IronWILD Wisconsin Race Report

September 9th, 2011 was Ironman Wisconsin. I signed up for this race almost a year ago, after just having finished Kona. The highlight and motivation to do this race was the opportunity to work with some fantastic people in the Diabetic community. This was the inaugural race for the Ironman team of Team WILD. I started my training in January of 2011, working with Mark Allen Online. Over the summer I had the opportunity to meet Cliff Schreb of Tri Star Athletes. Cliff is a fellow T1, Ironman athlete and coach. About 2 months out from race day I decided to switch my coaches and work with Cliff. I was excited to have a coach who gets all of “it.”
Race day arrived and here is how it played out. I met some of my goals, exceeded a few and didn’t meet others.
I woke up at 4:00 AM, ate my breakfast at 4:30 and took my pre race bolus. AM BG was decent 147. I had planned on eating 2 instant oatmeals, a banana, and a bagel with peanut butter. Didn’t eat all of the bagel (remember this for a later). I walked over to the race start, ran into some Team WILD spouses, dropped my special needs bags and headed down to add drinks to my bike and body marking. So far so good. Met up with some more WILD women and hung out on the deck of the terrace. About 6:15 checked my BG and I was 54- oops. Remember that bagel I didn’t eat- my insulin did. So, I had a Cliff bar, gel and a glucose tab.
At this point I started getting my wet suit on and getting ready for the swim start. Great AM weather and the water was smooth as glass. Dropped all my stuff at the bag check, checked my BG again- 94. I dropped my pump, glucose tabs, and a BG meter at the eyeglass table at the swim start/finish. I’m good to go- my AM bolus had peaked and I had enough carbs on board for my swim. I shoved 2 gels in my wet suit just in case. The swim has been a mental issue for me lately- I seem to have some kind of wimpy fit about 10 minutes into my swim and then it takes me a while to get into the grove. By wimpy fit I turn the swim into anything but a freestyle stroke and wonder why I’m so far away from shore. Today I got in the water at 6:40 and swam out towards the water ski jump on the start line. My plan was to swim back and forth a few times and the get in place to start. I was thinking that would give me a 200 or so warm up and then I’d be good. Did my warm up swimming, and I actually had my mini fit/breast stroking BEFORE the race! How’s that for a good day.
In the swim I tend to be a bit of a chicken and start further back than I should. I do that and avoid being in the thick of things but then end up with no one to draft off of. My plan for this race was to start to the right of the group- between the ski jump and the shore. Today I decided to put my big girl pants on and get out there. I went to the left of the jump, more centered in the group and just behind that first line of folks at the start. I finished the first loop of the swim in 35 minutes. Total for the swim was 1:18- PR for me.
Heading to T1 I forgot my pump on the table at the swim exit so I had to double back. Jogged/speed walked up the helix, checked my BG- 74, not bad. Connected my pump and turned on my basal pattern for the bike. Got to T1, finished stripping my suit and got all my bike stuff on. T1 was 13 minutes- oops. I was shooting for 10 minutes here. But- I didn’t sit down! Not too sure what happened but apparently my going back for the pump cost me a few minutes.
Headed out on my bike. I was supposed to take an injection bolus in T1 based on my BG. Since my BG Was a little lower than I wanted I grabbed the correct syringe and decided to wait until I was on the bike and able to start taking in my carbs at 20 minutes to bolus. I made this decision because I didn’t want to get my insulin ahead of my carbs. I’m glad I made that call because my GI was miserable. I couldn’t get comfortable and I couldn’t pedal. AND I couldn’t eat. About 35 minutes into the ride I started sipping my drink so I gave myself my bolus- stuck myself while pedaling, that’s a first for me. It took me an hour to get to the first aid station, I thought I was going to die (melodramatic but I was miserable). At this point I was able to start eating and getting my legs going but was further back than I wanted to be.
Wisconsin is a technical course and not what I am used to riding. It is a nice course, just a lot of work! First loop was ok, started to pick it up and was thinking the 2nd loop would be better. Nope. GI issues struck again. Another stop and then I was able to get going again. I was super bummed about my deteriorating bike after such a nice swim. BG was great on the bike, 106-147. I finished the bike in 7:38, 30 minutes over my “worst case” scenario in my mind. Checked my BG a the end of the bike and it was 106. Nice!
Came into T2, and gave my bike to the “valet” and headed in to get my running shoes. T2 was 6 minutes! I didn’t sit down! Headed out on the run and saw the family at the run start. I also started a different pattern on my pump for the run. Total transition time was 19 minutes and I had allotted 20- guess I achieved that goal.
I was feeling pretty good on this run. I had been mentally telling myself on the bike to be careful- I try to make up time on the bike and then I’m really hurting on the run. My goal for this was to run the run- not walk it. First 13 miles went well, took in my gel every hour and drank water at the aid stations. Towards the end of the 1st loop my GI started to act up again and I was still super frustrated with my less than stellar bike. Saw the family at the turn around and that was great. I think they were just as ready as I was for me to be done. Headed out on the 2nd loop and took a moment at the first aid station to get my GI back in line. I was so over the GI issues at this point. The problem with stopping even for a second is that your legs are not cooperative with the idea of going again. This was the beginning of the end of the run for me. I struggled the rest of the way with the run/walk combo. I did finish the run in 5:55, still an Ironman run PR but yuck. BG was great on the run- 106 to 116. There was a 217 in there at about mile 20 and that can be attributed to a chocolate chip cookie and a gel at the same time.
It was a good race. I have a much better race in me. I’ve been very happy with how my training has progressed the last few weeks and the speed I am starting to develop. My endurance base is solid so now I just need it all to come together. My BG was great up to the race, during and after. Hindsight is always 20/20 and I have new goals and areas to focus on for the next few months. I was happy with my swim, disappointed with my bike and more disappointed with my run. I did have a rocking T2 though which was nice.
The course in WI is tough- the bike is technical and I definitely underestimated it. The run is mentally tough but also beautiful. The crowd support is amazing. I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to race with the WILD women, many of whom I hadn’t met until a few days before the race. They are a powerful group of women. The months leading up to this race were good and bad training and Diabetes wise. I have a more refined approach to managing my Diabetes and my training and I am definitely more focused on my goals and outcomes.

