40 has to be a better age than a blood glucose level

I have been working very hard to follow the 10K training plan. When I get off the schedule, I have made sure to substitute and get back on. I had a good eating/drinking weekend last weekend but still managed some good workouts. 60 minute cross train including Madonna inside and treadmill. I felt great! I really love to get in that type of pseudo 2 sport work. I glided from the bike, to the treadmill, to the dinner party at Mark and Blythe's! Spicy cream of crab soup and champagne. Oh boy! Painting took up my day Sunday before the grand Ocscar's party Sunday night which brought more eating and drinking!! I got the 5 miler in on Monday before class(I picked up my 86 on the mid term!). Wednesday, I had some minor surgery which has slowed me down a bit. Rest day and a failed bike day. That's where the low blood sugar came in. Oh well, good treadmill workout today on a solid glucose. I happened to watch our First Runner in Chief address some marines in South Carolina. I did pause my workout to respect our country's national anthem! I also loved seeing the 100 or so marines get up in one motion for the anthem and be seated when their boss told them they could in one motion as well. Thank you to all our brave military personnel. Go them and go Big Tone.
Two asides for this week. Don is hurt and has not been able to keep with the "let's beat the old shirtless/white gloved man" in the 10K plan. He has a painful heel injury. I can understand. So with or without him, I will run. Maybe for the both of us. He ain't heavy, he's my brother.
Speaking of brother, Lil Tone, you know I always have your back. Love you.

Hey, That Guy Started at Mile 2.5!!! And he looks like Steve O!

Don and I are fully and one hundred percent committed to doing the 10K on March 8. He told me so the other day via email. I kept it so I have proof! We are even on a plan. 3 miles yesterday, 40 minute crosstraining, 3.5 miles, etc. He said he has has heel pain but I think he's just trying to make me feel good since after the last 5K he had to feed me Amstel Light, ibuprofen, and an ice pack. I'm glad he is definitely going to do the 10K in March. That will force me to focus on having a training schedule. Thanks, Don!
The cortisone shot Dr. Z gave me last week seems to have worked. I won't know for sure until I get a couple of outside runs in but I think the worst is behind me. I have another appointment with him next week for another possible treatment. Sometimes the cortisone can spike a Type I's blood sugar. I have had only one issue with that in the past but not this time. Come to think of it, this time I am wearing the pod and had no issues with blood sugar. Ralph must be on to something! Missy also has me counting points for a diet. It's not easy but results are imminent. A lighter leaner Big Tone can only be faster! Ha
Mid term tomorrow. Biggest exam I've ever taken. It's only Anatomy and Physiology!! Well, if you see a geeky looking fellow carrying a big back pack on the way to the Health Services Building across from the museum, don't laugh, just yell Go Big Tone.

Nice and Easy, Weezy.

With our second Shiver by the River behind us, Don has set a new goal. He wants to run the 10K and beat the old man wearing no shirt and white gloves. That is a hearty goal since my heel is now officially injured. I am taking a few days off of action completely. I also will be seeing a doctor to make sure he doesn't think it's in need of something other than rest. I can't afford too much time off. I already registered for the Tri and my parents want to scholarship me a wetsuit! Forging ahead seems to be the theme this week so I will get on that train!
Speaking of doctors, I did see Ralph for the first post pod check up today. All is well and he gave me a gold star. We needed to tweak a few numbers on the pod but he feels the diabetes is being smacked down by our efforts! That always makes me happy to hear. So, 10K is the goal for March (and beating the shirtless/gloved man), hop on the bike and in the water for some non-impact cardio, get sized up for a wetsuit, and try to stop the aging process. 3 out of 4 won't be too bad. Go Big Tone.
Special thanks again to the Army for their Sunday showing. Especially when my foot almost beat the rest of me, it helps tremendously.

Do you think Achilles liked the color blue?

