enough to run like he was. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">He
was just running down hill without a thought for his knees and ankles or
anything. It really made me smile and was quite uplifting. When you try to
explain to someone why you run it’s because sometimes it feels like that. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">That</i> being an intangible thing really,
something you have to experience to understand. A combination of being immersed
in the moment without a thought in your head, a flow state where the action of
running is for that moment all consuming. You’re doing it but it doesn’t
register as conscious thought or physical feeling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Reaching
the woods I knew the route back having run this previously. It’s a short hop to
the high street then up to the aid station and the finish. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I
crossed the line with 4:57:20 on my watch. The total distance I covered being
28.75 miles and with +3,471ft of elevation gain. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It’s
not often I finish something and think I want to do that again but for this one
I really did. I think it’s because I know if I didn’t get lost I would save
around 15 minutes and if I do more longer runs I can probably take another 20
minutes or so off that time and maybe get closer to the 4:30 I thought
achievable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">My
blood sugar control through the event was excellent. I was up at 6am and tested
with a blood sugar of 5.5mmol. I had something to eat undercutting the carbs
count by around 50%. This meant I would be higher by the time I got to the
start line but not an issue as once I start running it drops pretty-quickly. I
also put in place a -50% temporary basal for a 7hr duration. Because the doses of
insulin that I use are quite small this is the maximum reduction the pump can
accommodate. At the start of the race my blood sugars were 14mmol, high but for
a short period and not concerning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Nutrition
strategy was pretty simple and a combination of 33Shake gels and Tailwind with
a couple of bars with me just in case. The plan was to sip tailwind and have a
gel every hour. At the half marathon point I tested my blood sugars and they
were 7.2mmol. Perfect! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I set
off again and did not test until the leg 2/4 checkpoint where they were
5.5mmol. This was probably the most stressful blood test I have done. There was
an ambulance crew there and one of them spotted what I was doing and came
across to check. He was stood on my shoulder watching. I have never felt under
so much pressure to deliver a good reading. When it popped up with 5.5mmol I was
so relieved. He just said “that’s perfect” and seemed happy enough. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Because I was out for longer than expected the pump notified me when the
temp basal had ended. I set another -50% for 3hours and continued. My blood
sugars at the end were 11mmol. A combination of my slowing pace and probably
taking on too much food. There was a creeping upward trend for a couple of
hours but it soon righted itself as I had something to eat and administered correct
bolus amounts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Later in the evening I set a -25% basal for the overnight period as knew
from experience that I would go low otherwise. This was borne out with a waking
blood sugar on Monday of 3.1mmol.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I was using the OmniPod through the event and had no issues. In fact,
for this race an alert that a temp basal had finished and then being able to
set up another while still moving was pretty awesome. There is no fire and
forget that you get with pens. I had the pod on my arm but the conditions were
such that it was not over exposed at all so performed as it should. The
facility of being able to administer reductions on the fly proved invaluable
not only during the event but in the period post event and then through the
night. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I really enjoyed the event, the course was beautiful, the conditions couldn’t
have been better really and the organisation was perfect. I want to do it again
next year and that’s a first for me really. No higher praise?</span></div>
justmmbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15917709295737489150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894590616663935035.post-18842272629960744332019-05-02T11:50:00.004+01:002019-05-02T12:07:08.547+01:00Bit of an update; diabetes, carbs and running<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I have been in a good run with my diabetes of late. There
have been some unexpected spikes but the biggest change has been my overnight
sugars and the changes I have made to achieve this. This post will be validated
or blown out of the water on Wednesday when I get my blood test results and the
all import <a href="https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/managing-your-diabetes/hba1c">HbA1c</a>
number. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">At the time of my last check up I was struggling with blood
sugars overnight. Too high as evidenced by waking levels of regularly
>10mmol and in reality an average of around 12mmol. These days it has been
much more between 5-8mmol. A significant change borne of two main changes that
are wholly related. I now trust my going to be blood sugar levels and can do
this as I am eating a lower carb meal in the evening. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Previously I would test my blood sugars before going to bed
and if it were less than 7mmol I would worry then eat something without insulin
and then wake up with a high reading in the 10-12mmol range. What I do now is
trust the levels as I understand them better. The understanding and trusting
the insulin on board calculation. If my blood sugars are 6mmol but with no IOB
at bedtime then I trust that and go to bed. When<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>wake my blood sugar levels are similar. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I have been able to achieve this through eating a lower carb
evening meal and doing this much earlier in the evening. The last point being
particularly important as I tend to be an early to bed early to rise kind of
guy. My evening meal now comprises around 20-30g of carbs and does not include
anything remotely related to bread, pasta or rice. While I am not low carb (I
am<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a long way from sub 50g of carbs a
day) this small change has made such a difference that it is something I will
be extending to my lunchtime meal. I just need to figure out how to transport
salad in a rucksack when I run to work so that it is still edible at lunchtime!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The bread, pasta, rice thing is very interesting and has
been a source of problems for me. This is as it relates to the evening meal
specifically. If I were to eat pizza or rice my blood sugars would spike
significantly later on the same night. I have counted the carbs and tried
various combinations of extending the insulin delivery (a feature of the
OmniPod) by an hour or two except that this resulted in high sugars followed by<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a significant drop. It’s just been easier
(and I feel better for it) to not eat those foods at night. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The other aspect of my blood sugar control I have gotten a
grip on has been the use of the temp basal feature. As someone that
run-commutes I have struggled with afternoon blood sugar drops. I could be at
8mmol leaving the office at around 5pm and after an easy 30minutes of running
my blood sugars would be sub-4mmol. I have started the temp basal reduction
earlier in the day and also worked to not have any insulin on board from
lunchtime or afternoon snacks. Oe of the issues here is that I can only do a
temp basal reduction of 50%. The pump cannot accommodate a greater reduction as
my insulin levels are so low. I have experimented with suspending insulin but
this makes me nervous and I am unsure of how long to reasonably do this. Should
I start this an hour before I am due to be exerting myself or just for the
period of exertion? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This is where a feature of scheduling on the OmniPod would
be awesome. The features to reduce insulin delivery for time periods is great
and what would be even better would be a facility to schedule the reduction. I
have given this some thought and think something like the following would work
incredibly well for me. On an assumption that I will be running at 5pm I would
look to do the following. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">3pm :: Temp basal reduction of -50% (this being the current
pump limit. If this could be smaller I would do a -50% for 3-4pm then -80% from
4-6pm)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">5pm :: run home (I would want my blood sugars to be around 7/8mmol
and have no insulin on board. I may also need to eat something (around 15g of
carbs) before leaving. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">6pm :: the temp basal of -80% would finish <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">6pm-9pm :: I would look to have a -25% temp basal reduction
and depending on the intensity of the 5pm run may even extend this to a 4-5hr
period<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I did this, sort of, just last night. On Wednesdays I run
with <a href="https://bathrdbeers.co.uk/">Bath Road Beers Run Club</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We set off for the club run at 7pm. Earlier
in the day, at 4:30pm, I applied a temp basal reduction of -50% for 4 hours. At
1800hrs my blood sugars were 8.2mmol. I ate around 25g of carbs without
insulin. I ran a pretty hard 6miles and when I tested my sugars at just after
8pm, when I got home, they were 4.2mmol. I had an evening meal quite a bit
later than normal that was around 45g of carbs (a little higher than normal as
I had a vegan protein shake with it). When I went to bed at 10’ish my blood
sugars were 12mmol. I had insulin on board and new that I had the effects of
the run still in me. I set up a temp basal of -25% at 9pm for 5hrs to cope with
this as I have had situations where I have gone low over night. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">When I got up this morning my blood sugars were 8.8mmol. A
little high but, I think, managed quite well with lots of variables to contend
with. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">As I mention above the impact of low carb in evening meals
has been incredibly significant and something I want to explore further. My
reticence only being that I train a lot and while I never feel under powered
(my April numbers have been really good; 151 miles run at an average of 7:52
per mile and an average run length of 7.22miles) I am a way off being a fat
adapted runner and this takes time to achieve. Something I am not sure I have
the patience for. It’s also worth noting that my weight has been pretty stable
for the last couple of years at around 150lbs. A weight I am comfortable with.
