Stopping

Today I woke up and my throat and ears were killing me. I drank some orange juice and then went on my way. I decided to only run for 25 mins b/c I didnt think it was a good idea to keep running when I didnt feel that great. It went better than I expected, but it was a struggle with the humidity as well. As I ran I thought that running would somehow make me not get sick and that I had to stick with it. Hopefully this is something minor that passes in a day or two, but we'll see. It is definitely putting a damper in my plans. The weather isnt helping either, that picture of a humid DC is fitting.

Had my doctors appt yesterday. She didnt really say anything I didnt already know. She said I needed to test out different rates to set the little insulin pump at to make sure my blood sugars remain steady. She talked a lot about shoes and making sure I had the right ones and how I should eat something before I run anything above 6 miles at least. All in all she said she encourages me to set a goal and try to achieve it. She also said I must get one of those shirts with pockets in it so I can carry my monitor with me when I run rather long distances. That will be a sight.

14 day average

I did an average today of my blood sugars for the past 14 days on my monitor. It was 127. That is awesome. This doctor's appt today should go rather well and hopefully I can keep this up.

Mass Ave

Today's run went rather well. I am getting used to the run/walk method and it is working pretty good. I was impressed with myself today that I ran to Massachusetts Avenue. For those non DC people, that is the street that the National Cathedral is on. Running and walking it took me 35 mins to go 3.7 miles. I go a little further everytime and its getting easier. There were visitors again in town this wknd so it was a little difficult to go running at all, but good to have them here too. I will have to get back into the swing of it all this week. Seeing the kids was great, it felt like we walked 15 miles through the city on Saturday. From the Spy Museum to the Natural History Museum to Georgetown we did a lot in a short amount of time. These are some pictures of them when they came to DC last year in the winter and Joey and Ben had to race in the reflecting pond that was emptied from Lincoln to WW2.

Family thoughts

I have been reading blogs of other people who run that are diabetic. It is interesting to see what they go through. I tried to attach some of them to this page, but I am not sure it is working correctly. I like seeing what other people have to say about me doing this. I asked my Uncle Mike who has been running his whole life and he said he thinks I can do it, but felt that I had to do some type of training for at least 6 days a week to feel comfortable with it. Annette thought I was crazy, but I was impressed she knew that a half marathon was 13.1 miles. My Dad doesnt know yet, he doesnt need to until it is set in stone. My brother laughed at first, but then said he thought it was a good thing if I decide to go through with it. Asking the family what they think helps to have them involved so they keep asking me about it, so I wont have any other choice, but to do it. If I dont go to Vegas for this, I may do the Army 10 mile race instead, but that is on Oct 26th which is even closer. I like having events to look forward to.........

Visitors

These next two wknds I will be entertaining people while they come to visit DC. This wknd, my cousin Kevin came for a few days. We saw the Dark Knight, did the museum and monuments thing, and went to an Orioles game. I attempted to go running on Sunday AM before he got up, and it was way too hot outside to function. The goal was 30 mins, which I did, but not w/out stopping a few times. It was a grand total of 3 miles which is good, but I should be able to do that w/out stopping in the near future so we'll see how it goes!

I got a new distance watch online the other day. I have yet to be able to use it though which is discouraging. The plan was to go running again on Thursday, since Tuesday went so well, but I was too tired from the night before. Then I was going to go today before work, but my blood sugar was way too high and it wouldnt go down until I redid the whole insulin pump. This is a thing that happens every once and a while and it is very annoying b/c it throws everything off. So hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.

I usually have fairly good levels, but the goal of all of this running is to better improve my blood sugars so I can get my A1C level below 6%. An A1C is an average of all of your blood sugar levels. A 6% is considered to be "normal." The last time I had it checked in Februray it was 6.7%, pretty good, but 5% is what I want to see again one day.

Neighborhood

Went running today at 6AM and got lost in my own neighborhood. Luckily my apartment building is rather large and so I can always find my way back. I got lost b/c I actually took some advice and started walking for a minute or two during my running. I went a lot further and ended up going a few mins longer than I had planned on. I wasnt paying any attention to where I was at for the most part and just went up and down streets.

I should set a goal such as running to the Washington Monument someday. I might have to do that too!

Nutritional Factor

Linds asked for more pics so I had one more thought to add. This race would also help me improve my eating habits so I would no longer be eating things like those hamburgers to the left (that havent been cooked yet, but were excellent), and that key lime pie (above) that Mike is about to stick my face into. If I am running that far of a distance I need to have a much better diet than I do, plus I should anyway. Another positive aspect of the whole thing of course.

Las Vegas Half Marathon

So Mike and I were talking on Sunday and he mentioned that he was thinking of running the Las Vegas Half Marathon on 12/7/08. Then the conversation turned to how I should do it too. For some crazy reason I think I might actually be able to do it. He was overly supportive and felt that I could do it and should sign up. I, on the otherhand, am not so sure and thus leads to me to today where I have begun to research and talk to other people about this.

When we ran the Susan Komen Breast Cancer 5K on 6/7/08 I did a lot better than I thought I would and finished in 33 mins. Not great, but a good start. Of course that was only 3.2 miles.

The first thing I need to do is ask my doctor what she thinks at my appt. on 7/30/08. I ordered a "distance watch" today to see how far I am actually running as of today. Then I need to keep reading the running training options and decide if I can really do this. It would help me in so many ways; such as being a better diabetic and getting healthier for a 26 year old. Besides the fact that I have been running these past few months and have come to really enjoy the peace and quiet of it all and the feeling of accomplishment when I am done.

August 1st is the tentative deadline in my head that I will have to sign up by. Plus that is 19 weeks from the race day and would give me a lot of time to properly train for this. I told my brother I would never run a marathon in my life, but a half marathon is different and only 13.1 miles. Only. Plus we all know I change my mind at any given second.