I ran outside in the cold(Yes, Marcy H, ran!) on Tuesday. It wasn't the cold that got me. There was even some snow falling. I had a decent pace going and went 4 miles. By the end of the run, a little old heel pain starting to present itself. I have worn inserts for an old heel spur/ligament damage for almost a year with no pain. When I returned home and took off my running shoes, I saw why my foot hurt. The color of my inserts and the color of the inside of my running shoes are the same and I got dressed with no lights on! I didn't even realize there weren't any inserts in. The rest of the night and all the next day, especially the next morning, I was in 8-9 range pain. With my inserts in, a day of rest and a few doses of ibuprofen, I think I'm ok. I got back on the treadmill today for 30 minutes and did well. Those 36 hours made me nervous because I can't afford to be too injured to swim/bike/run. I will attempt an outdoor run tomorrow and give the Shiver a go this Sunday. We are expecting some springlike weather, near 50!
I have my first post-Omnipod checkup with Ralph next week. I'll be sure to post the results. I really expect my numbers to have moved in the right direction.
Missy told me I got my tri race shirt in the mail today. What do you think? I don't think I should wear it until I can be called a triathlete, though. Plus, Missy doesn't usually let me wear white shirts. Oh well, it'll be good for a 4th of July party. Go Big Tone.

Ok Bean! It's A Date!! 6/27/09

After months of saying I'm going to do something, I now am hip deep in commitment. I have officially registered for the Philly Insurance Tri for Saturday, June 27, 2009. It's a sprint distance which means a 900M swim (up and then down stream in the Schuylkill River just upstream from Boathouse Row), a 24K bike (through Fairmount Park; America's largest city park system; 10 times the size of Central Park), and a 5K run (out and back really close to the Art Museum; cue Rocky Theme). I choose this tri for several reasons. First, because it is in a place that I have grown to love, the city of Philadelphia. Second, it is close to home so I might have a shot at a Big Tone Tri Army cheering section (Mom, I promise to give Dad directions and times). Third, it's not on Memorial Day weekend which means Bean will not be mad at me for missing the weekend at Camp Jones. Fourth, Dr. John and Ralph are running the next day! Whew! That means I have truly given myself to reaching my goal. I WILL be a triathlete sometime that Saturday morning! Also, don't forget that we will be raising money for diabetes. More on this important aspect of the tri as time marches on. For people who ask me, why do I want to do this. Why a triathlon? Swim in that river? Bike then run that far? My answer is simple. Look at the picture I've attached to this post. To be an example of perserverance and pride to them. To show them that if you set a goal, go ahead and reach it. Obstacles have ways around them. I will be one of a few thousand people who will be called triathletes that weekend. I will not finish first. Most people at the finish line won't even notice my finish. As long as they see it and believe it, I've accomplished what I set out to do. Love you girls.
Thanks Mom, Dad, and Aimee for the contiued stream of encouragement. Thanks to all my friends who read(and sometimes post) and ask me about updates. You will all help me cross the finish line. A hugemongous thank you to my Missy. You allow me to do everything I do. Happy birthday early...Go Big Tone.

Constant Nagging and Harrassing!!

First trip away from home on the pod. Mass produced food and a tight agenda usually don't mix well for my Type I. Boston for work for 3 days (including Missy and my 20th wedding anniversary), and I stayed very level and in range with my blood sugar. I didn't get to exercise since there was about a foot of snow on the ground. I tried to make up for it Friday with a nice outside run at home. Springlike 50 degree January weather was awesome. I opted out of a Saturday run to go to the city with Missy and my parents for some marketing. I love the city. We got some great food and got to stake out a potential Tri course for June. The river where the swim will be was icy and looked ominous as we passed along the expressway in the car. Missy was doing her best to find the Columbia Ave bridge around which I will have to make a loop but we didn't know it is a railroad bridge. I got excited and nervous at the same time. A goal to be realized for sure.
With that being said, I need to take the "mother-in-law defense" from my friend, Don, with more heart. I have found a 12 week plan for the tri that I think I can complete already. I must start scheduling a more strict plan of attack. So, Don, I will be out on the road with you going forward. Thanks.
And, thanks to Patrick for fixing the front door. Now I won't have to yell about fixing it anymore.

Just When You Thought It Was Safe to Go Back In the Water

After a long break due to schedules and when the pool is available, I jumped back in on Friday night. I got there a little early when the age group kids were finishing their practice and I got a few tips listening to their coaches. My mom thinks I should go to their practice and fake my age. I think they wouldn't take long to figure me out. I got in 40 laps and used my new finger lap counter. It worked very well. I even swam next to an old icon of our area. A former little league football coach who used to run us ragged. We all know him and if you are reading this you most likely had a hoagie from his shop in the eighties!! I did need a rescue from Michele Y. afterwards. She was in line at the concession stand for the boys hoop game and got me some swedish fish. I was a little low after the swim. Thanks for the help Michele.
Another big week for the Eagles. We even had dinner with Hank Baskett. Well, we had dinner in the same place as him and then he signed Bean! Go Eagles!!