It had though, recently started to creep up and only a couple of weeks ago I
was at 156lbs. Still not massive but the wrong trajectory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three weeks on lower carb evening meals and I
am back to 151lbs. I need to make sure it doesn’t go too far the other way now
but as an experiment of 1 it shows that this works. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It's funny as I have always thought of myself as a good
diabetic. Recently I have felt much less like that and struggled a bit with the
emotions that throws up. I want to keep the OmniPod and that was at risk
following my last appointment as my blood sugars were not showing an
improvement that warranted the investment that having this device comes with. I
am hoping for an improvement on my HbA1c numbers as having to give it up will
be a very bad situation to find myself in. Fingers crossed!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />justmmbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15917709295737489150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894590616663935035.post-77730945575842722772019-03-28T08:30:00.001+00:002019-03-28T08:30:11.907+00:00All plans are flexible..<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At the beginning of the year I set my running goals and
actually wrote them down on an intranet forum. They were; to run 2,000 miles this
year and complete my first hundred miler. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When I wrote them in January I genuinely thought they were
achievable. Without writing them down I also had it in mind to run a couple
more 50’s too. That all changed in January, on 26<sup>th</sup> January to be precise
and in the aftermath of the Wychavon Way ultra. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I ran the Wychavon Way ultra (walked most of it tbh) and while
a day out running in the hills and fields is always a good day I was so
undercooked that it became a slog. An absolute slog. Emotionally if not
particularly physically draining. Looking back now there was a certain amount
of arrogance in my approach to the event. I knew I was undercooked but it was
only 40 miles. Only. I hadn’t trained much for a variety of reasons (chiefly
injury and illness) but it was only 40 miles. My longest run on the lead up was
about 13 miles or so but it’s would be ok because it was only 40 miles. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am not sure when I started thinking 40 miles was a good distance
to just rock up and have a go at but that’s what<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>did. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I finished and I wasn’t last either. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Immediately after I was thinking about the day I had just
had and decided that for this year at least I won’t be running that kind of
distance again. I also took the 100miler off the table too. What I realised as I
sat in the car being driven post-race was that running really long distances is
fun and I love it, I mean I really love it, but it was starting to feel like a
chore. Like a job, almost. I’m going to contradict myself a little now because
if this could be my job that would be awesome! I love to run but when you need
to train for long distances it can become a chore and that actually more than
anything you cannot fake it. You can run a 10km or even a half marathon on
little training and it’s fine. It will be a rough hour or two or maybe even
three. But an ultra is 8, 10 or even 24hours. You need to be ready for that and
you eed to be trained. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is the root of my decision, I run all the time, often
twice a day and currently average around 40 miles a week. My longest training
run this year has been 13.6 miles. This is fine. I love thins kind of running.
I ran home earlier this week and it was only 2.8 miles but one of the best runs
I can remember. I was flying along, a light rucksack, early spring sun warm and
bright, I felt great physically and just bounced a long effortlessly. To use
cycling parlance it was like there was no chain. That’s what I want my running
to be. I don’t want to feel like running for 20 minutes but have to do a 3hr
effort. I want to be able to do the runs I want when I want. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hence the decision. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I might yet hit 2,000 miles and I may change my mind again
as the year progresses and I feel more trained. This year so far I have done 70
runs at an average distance of a little over 5.5miles each. I am more than
happy with that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have a couple of races in the diary. A trail marathon on May
5<sup>th</sup> and the Cheltenham Challenge half later in June. That feels good
enough for now. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It feels good enough because when I put my running shoes on I
am running without pressure, without expectation and can do as much or as
little as I want without worrying that I haven’t hit a target or goal for that
week. If I want to run fast then I do (speed is relative so don’t look at my
numbers too closely) if I’m not feeling it I don’t have to. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It’s great, I’m loving running again.</span></div>
justmmbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15917709295737489150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894590616663935035.post-51590834404098053622019-01-28T08:52:00.000+00:002019-01-28T08:52:51.292+00:00Wychavon Way Ultra - January 2019<br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I was undercooked for my latest ultra. Really
undercooked. Almost blasé. I had a plan of sorts, through December I was
planning to increase my long run distance, carry that through to January and be
ready. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">What happened was I ended up taking 12 days off running in December and
then in January after a good 44 mile week a heavy cold then cost me
a week. This left me one week before the race when I’d need to relax and
taper. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The issue in December was a ridiculous injury. Doing some DIY (very
unusual for me) I knelt on a carpet rod that went right up under the knee cap.
No major damage just bruising but enough that I could let run. I couldn’t
even walk upstairs. Taping it helped a lot but that just felt like I was
masking the problem rather than letting it heal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The cold in January was just that. A miserable heavy cold that left me
shivering and aching for a little over a week. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">So it was I was on the start line with my good running buddy and fellow
Janner, Rob. I must admit that despite knowing I wasn’t trained enough I
did think I’d be ok. The weather was good and, crucially, I felt good too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">After a race briefing we were off at 08:30 with nearly 200 runners
setting off from Droitwich Lido down the high street. There was then a
left turn, under a bridge and onto the canal path. We, I ran the whole thing
with Rob, settled into a pace that was around 9’ish minutes per mile. This
felt comfortable although Rob said that he was not feeling good at the start.