Rematch 2011

Besides not blogging and being a slacker I have been a bit busy since April.

This year has been a bit of a re-match for me and the Boulder tri series. Last year I registered for the tri series thinking it would be my debut and finale of triathlon. A sprint, Olympic and 70.3 race. Then there was that lottery entry on a whim and Diabetes diagnosis that changed it all.

So, with last year completed in a whirl wind tour I registered for the tri series (and lottery) again. Yesterday I completed the tri series and overall it seems that insulin does in fact make me faster. My sprint race was the exact same time- so we'll call that a wash. My Boulder Peak was faster this year by 16 minutes and I managed to shave 25 minutes off my 70.3 race yesterday.

Since I am doing Ironman Wisconsin in September this 70.3 race has been important to me for a few reasons. Re-match of course, training evaluation, and it's a great run through for a full IM race. I've made some significant changes in the last few weeks to my training so I was anxious and excited to see it pay off. Pre-race I set a lofty goal of shaving 1 hour 2 minutes off last years time- I was gunning for a 6 hour finish.

I did manage to take time off of my swim, bike and run. I of course added some time to T1 and T2 but my love of compression socks was so worth it for T2. My blood sugars were awesome and other than burning too many matches on the 2nd leg of the bike I had a good race overall. My swim was the usual mess it i in open water, 46:45, T1 4:57, Bike 3:12:47, T2 5:05, Run 2:28:22. Total time 6:37:58. Better than last years 7:02:22. Ironically I am going to the doctor two days after this race- last year it was to be diagnosed with Type 1. Hopefully this year it will be to tell my I have a rocking a1C (last year at diagnosis it was almost 14).

