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The Diabetic Cyclist

Race Day

4/28/2012

2 Comments

 
With a blood sugar of 118 at 7am I was ready for my first bike race.  Having a "perfect" blood sugar really helped me worry a lot less.  Before the race began I had this odd calmness come over me.  With a quick look to the heavens I began the race.  On Friday I spoke with Amos Brumble, Amos owns a local bike shop and is a great cyclist.  He told me to relax and not go out to fast.  What did I do today, exactly what he told me not to do.  With half the race to go I was spent and being passed by a lot of riders, at the time I thought I felt so bad because I pushed myself to early, after the race I found out that the diabetes was the cause.  Two weeks ago I rode the course and got low, I didn't want that to be the case today.  What happened was that I was high, I finished the race with a blood sugar of 280.  That would explain the painful cramping and why I felt so tired.  I finished towards the middle of the pack but I'm kicking myself because I know I could have done better.  I was so scared of going low that I wanted to be higher and it cost me big time.

I began cycling because I loved that I was in control.  If I have a bad race or ride I can only blame myself.  That was the same reason that I loved pitching while playing baseball.  I know what I can and can't do and if something doesn't work I will be very hard on myself.  The two hour ride home brought some tears and some swearing.  After I got past that stage I started to think about where I have gotten to in my life and at the end of the day it's not about a bike race it's about family and enjoying the amazing moments that life brings us.  I can't thank my uncle John enough for following me while I was racing, not only did he provide encouragement when things got rough but he would keep my wife up to date as I raced.  Again I can't thank John enough I'm blessed to have him and his family in my life.

I learned a lot today and that will do nothing but make me better.  I can't change the past, but I can work harder so the future is brighter.  I'd like to thank everyone for all of the support, it means a lot to my wife and I.  I still owe the Cavanaghs a trophy and I can promise that they will get in the near future.
2 Comments
Ian
4/28/2012 08:08:11 am

My first bike race was Tour of the Battenkill last year. Definitely did the same thing and was bonking big time less than half way through. Finished 41 out of 43. This year, a 53 minute improvement (on a 62 mile course), and finished 7 out of 41. You're going to rock that course next year; only problem is you might have one more competitor. ;)

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Mark Suprenant
4/29/2012 02:19:12 am

Nice work, mid pack is a good result on that hard course. There is a lot to take in and learn what's happening. You will get better with the racing and the diabetes control the more you do it. The cramping could be from a lot of different things. I had a CGM in the past, and I liked to put it on my bars. The trends were very helpfull. That was a fun day yesterday but man was it cold riding down that hill at the start! I started the race at 135 and finished at 230.

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