The first 9 miles to CP1 were uneventful, some runners went off like hares with
the majority not doing so. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">CP1 came and went, I tested my blood sugars had some food and off we
went. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I had decided that my blood sugar strategy would be typical to how I do
these things. I reduced my basal by 50% as soon as I got up that morning and
set it to stay at that level for 10hours; the entire anticipated duration of
the race. I cannot go any lower than this as the range of the pump cannot cope
with this, my normal life basal insulin levels are quite low. I would then eat
what and when I wanted and dispense with bolus. Experience has told me that I
just won’t need it. I have commented before that when I run an ultra it is like
not having diabetes. This worked. While blood sugars were a bit high at the
start they quickly dropped and a CP3 my levels were 4.9mmol. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">What I do experience post racing is that my blood sugars will spike. I
attribute this to the fact that I have been eating all day and much of it slow
release. Once I stop using the fuel my sugars increase. An hour after the race
my sugars were 14mmol. A correction dose and they were then fine for the rest
of the evening and overnight. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">A couple miles past CP1 is the most disgusting thing I have ever
encountered on a run. We were warned about this particular farm in the
briefing. The warning was that the area around the gate and driveway are
covered in slurry (cow dung and water). As we approached the area there was a runner
making her way around the fence to avoid the slurry. I started to climb and it
looked like Rob just went for the momentum approach and barrelled through. I
climbed around on the gate and as I got to the driveway thought that was it, mission
accomplished. Except that the driveway wasn’t as it seemed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">What looked like solid ground was ankle deep filthy, smelly, disgusting
slurry. Having climbed around I undid everything immediately to find myself
ankle deep in cow-shit. Absolutely disgusting and a smell you carry with
you for the rest of the day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">At 16 miles and maybe a further hour On from CP1 I started to get some
difficulty with my glutes. They were screaming. This was now the longest run I had
done in months. I kept going as best I could and was still running more than
walking. CP2 was an opportunity for coke and onion bhajis. Off again. It was
the section between CP2 and CP3 that was undoubtedly the hardest. It took us
through marathon distance and then up and over Bredon Hill. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Rather than just taking gels (33Shake of course) I also decided to carry
some savoury items too in the shape of some roasted potatoes with a good dose
of salt and pepper. They worked really well and it was good to have a different
flavour. There was one moment though where I thought is this how it ends?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I was on my own heading down a slope and decided to take the opportunity
to eat. I grabbed my potatoes and took a bite. They were quite dry as was my
mouth. As I chewed I could feel the potato getting stuck in my throat. I tried
to clear it but couldn’t so ended up making myself just cough it up - it was
that or choke. As I did another runner came down the path and was very
concerned. I had to explain that I was and not puking I had just had to stop
myself choking on a potato. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bredon Hill was looming and looking up at it the top was not visible as
was shrouded in cloud. The path up felt like a wall and the weather changed
with rain being driven in waves across the exposed landscape. Keeping moving to
keep warm was the focus here. The field started to bunch up here as runners
pace ebbed and flowed. At the top was the tower. Barely visible in the low
cloud and through the rain. There was little point in stopping although people
were doing just that to take a photo of the obscured views. This may have
been as evidence for how bad it was as much as anything. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DbpXauhzPBM" width="560"></iframe>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">We expected that having hit the top of the hill it would be an equally
steep drop back down. This was not the case at all. The route took us across
the top of the hill with a rolling down being more the order. The weather
continued to drive in and I was now really struggling. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The effort to get up the hill really took it out of me. My quads had
joined my glutes in punishing me. Honestly, I wanted out. Well I say that but
this is where you learn about yourself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Did I really want out? Yes and no. I wanted the race to be over but I
didn’t want to quit. I wasn’t about to do that when I was ok. The pain I was
feeling was pain that is just muscular not pain that is injuring. I wasn’t
damaging myself I was just hurting myself. That I can cope with. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The weather was grim, it was windy, wet and unrelenting. I wanted the
race to be over. I could have bailed but I wasn’t about to do that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">What did I learn? That I won’t quit. That in that moment it matters more
to me to finish than anything else. I don’t want to be a quitter. So I dig deep
and keep going. One foot in front of the other. Keeping some perspective this
was a 40 miler and there was no real jeopardy. One thing about running in the UK
is that you are probably never more than a couple of miles or so from a road or
house or something where you could raise help. Similarly there’s nearly always
mobile phone reception. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It’s the understanding of pain. The difference between discomfort in
muscles and lasting damage. Discomfort, along with everyone out there on Saturday,
I can manage. It’s part of they why in why I run longer distances. So much of life
is comfortable. We sit down for hours on special chairs, heated seats in cars,
warm comfortable beds, it goes on and on. Whilst I like all this I also really
like being stressed and pushed out of that comfort. It’s fleeting and at the
end of the day I am in a comfortable warm bed having had good food and a hot
shower.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In the moments we are stressed and uncomfortable maybe those are the
ones where we are more alive. The most connected to our bodies and the simple act
of running. A rare time where we are just doing one thing, we are focussed, in
the moment and getting it done. So much of life is about multi-tasking. On an
ultra while you may send a tweet or take photos you really are just concentrating
on what you need to do to get it done. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I was walking way more now but running a bit and still moving. It was a
bit like the Peter Kay sketch where he describes how people walk to a dance
floor – like a run but at walking pace. That’s what I was doing. I was becoming
increasingly aware that I was really holding Rob back. I said to him to press
on but to his credit he never did. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">CP3 was at the bottom of the hill and the last one of the race. It was a
mere 7 or so miles to the finish from here. It was getting dark, the weather
was now really taking hold with rain whipping in on winds that had steadily
picked up pace through the day. Underfoot the mud had turned really sticky and
my shoes must have weighed five times what they would normally with sticky mud.
This was sapping what little strength I had and what I was preserving to get to
the finish. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The last 3 miles was a walk. A trudge. A slog. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">We did run a bit and the last eight hundred metres or so on road to the
finish was run. It felt good to be finally done. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Reflecting a day later the obvious thing to say is that this is a lovely
course. On a good day it would probably be stunning. The views from Bredon would
be magnificent I am sure. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Similarly, the early parts along the river would be lovely in sunshine.
The second thing is that quite a bit of the course is on road. I’ve no idea
what the exact split is but it felt like maybe 70/30 Trail to Road. That was
surprising. Do not be fooled into thinking you can wear a road show though,
certainly not in the winter edition of this. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">However bad you feel during the race when you think back a day on the
trails is a fantastic way to spend a day. The community is great, the marshalls
and people volunteering at the aid stations are remarkable. Giving up their
time so you can achieve a goal. As always, I never take that for granted and take
that away with me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />justmmbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15917709295737489150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894590616663935035.post-5367854817807859202019-01-22T09:32:00.000+00:002019-01-22T09:32:06.281+00:00Wychavon Way Ultra this Saturday..<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The thing with long distance, ultra, running is that I doubt
you are ever fully prepared or fully fit. The very nature of how to train and live
on the lead up to one of these events makes it almost impossible. It’s
difficult to turn in consistent high mileage weeks in a world that also
includes family and work. It’s hard to stay healthy when there are colds and
coughs all around you. There’s also the spectre of the unexpected and unrelated
injury too. Simply put life can get in the way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So it goes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Early in December I was doing some rare DIY. Anyone that knows
me knows this is not my forte. I was doing some work in a bathroom and backing
out through the doorway on my knees. As I did so I put my knee on the carpet
rod. One of those dowelling size pieces of metal that holds carpet in place
under a door. It was just the right size to go under the knee cap. It hurt at
the time and then shortly afterwards became really painful. So much so that I couldn’t
walk upstairs. I was actually using the lift at work which is very rare for me.
I looked into the issue and found that taping was an option. I did this and it
worked. I was able to run with my knee very heavily taped. What this meant
though was that while I could run it was very painful immediately afterwards.