For those that have an interest in the BG info here it is:

Time BG
5:15 AM 111
5:30 AM
6:32 AM 81
7:15 AM 93
7:20 AM 74
8:31 AM 61
9:02 AM 136
10:10 AM 107
11:09 AM 127
12:13 PM 96
1:06 PM 89
1:27 PM 100
1:57 PM 126
2:24 PM 98

My lowest point was post swim with a 61 and my highest point was during the bike at 127. Not too shabby. I took in 60g/hour on the bike and 30g/hr on the run. I made a game day decision during the bike to bail on my fuel belt for the run. I am so tired of feeling like a sherpa all the time with all the stuff I have to carry. For the run I instead shoved my glucose tablets in my shirt, 3 gels, my meter and accessories and took off. I skipped the Gatorade at the aid stations and instead went with water and ice. Have I mentioned my love of cold sponges on the run?? My legs were tired to say the least but my run was better. Not my best half marathon but getting better.

No photos so far but this year was overall better than last year. Now I am just counting down until IM Moo and hopefully some solid training and of course my new found friend insulin will produce another PR, this time at the IM distance!

Triathlon, Diabetes and Kids

As some of you may know, I was recently selected to represent Insulindependence in the Rocky Mountain Region as a Triabetes Captain in 2011-2012. Over the course of the next year, I will be helping Insulindependence expand its impact in my area by spearheading programming opportunities for the local diabetes community. Triabetes is Club of Insulindependence (iD), a 501c3 nonprofit organization that enables successful diabetes management through peer-supported fitness and recreation programs. iD is addressing issues associated with diabetes and the helping improve the quality of life for thousands of individuals by through its unique and life-changing experiential diabetes education programs. The mission of Insulindependence is to inspire people with diabetes to set personal fitness goals; educate them on adaptive management strategies through hands-on experience; and equipping them to explore their individual capacities. In August of this past year I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. At the time I was training for the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. I was 8 weeks out from my race at the time of diagnosis. During those first few weeks of learning about Diabetes I connected with this wonderful organization, Insulindependence. What they do for the Diabetes community is amazing. I am asking for your help to further their cause - both in donations and in passing this message along to people you may know. I have learned in the last 8 months that so many people are told what they can’t do and how Diabetes is going to limit their lives. I live everyday knowing about all of the things you CAN do with Diabetes. I finished my first Ironman in Kona and have several other triathlon events this year. Part of my support crew for my Ironman race came from members of Insulindependence and the 2010-2011 Triabetes Captains. Here is a link to some of the amazing Captains www.giveitashotfilms.com and the documentary on my journey http://www.giveitashotfilms.com/encore/. Over 24 million Americans suffer from diabetes (representing roughly 8% of the population), and it is estimated that one in ten health care dollars is spent on diabetes-related care (CDC, 2008). I have been living with Type 1 diabetes for 8 months, and as most of you are aware, I have choose to control my diabetes through active living and exercise. As part of my journey over the next year, I will be attending Insulindependence University (iDU), a volunteer leadership training program hosted by Insulindependence for Captains like myself. iDU will prepare me to mentor a type 1 child, lead local fitness events for the diabetes community, and understand more about living successfully as an athlete with diabetes. One of my commitments to Insulindependence this year is to come up with financial resources that will cover the cost of my attendance at iDU. I hope you’ll consider helping me reach my personal fundraising goal of $4,000 by making a tax-deductible gift to my campaign. You can choose to be an Ultraman with a $320 donation, Ironman with $140.60, Half-Ironman with $70.30 or a Marathoner with a $26.20 donation! To make a donation to my campaign, please visit the Triabetes website http://triabetes.org/index.php/athletes/alex-osias , where you’ll find a lint to the "Incoming Captains" under the “Captains” tab on the main page. You may also send a check to: Insulindependence 7770 Regents Rd #113390 San Diego, CA 92122 Please remember to see if your company will match your gift! And feel free to share this information with your friends, family and co-workers. Thank you for your consideration, time and support. With our help, Insulindependence will continue to revolutionize diabetes management in the United States.