Running Boston

I think it's a general rule of life that nothing goes quite how you expect it to.  In this case it applies both to my own person race at Boston as well the much bigger story that unfolded that day.

Much has, and much will be written about the bombings.  All I have to say is that I was fortunate to have finished my race and left just in time to miss the horrible moment when a beautiful day and joyful celebration of running and the human spirit was torn apart.  There will always be evil in this world and all we can do is dilute that evil by putting as much good into the world as we can.  Those bombs tore a hole in the fabric of our society, but from the very moment they went off, good people reacted with heroics, generosity, and charity that allow us to patch that hole and move forward together, embracing the good.

It seems strange to discuss mundane topics like how my plan to manage my blood sugar during the race went that day - but that sort of topic is the point of my blog.

I race faster than I train - so I was not completely sure how my body might react differently on race day.  I was concerned that the stress and excitement might result in higher blood sugar, and had insulin in a hip pouch just in case.  Ultimately running faster at this distance had the opposite effect - I ended up needing more sugar.

I had started the race around 125 - a little higher than I like, but not a bad place to be at the start of a marathon.  My plan was to eat an almond butter packet every 5 miles or so.  This had gone well on training runs.

Between travel and my mom dragging me site seeing all over Boston for two days before the race, my legs weren't exactly perky at the start.  I settled in and things seemed okay until I got about 15 miles in.  I was slowing down; I was not feeling so hot.  The trouble is telling the difference between being tired because you're running a marathon, and being tired because your blood sugar is off.  I decided I should check it.

I had a little trouble getting a reading - I tried 3 times and got 3 errors.  This is not that surprising when trying to do this while running... and by now I was at the big downhill before the famous hills started.  I decided to just run down the hill, and try again while I was running slower due to the uphill.  I finally got a reading at 73... the peanut butter packets were not cutting it.  I had packed a couple glucose tabs and ate one at this point.  I was taking it easy on the hills, but as the sugar kicked in I started feeling much better.

People had been passing me since the start of the race - everyone warns you that the tendency on this course is to go out too fast and pay for it later in the race... and from what I could tell no one listens to this advice.  Now in the second half of the race, with my sugar levels restored, I started passing people. 

At mile 17 there was a powerbar gel station.  I wasn't planning to use gels, but I grabbed two just in case.  Ultimately I was glad that I did.  I was still planning to use my almond butter packets, but I discovered that the "tear here" notch was not notched on my last two packets.  I tore and bit at the packets to no avail.  This is not the sort of problem you foresee in a race plan.  I was winging it as this point.  I wasn't sure exactly how much gel I needed or how my blood sugar would respond - but I wasn't too worried.  Ultimately I had a mouthful of gel in place of each of the planned almond butter packets and would finish the race with my blood sugar at 92.  The caffeine in the gel was an added bonus.

Ultimately I had an amazing time.  The race went by so quickly as I was entertained by spectators with funny signs and crazy outfits.  My favorite sign was around mile 20 - "At least you aren't at work right now."  At mile 20 you are kind of wondering why you do this, but I definitely agreed it was still better than working... that's the sort of motivation I like: gets to the point without being sappy.  Late in the race I was conflicted between wanting to enjoy the moment and wanting the moment to be over.

I've never finished a marathon as fast as I did that day.  I was strong through the hills then the last few miles flew by.  When I made the famous right on Hereford left on Boylston I was running a 7 minute pace - which for me at end of a marathon is pretty speedy (I qualified by averaging 8 min miles).  Some people stop and do cartwheels or hug family members as they approach the finish.  I, on the other hand, was close to my goal time, so I went charging down Boylston as fast as my tired legs would take me.

I was fortunate to have been able to participate in this even in general, and this year, I was fortunate to have been able to finish my race and leave safely with my family.  It felt very good that 6 months after being diagnosed as Type 1, I was able to be out there racing.

Summary of food intake:

Miles 5,10,15 - almond butter packets (2.5 carbs each)
Mile 16 - glucose tablet (4g carbs - faster uptake)
Mile 19, 22 - mouthful of powerbar gel double latte - mmm caffeine

Ultimately I could have used more sugar a little earlier - but all in all, not bad for my first marathon as a low carb diabetic.

Best wishes to those at the race that were not as lucky as me.  Great thanks to the men and women of law enforcement, emergency responders, hospital workers, and all the other people of Boston and the running community who set out to right the wrongs of that day.