The support provided by the tape a mere crutch so to speak. The answer would be
rest. I took an extended rest period over Christmas break not running for 12
days. A period where I was expecting to get some bigger miles in and actually I
did not run at all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">January saw a return to running and with the knee feeling
solid I decided to up my game and go for a bigger week. It was great, I clicked
in at 44 miles. This included a podium on a Strava segment I have been chasing along
with a PB at the local parkrun 6 years after the last one. It was only 3
seconds but still a PB! Then the wheels came off. On the Sunday I went out for
a couple of hours and by the end felt awful. Later that day I needed a nap and
pretty quickly came down with a pretty nasty cold. Monday was a day off work
and the rest of the week was a real struggle. Finally, well almost, over the
cold I am back running this week. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I ran 2.5 miles yesterday evening and 3.6 miles this morning.
The plan is to do the Bath Road Beers Club Run tomorrow evening which is around
4.2 miles and then that will be it before Saturday and the small matter of 40
miles across the Worcestershire countryside and the Wychavon Way ultra. I will
be under cooked for sure but then isn’t everyone?</span></div>
justmmbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15917709295737489150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894590616663935035.post-49285934458233346932018-10-26T09:36:00.000+01:002018-10-26T09:36:14.200+01:00PW - Personal Worst<br />
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My first marathon was a little over 20 years ago and was London
in April 1997. I finished that day in 4hrs 20minutes. I really don’t remember
much about it at all, I don’t remember finishing or how I felt that day or
indeed the day after. The next time I ran a marathon was something like 15
years later, in Gloucester, where I did my PB in 3:15:00 flat. I am very proud
of that time. While I always dreamed of running sub-3 I don’t think I ever
really had the drive to do the training that would take, I feel I’d be
susceptible to injury and with each passing year I obviously am a year older. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yesterday morning I ran a marathon and it struck me last
night that I had run a personal worst, a PW if you like. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I thought this would
really bother me but it doesn’t because it’s all about the context of the run.
The first thing is that I am proud that I finished it not least of all because while
I am always training I had done no specific training for this. No long runs, no
taper, no structure. </div>
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<br /></div>
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For the last few months I have been ticking along at an
average of around 35-40 miles a week, sometimes I have hit 50miles but rarely.
It’s the long runs in marathon training that you need and I hadn’t done any. I
felt really strong up to around mile 20/21 and, while not running fast, felt
smooth and in a rhythm. I felt that I could keep that going. It was then that I
started to slow down and throw in the odd walk break. I was fine for energy, I hadn’t
hit the wall I had just run out of strength.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is where experience and a certain amount of knowing how
to suffer comes in. I would say I know how to suffer, the experience I had at
the Wendover Woods 50mile taught me many things including how to do just that.
More than that though it was how to suffer without being reckless. I was
struggling but I wasn’t injured, there was no lasting damage being done, it was
just muscle aches which is something you’d expect. With that in mind it becomes
just about completing the distance. Mentally this takes the pressure off; I know
I can do that, I know I can cover the distance I know how my body feels and
reacts and so I just got it done. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There’s ego here too. It felt good to be able to run that
distance almost off the couch. Miles in the legs and experience essentially got
me through. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A little over 20 years from my first marathon I ran a personal
worst – best of all I don’t even care.</div>
justmmbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15917709295737489150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894590616663935035.post-84347152967724257612018-08-13T13:47:00.001+01:002018-08-13T13:47:39.372+01:00what is is with being vegan?<br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have had a beard for around seven years now. During that time
it has been various lengths and bushiness but ever present. This is relevant as
it actually predates the beard fashion by a couple of years. Something people
do not know and why should they? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I get asked about it and say that I have
had it for a while I get sideways looks as if to say, “really?” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The point of
this is that while there are trends, I also ride a single speed bike to work wear
<i>statement</i> glasses and run ultramarathons,
not all things that we do were as a result of a trend. What has this got to do
with eating a vegan diet?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been vegan for a little over three years now. It
started, like most, with a move to vegetarianism and there was a moment. There
was a flash of lightning that came from a Rich Roll Podcast and specifically episode
160 on July 19<sup>th</sup> 2015 and an interview with David Carter. It was
this that prompted me to make the full change and remove dairy from my diet. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On
reflection it seems weird that you can be vegetarian and still consume eggs,
milk and cheese. I stop short of describing myself as vegan as on occasion I do
eat some dairy, never in the pure form but sometimes in cooking. I always try
to avoid it but if there is little option then I will. If you want to label me I
am >99% plant based. There’s a t-shirt slogan right there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What I experience a lot is a sense of defensiveness that I get
from people that ask me about it. I do not go around banging the drum for this
at all but if I am asked I will explain my motivation and the impact that it
has had on me and my health. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How do know there’s a vegan at a cocktail party? <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Don’t worry they will tell you.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When asked I normally cite the following reasons and
outcomes; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">RRP
Podcast and specifically the David Carter interview<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Netflix
documentaries; Cowspiracy, What the Health, Forks over Knives etc<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Injuries
from running that have a connection to consumption of dairy (tendonitis
issues that milk is known to inflame)<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stopped
dairy and injuries cleared up, skin better, feel much better (generally feel
much less gloopy) and have abundant energy<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Weight
is consistent and not an issue<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recovery
from long runs is amazing<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Read
some books (China Study, Eat and Run and some blogs and posts by vegan runners;
Mike Wardian, Rob Krar, Sage Canaday etc etc)<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Immersed
myself in the online culture (Nutritionfacts.org, Neal Barnard MD, Ray Cronise etc etc
etc) <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No-one will ever tell you to eat <i>less</i> fruits and veggies</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I explain this, largely I feel, without prejudice. Remember I
have been asked about this, I am not the idiot at the cocktail party.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I start talking I notice that almost without exception
people get defensive and judgemental of themselves but as though it was coming
from me. I then find myself apologising for something I have not done and
explaining that while it works for me it isn’t for everyone. My wife is around >75%
vegan but my kids really are not all (although they do like vegan ice-cream and
soya iced coffee) as it should be they do what they want. So why do people get
defensive? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think the main one is animal rights. You might have noticed
that I omitted this from the list above. Being totally honest this was not part
of the agenda for me when I started out. It was a selfish motivation that was almost
exclusively around me being a better runner. However as I have gotten more
involved and consumed more vegan materials online you cannot fail to be affected
by animal cruelty that takes place on an industrial scale. I do not reference
this unless asked as it is emotional and provocative. The vegan at the cocktail
party I suspect would reference this almost immediately. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When you are described
as vegan then this is where people immediately leap in terms of motivation and
why you would be. They know about it and like much of human kind choose to
ignore something that counters their version of their life. We all do this on a
wide range of topics and choices. This doesn’t make us wrong it makes us human.
We love nothing more than what we know our are bad habits being validated
however tenuously. Someone shining a light on that makes us uncomfortable and by
extension can often make us defensive. We feel the need to defend our way of
living even though it is not under attack. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So if you ask me why I’m vegan and I answer your question remember
that you asked me and I am just answering your question. I’m not selling anything
and it comes with no judgement from me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anything you feel as a result of that
is down to you as is any action you do or do not take.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh and i get my protein from the same place a gorilla does. </span></div>
justmmbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15917709295737489150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894590616663935035.post-69694756553082634642018-07-26T20:43:00.000+01:002018-07-27T07:50:41.709+01:00Gloucester Groundhog - 22nd July 2018<br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">What happens when two runners watch the Barkley Marathons
documentary on Netflix? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Gloucester Groundhog is what happens. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Inspired by the documentary <b><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2400291/" target="_blank">The Barkley Marathons: The race that eats its young</a></b> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">the Gloucester Groundhog is a
5-loop challenge on a route of around 9 miles, each with 1,300ft of elevation
set in and around <a href="https://getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/local/cranham-wood-stroud" target="_blank">Cranham Woods</a>. It’s a really challenging route with variety
of terrain and some good hills. The premise is pretty simple and just like it’s
Barkley big brother. The challenge is 5 laps within cut-off or there’s a 3 loop
fun run option. The cut-off is a very demanding 9 hrs. To make it even more
interesting you have to navigate and at each mile (more or less) find a book
and rip out a page with your corresponding bib number.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So far so Barkley. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Sunday 22<sup>nd</sup> July a few, 10 runners, gathered in a
parking spot on the edge of Cranham Woods with the start to be given at
0900hrs. A race briefing at 0845hrs and that was it we were off. Straight up
the hill from the start to the first book. It was then a turnaround back to the
start to then head up on the road parallel with the woods. Across Painswick
Road and onto the second book. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Groups quickly formed with one of the runners racing off at
the front, I was in a pair just behind with then a larger group just behind.
There was another pair that, i think, were predominantly walking the course. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Running with a mate is always good but when you spend more
time talking than paying attention you can go wrong very easily and then not
really understand that you have. Jez and I ran straight past the location of
book 2 not seeing it at all. Book locations were indicated with pink rope. Some
were easier to spot than others. This one eluded us and we ran past, probably a
good half a mile past it. Only realising our mistake when the larger group of
runners came through. We headed back and eventually found it. Acknowledging the
time loss we figured we could make up the ground. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If we had been paying attention maybe we could have. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After the second book we set-off running again finding the third
book with not too much issue. It was, though, here that we should have been
concentrating on the map. We missed the turning down the hill for Watery Lane
instead ending up on the main road down to Upton St. Leonard's. We were quite far down the
road before realising our mistake. We turned around and orientated the map to
then see that we were parallel with where we needed to be but some distance
away. Between us were houses fields and barbed wire fences. We found a route
across a field, hopped over a barbed wire fence, over a couple of stiles and
onto Watery Lane where we located the book. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It was then back on road into Upton St. Leonard's. We made another mistake here. You’re not surprised at all
are you! There was no visible rope although we could see from the ma where we
were and that there should be something around. We met with the two walkers at
this stage who were hunting too. It took us quite a while here to find the
book. Later we heard that someone had taken the pink rope! To give an idea of
how wrong we had gone at this point the walkers had done around 6.5 miles and
Jez and I had covered closer to 11.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Back on course and running again we found our way to Nut
Hill and located the book (a cheeky little up and back) it was then across
Painswick Road and up towards Coopers Hill. You might not know Coopers Hill by
name but if I said Cheese Rolling you might know where I mean. This is the site
of the annual May Day Gloucester Cheese Rolling festival which can only be
described as bonkers. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">https://youtu.be/ltjPj9w54UU<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The views across Gloucestershire as you head up Coopers Hill are just amazing. You can see right across Gloucestershire as far as the Black Mountain in Wales, then moving your gaze to the right, The Mayhill with it's clump of trees perched on top a little further and it's The Malvern Hills with then everything in between. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Uphill still the road gave way to trail and a steady if
relatively short climb to the top. In the woods at Coopers Hill there are old
walls and pathways. The book was located on a wall that has become part of the
pathway. There was now one book remaining. The pathway leads towards a farm
where it was through the gate and down onto a road that bisects the wood. There’s a
footpath on the other side of the road that you pick up after which it is a
nice down-hill towards the last book. The last book was difficult to find and another cheeky
out and back. The footpath then deposits you by the Scout Hut in Cranham. It
was a short up hill on the road towards the start/finish. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We had covered around 15 miles and taken 3hrs 45 minutes or
so!! Any hopes of completing 5 laps had evaporated. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There was time to replenish supplies and head out again
although this time in reverse. The advantage here was that we now knew the
course and more importantly where the books were located. The second loop was
without event as evidenced by the improvement in time where we ran around 1:45
for the loop. Quite slow for 9 miles but we had an additional 6 miles in the
legs and also quite a lot of mental tiredness from searching for books and
getting lost. It all takes a toll. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The third loop was where things changed dramatically. By now
it was a long day and with this amazing weather we have been having it was a
very hot and very long day. Lap two finished with the up and back that we did
on lap 1 as lap 3 was a repeat of lap 1 it started with the up and back. All
part of the Barkley plan to mess with your head and break you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We started running and ran most of the loop down to Upton.
Here with tiredness and heat catching up we started to walk the up hill
section. It was around here, just at the top of Nut Hill that I started to have
difficulties. I was suddenly overcome with tiredness and fatigue. Not just over
come but over whelmed. I was doing massive yawns and putting one on front of
the other was a huge effort. I was panting despite moving at a snails pace. I was
craving water and only had 0.5ltr of Tailwind with me the thought of which made
me feel sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I struggled up the hill
Jez got me to check my blood sugar, which was absolutely fine, and encouraged
me to sit for a bit. I did but was worried about doing so as I felt like I
could just fall asleep and knew that this was probably not a good thing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I managed to take some Tailwind on board, gagging as I did
so, and did start to improve. It was short lived and I was all over the trails.
I was also between two road so getting support would have been far from simple.
I was resolved in my mind to getting help at the road crossing by the farm
which was probably less than half a mile. Making it there and feeling improved
I knew I could finish. It was a slow walk down the hill towards the final book.
The RD had come up the trail to find us noting that we had been on the third
loop for quite some time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We explained,
or maybe Jez explained, that I had been having some difficulties and needed
water but that I would finish. He headed back to the finish while we set about
locating the final page from the final book. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Down to and through the scout centre it was then a short
uphill to the finish, Jez helpfully pushed me up here, then the fence post to
have completed three laps and the fun run.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Once done the RD handed me a bottle of water, I sat down and
made my way through it. Also eating watermelon that was still available. I
immediately felt better and set about chatting about what had happened and how
it had been. I talk a lot but even I felt myself talking too much! Buffs were
handed out (these are great by the way the Gloucester Groundhog branding is great).
It was then into the car and home (I should point out that I wasn’t driving).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I got home and had some food and more to drink then a little nap in the garden. It was probably an hour and a half after finishing the event that i went to the bathroom to shower and hopped onto the scales. I was down 5.5lbs on what i weighed the day before. and that was after taking on around 2.5 of fluid post event and having eaten. Dehydration is the only answer for that kind of weight loss and explains why i felt so bad. I was probably down closer to 7lbs when i finished the event and i only weigh 148lbs anyway! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The issue was i think on the lead up to the event and not during the event itself. Like a lot of people i have been busy in work so probably not drinking enough and i was in the car all day Saturday with family stuff so just not hydrated enough on the start.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Pretty serious though and a lesson learned for sure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Looking at the Strava file post event Jez and I covered 33.5
miles. The fun run should have been closer to 27 miles. On running a loop last
night (3 days after the GG) it actually measured as 8.6 miles with 1,306ft. An
efficient fun run would barely be a marathon!</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="405" scrolling="no" src="https://www.strava.com/activities/1720785543/embed/513ee2f4772c1a355291d2e2c90ee94e4023af5b" width="590"></iframe>
<o:p><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As the first holding of this event it was really great, the
RDs did a fantastic job of organising, hosting and looking after everyone on
the day. Their energy throughout was incredible. The runners were all in the spirit
of it and no-one was able to complete the challenge, the best on the day being an
excellent 4 laps. Look out for this event next year – it’s demanding,
challenging and far from easy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">That Netflix documentary has a lot to answer for
– see you next year!</span></div>
justmmbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15917709295737489150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894590616663935035.post-21837759098667693152018-03-14T08:39:00.001+00:002018-03-14T08:39:47.903+00:00How a new activity affected my blood sugarsI have been struggling of late with an ITB issue in my left leg. It's always my left leg. Any issues I have had in past 2-3 years have been my left leg. It's frustrating, monotonous and a bit boring. More than a bit boring it's a pattern.<br />
<br />
Get fit, feel great then as i start to progress towards my goals something breaks down.<br />
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You could argue I need different goals and you might be right but as of now I don't know what they could be. Right now what I do know is the goal is the South Downs Way 100 miler on June 7th.<br />
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This post isn't meant to be about that or me moaning about yet another injury setback. It's about what I have been doing in the absence of being able to run and the significant impact this has had on my diabetes.<br />
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On Saturday I went to the gym, I have been increasing my gym time to help with my leg. Strength training really helps to keep this all at bay and my focus to upper body is a contributor towards this. Saturday, I decided to go on the rowing machine, a good all body workout. I rowed 5km in a little over 21 minutes. Pride dented slightly as I used to be able to do that in less than 19 but that was probably 5-6 or even more years ago and I am 47 and not a rower! After that I did 20 minutes on the treadmill at a really easy pace and then some strength work.<br />
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For the rest of the day my blood sugars were down. I used a -80% setting for my basal during the exercise session (this was around and hour and 20 minutes total) and continued for a further 2hrs or so afterwards. I ended up extending this -80% for nearly 4 hours post workout such was the impact. It seemed that each time I tested I was at 3-point-something. It was exhausting.<br />
<br />
When this low blood sugar cycle happens I always go back over the day and previous days to see what was different and the answer was very little. I eat more or less the same food, drink the same amount of coffee, water and tea and exercise a lot. I always do. The only thing that was different was the actual exercise I did.<br />
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Could it be that the 21 minute row had that much of an impact?<br />
<br />
I can only assume that yes it did. A different type of exercise and different intensity and one that uses a lot more of the body than just running does for example. I eventually got things under control by evening, where i was running a little higher at around 9mmol, and took the opportunity for an early night. A day of up and down blood sugars really leaving me drained.<br />
<br />
The lesson learned is that different exercise can have a profoundly different effect. This got me to thinking that when you start exercise as a diabetic you really need to be careful and test regularly during the effort to understand what is going on and what affect it has. I have been running for so many years that my body is used to that, throw a random-row in and I am right back at the beginning of the journey. Learning what it does to my body and how my body needs to get used to it and adapt to it.<br />
<br />
When someone with diabetes says they are struggling to exercise this may be part of it. Don't judge them or think that they are looking for excuses not to do it; they really aren't. It's difficult and they need more time to understand what's going on and how it affects them.<br />
<br />
Exercise is the simplest thing right? You put on your kit and you go. Now imagine that every step or pedal stroke or pull on the rower that you are worried about your blood sugars going low. That you need a strategy for this if you feel it. That you have to carry more kit to test, that you need to stop and test. It's frustrating and difficult but persevere. I learned so much about my diabetes through running and the benefits to me in terms of blood sugar control and overall health are massive.<br />
<br />
Now i just need to get my 5km row time down again! justmmbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15917709295737489150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894590616663935035.post-85523568361240421512018-02-15T09:42:00.001+00:002018-02-15T09:43:25.950+00:00Countdown to my first 100 miler<br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My ultra running journey started some years ago in, of all
places, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telford" target="_blank">Telford</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I can be even more specific than that, it was in Costa Coffee
in the precinct and followed a visit to Waterstones. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I had heard of the book
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultramarathon-Man-Confessions-All-Night-Runner-ebook/dp/B01N7KC1XB/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1518687676&sr=8-1&keywords=ultramarathon+man" target="_blank">Ultramarathon Man</a> by <a href="https://twitter.com/DeanKarnazes?lang=en" target="_blank">Dean Karnazes</a> a few times on a couple of podcasts. I had
looked online at the book and for some reason had not bought it. In the Telford
Waterstones they had a copy. I saw it a couple of times and then decided, one
day, to just buy it. I then went direct to Costa, bought some lunch and started
to read. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I could not put it down and given the opportunity of taking
the rest of the day off to continue reading would have done so. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It opened my eyes to the world of possibility. Much in the
way that Dean’s own eyes had been opened, something he has described on a
number of podcast interviews. Reading voraciously it appeared to me that the
only limit on human performance was sleep. We need to sleep to recover not only
physically but also mentally and that was a limiting factor to what we could
achieve athletically. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I read about his 50, 100 and then 200 mile races where he
fell asleep running! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That was it for me, I wanted to try this myself. I wanted to
see what I could do. The thought of running 100 miles felt something that was
simultaneously beyond me and yet something I could aim for. Why not? Some
rudimentary research shows plenty of runners just like me have achieved this. Not to
say it’s easy, far from it, but that with the right dedication, training
approach and mindset it can be achieved. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since then I have run a few 50’s and always stopped shy of
making the next step. This has been due to a healthy fear and respect for what
it would entail. I am naturally cautious, something I only realised while
reflecting on this recently, and there’s always been a reason not to enter a
100 miler. The main one being how to be ready for it. Then I realised that you
are never really ready for that. You are as ready as you can be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the end of last year I put my name on the
wait list for the <a href="http://www.centurionrunning.com/races/south-downs-way-100-2018" target="_blank">Centurion Events South Downs Way 100</a>. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCqlLKoHSrJZA0ZQrPki0Fc6F1KI7DmlLl5yg3g7XhSTe34AbDk31GqlcPtMLu3OKqcz0JsQhGjlYV-3DuhyQSgLT9rNw9BporIUck18CFSEzVm0_NM7MNRxnbgZpVkOzXWBlJ9zFxR0/s1600/SDW+Route.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="796" data-original-width="1600" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCqlLKoHSrJZA0ZQrPki0Fc6F1KI7DmlLl5yg3g7XhSTe34AbDk31GqlcPtMLu3OKqcz0JsQhGjlYV-3DuhyQSgLT9rNw9BporIUck18CFSEzVm0_NM7MNRxnbgZpVkOzXWBlJ9zFxR0/s320/SDW+Route.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From Winchester to
Eastbourne along the South Downs Way footpath. Being on the wait list is one
thing but when you get the email saying a space has become available and you
are in well that’s a different feeling altogether. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The wait list is easy, just a name and an email address.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You then get THE email and it’s real, there’s the financial
commitment (obviously) but more than that I now know that all things being
equal on June 7<sup>th</sup> I will be on a start line and when the whistle or
gun or whatever it is goes I will probably be on my feet for around 24hrs. No
sleep. That’s a little scary, I would be inhuman if it weren’t but it’s also
hugely exciting. The realisation of a dream concocted in Costa coffee,
Telford. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of the reasons for my reluctance to push myself to enter
a 100 miler is that what then? When I started out I wanted to run a 100.
Assuming I finish and achieve that then what next? More 100’s?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A 200? Or a different sport? I really don’t
know how I will feel after that as haven’t ever really set myself a goal that
was that big before. I have run for many years, dabbled in triathlon (Olympic
distance) and even done a marathon swim (6.5 miles) but these were goals that
were set with little thought. While I wanted to do triathlon I knew I wouldn’t
do Ironman distance – it just doesn’t interest me enough. Similarly with the
swimming; I did that as I was waiting for an ACL operation in my left knee and
rather than do nothing I trained through swimming. It wasn’t a dream to do a
swim like that and I’ve not looked at doing another once since. But with ultra
running the goal has always been there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From where I sit now there’s little point thinking about
what happens after 7<sup>th</sup> June as there's a lot that can happen up to
that day and certainly on that day. For now what next will take care of itself.</span></div>
justmmbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15917709295737489150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894590616663935035.post-14692983355694239722018-02-15T09:32:00.000+00:002018-02-15T09:33:27.390+00:00Differing insulin requirements at different times of day<br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Not the catchiest title for a blog post I grant you but hopefully something worth reading if you are a runner with type 1 diabetes..</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I often run twice a day and this would normally be anything
from 4-5 miles in the morning and maybe 3-4 in the evening. Not fast or too
excitable, just ticking over around 7:45 pace. While the distances and double
days are not a problem the insulin requirements could not be more different. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the morning I run fasted as much as possible, if my blood
sugar is around 5-6mmol then I will normally have a small bite to eat with no
bolus being delivered. I also reduce my basal by 80%. This very morning my
blood sugar was 6.7mmol on waking and because of the weather conditions being
pretty awful I knew I’d be working harder. I reduced my basal by 80% and ate
around 20g of carbs giving myself 0.5 units of bolus which was around a quarter
of what I would normally use if I wasn’t running. When I finished my run, 4.4
miles in around 32 minutes my blood sugar was 7.8mmol. A normal breakfast
followed (40g of carbs) with normal bolus (4.5 units to include a small
correction) and with the -80% basal still running (I have this set for 3hours)
my blood sugar is stable until lunchtime. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Contrast with the afternoon…. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I eat my lunch at midday most days and it’s normally the
same or similar food. A pitta with some vegetables in it and some fruit. Around
40gs of carbohydrates. My ratio sees 2.5 units on bolus delivered. My basal
chugs along and normally there’s balance. But something happens towards the end
of the day and my blood sugar starts to drop. This is only around 4-6pm that it
occurs (I think this is the case). I know it happens as when I ready myself to
run home I need to eat to get my blood sugar up otherwise it does not last.
Even a relatively short run home of say 25 minutes has seen my blood sugar go
from 14mmol to 2.9mmol in that period. This is combined with an 80% reduction
in basal for the same period. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is not sustainable so recently, and I mean just this
week, what I have started doing is suspending all insulin about 30 minutes
before I head out the door that sees a reduction in insulin in my system covers
the period I am on the move. I did this yesterday and my blood sugar went from
11mmol to 6.7mmol over a 30 minute period. When I get home I resume insulin
delivery but at -80% of the normal basal rate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What is interesting is that this does not happen if I am
running an ultra. When I ran in November (my last 50 miler) I had insulin with
breakfast and then ran on a -80% basal which until the time the pump failed was
working. My blood sugar did drop a little but I would expect that for the
effort I was putting in and the demands being made on me. Where I have had a
normal day with normal insulin it seems to me that I get a build up or a cumulative
effect. Almost like the insulin profiles don’t really apply. Today I also
reduced my afternoon basal by 20% while at work to start the reduction process.
This has had a positive impact meaning I have had to eat less so there’s maybe
a tweak to my basal to be factored in there to. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am sure I am not the only diabetic to experience this so
hopefully this helps, or if someone has a better way of managing get in touch
with me!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What this has got me thinking is that the Omnipod is a
wonderful piece of kit, after reticence using a pump I am totally sold on it
now. It would be even better if you could program fluctuating basal rates
without having to create the profile to do it. The profiles work where things
are consistent but I don’t always run at the same time, or leave work at the
same time. If I could at 3pm think I will probably be leaving at 5:30 and then
set a programme to reduce basal by 20% for an hour (1500-1600hrs), then 60% for
the next hour (1600-1700hrs) then from 1700hrs to suspend for an hour and a
half before resuming at -80% for 2.5hours. That would be awesome!</span></div>
justmmbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15917709295737489150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894590616663935035.post-12022321840847078142017-12-17T10:25:00.002+00:002019-04-30T14:49:30.278+01:00Ypsomed Omnipod Support<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I recently ran *coughs* the Wendover Woods 50 mile race where I talked about how my Omnipod had stopped working at around mile 32. <a href="http://marcusbosano.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/ww50-omnipod-fail.html" target="_blank">You can catch up on that here</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In the days after the race I contacted the </span><a href="http://www.mylife-diabetescare.com/mylife-omnipod-product-overview.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">mylife Support line</span></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> to discuss the issue. </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">The issue with the pump on the day was simple, it is designed to work between 4-40 Celsius. On the day the temperatures were struggling around 2-3 Celsius. Coupled with the fact that I was wearing the pump on the outside of my upper arm the pod was very exposed. Had it been on my stomach it might well have done better as there would have been some insulation from my body. They also suggested that in similar circumstances wearing a strap or bandage around the pod on the arm would have given it a little more protection from the cold too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">They then replaced the pod with absolutely no quibble. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Continuing excellent service and support for the OmniPod.</span></div>
justmmbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15917709295737489150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894590616663935035.post-25750934291066409612017-11-27T10:31:00.001+00:002019-04-30T15:01:57.369+01:00WW50 - why was it so hard?There are three answers to this.<br />
<br />
I’ll start with the biggest factor. <b>Simply, I wasn’t fit enough</b>. That might sound an odd thing to say considering I did finish it but I was really under cooked for this. There’s reasons for this and mainly it was following a summer of low mileage.<br />
<br />
In June I went into hospital with kidney stones. The stone was too big to leave but the hospital couldn’t remove it as they didn’t have the right equipment available. I had a stent fitted and was put on list for the removal of the stone and also the stent. While I could run with the stent it was uncomfortable and I would pee blood afterwards. My running through this was massively reduced at around 20 miles a week. Not enough to train for a hard 50.<br />
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I had the 2nd part of the operation on October 6th, 7 weeks before race day. In that period I did manage to get my mileage up to a maximum of 45 miles in a week but not consistently. I also focussed on the distance and while I was running hills they were nothing like those in WW.<br />
Not that I’m doing that race ever again but if I were, and if you are considering it, you need to train hills. Not run-able hills but hills where you are scrambling on all 4’s. Then once at the top run straight back down again. I lost the ability to run down hill more so than moving up hill.<br />
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There were times, particularly through the 4th lap where I thought it was over and I wasn’t going to make it. I was really struggling and yet summoned enough to do it. That comes down to experience and sheer determination. I went deeper and darker than I have ever gone before. This must be what people talk about when they say that when your body tells you you’re done you actually aren’t. There’s more in you and you need to tap into it. I definitely did that through this race. It’s kind of awesome to have done that. As much as I wanted to quit I didn’t.<br />
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The second thing was <b>I underestimated the course and the challenge it presented</b>. It’s advertised as 50 miles with 9,500ft of gain. My Garmin showed 51.7 miles and closer to 11,000ft of gain. I trained by running 15miles with around 1,200-1,500ft of elevation. Nowhere near enough. What was I thinking!!<br />
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The third thing was <b>the issue with my diabetes</b> that I have written about <a href="http://marcusbosano.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/ww50-omnipod-fail.html?m=1">here.</a><br />
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The combination of those factors nearly saw me DNF. The closest I have ever got to those three initials.<br />
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<b>So what about the race? </b><br />
It’s amazing, Wendover Woods is a beautiful wood. Lovely scenery and an unbelievably challenging course. The first lap, the only one I probably enjoyed(!), was a real treat - running in a new place in really great conditions was a real treat. The course was incredibly well marked (although I did go wrong twice!) the aid stations were great. The people working those stations were AMAZING. It was a long day, it was an incredibly cold day and yet they were there smiling and helping everyone with such enthusiasm and care. Just AMAZING.<br />
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Finishing in the dark was pretty cool too. My new head torch was a real win on kit with 300 lumens being perfectly adequate (Petzl Actik). Also my Salomon s-lab 12 litre vest that I work out of the packet was every bit as awesome as the 5ltr version I have. They say you shouldn’t wear kit you’ve not tested but it was fine.<br />
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At the finish you get a medal (probably the heaviest ever) and t-shirt. There was lots of congratulations and support. There was soup too - pasta, vegetables and potatoes. Importantly it was hot and savoury. <br />
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Looking around and there was lots of disrepair. Broken people all with beaming smiles.<br />
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Ultra running might hurt but it’s worth it.<br />
justmmbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15917709295737489150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894590616663935035.post-85087371027794917292017-11-26T17:48:00.002+00:002019-04-30T14:48:18.599+01:00Wendover Woods 50 mileThe WW50 race is the hardest run I have ever done. To call it a run, for me at any rate, is wrong. I walked a lot but was forced to by circumstance. That I completed it is quite something as there were points I didn’t think I would.
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I’ll start with the main problem I had that nearly meant a DNF (Did Not Finish / Did Nothing Foolish / Did Nothing Fatal*). I am type 1 diabetic and was using an OmniPod insulin pump.<br />
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At mile 32 it alerted as it had stopped working. This meant no insulin being delivered. I had two choices, turn back and sort an alternative or continue forward. Turning back I knew would mean a DNF. The effort to get back to the start and go again would be too great. I decided to press on.<br />
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This meant that I was not getting any insulin so my blood sugars would be going up. I would be in this position for around 2.5hrs minimum. I made the decision to press on but to not eat anything and to only drink water. This would help if ketones started to build up. It also meant that energy would be an issue. No calories going in would be an issue but no carbs going in would keep my blood sugars from spiking. <br />
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The aid station was 3 miles or so beyond where I was so if things were bad by the time I got here I could get a lift off course.<br />
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I got to the aid station, checked my sugars . 11.1.<br />
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Not brilliant but not a number that meant I needed to stop. My bottles were replenished with water, I took an s-cap (salt tablet) and set off the 4.5 miles to the start/finish.<br />
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The s-cap was so that while drinking pure water, as opposed to tailwind, I didn’t deplete my sodium levels over the same period.<br />
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Walking again!<br />
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My thinking around only pure water was that no insulin would mean that as my blood sugars rose so might my ketones. As one of the thing you do once you start treating your ketones is to drink plenty of water I thought I’d pre-empt that. I also thought that my sugars maybe wouldn’t rise as much as if I was doing something sedentary as I was being very active.<br />
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I’m not sure of the correct term and I’m pretty sure it isn’t accurate but I’d say that my metabolism was in overdrive and maybe that would help?? That’s probably wrong and anyone that can point me at an article that could explain that would be great.<br />
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On my way to the start/finish I preoccupied myself with planning what I would do when I got there. Get my drop bags and give myself 1.5units of levemir and 0.5 units of novorapid. If my blood sugars had crept up then I might need to drop out of the race.<br />
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My plan and also excuse were set. I say excuses as I genuinely considered just dropping out. It was hard out there. Now it was also cold and dark. No-one would criticise me for dropping out because of my diabetes would they. It would be a get out that would go unchallenged.<br />
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But I figured out that isn’t me. The urge to quit was strong. I was tired, cold, hungry and in quite a lot of pain. The pain though was not dangerous pain. It’s pain that tells you you’re working hard not that something is broken.<br />
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As I got close to the start/finish line I knew I’d finish (blood sugars permitting). As much I was hurting I knew I’d regret a DNF even more. I also knew I wouldn’t take the soft option and hide behind my diabetes.<br />
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This is a new experience for me. I have not been pushed this hard and consequently have dug that deep.<br />
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I reached the start/finish at the end of my 4th lap. I checked my sugars and got my drop bag; my sugars were still at 11. I took this as a win. I injected as planned and set off again.<br />
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Walking.<br />
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Now my appetite was gone. I didn’t want to eat anything and couldn’t stomach it. Moving forwards. A blood sugar check showed it to be 6. I had to eat. I dug a flap jack out of my bag and kept walking.<br />
I was now being over taken regularly although only on downhills. I was catching people up on the ups and they were disappearing from my view on the downs and flats.<br />
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At the aid station there were chips! Described by the people manning the station as ‘Luke warm’ they were the best chips ever! Restorative if only for being savoury after a day of sugar. I left the aid station walking up the hill. 4.5 miles to the finish with a lot of hills. I knew I’d get it done. I was still walking but I did just that.<br />
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I crossed the line having done it.<br />
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50 miles and close to 11,000ft of elevation and for the best part of 20 miles barely anything to eat.<br />
I had dealt with a significant issue and dug deeper than ever. I won’t do that race again but I’m glad I did.<br />
*delete as appropriate.justmmbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15917709295737489150noreply@blogger.com