First Marathon - need advice

Healthy Living Physical Activity
1

Hey all,
I'm about to start training for my first marathon and am in need of some advice! a little bit about me: I'm 27 and was diagnosed last year, wear a medtronic pump with cgm. I can run 3 miles on 100% basal with no problems as long as I don't have a lot of active insulin on board but after that I usually start to drop. I'm following Hal Higdons 18 week beginner training guide. Couple specific questions and any other advice would be fantastic!
1) Types of fuel? I've used hammer gel in the past b/c I read somewhere that its a slower acting sugar and doesn't cause a big spike. Any other suggestions? How often should I eat something? How much?
2) Basal rates? Does anyone severely reduce their basals or just consume more sugars throughout the run?
3) I will be doing most of my training in the winter (Michigan) and am worried that my pump might not work so well on my belt but am afraid that if I put it in my sports bra or something that it will get all sweaty and not work either!

I know all the basals/gels etc are trial and error and different for each person but I have no clue where to start so what works for you guys might be a good starting place for me : )

Thanks everyone!

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I bring bottles of Gatorade in my Amphipod belt and try to have about 1/2 bottle every 3 miles starting at 5-6 miles or so. I had a gel at 18 miles in the Chicago Marathon and a few pretzels, etc. people were passing out on the way there. I'm not a huge gel fan and figure that they are like food and will just eat food if I'm gonna have one of those. I turn my pump down usually 40-60% the usual rate but it varies depending on where my food/ IOB/ etc. are floating around. I have a CGM and, if my BG drops, I turn it down to 7% (because 7 is lucky!) and do that for a while. I'm near Chicago and have had the screen on my Medtronic pump fade when it gets down into the teens temperaturewise. I usually clip it on my belt but will put it inside my waistband when it starts to fade, which takes 3ish miles. At that point the sweat doesn't seem to be too big of a deal there.

I'd also add that I also toss in a few bags of candy. I started with jelly beans, tried Smarties for dextrose, thinking they'd work faster, and then switched to a mix of the two, as the Smarties by themselves were too chalky/ drooly. I use those if my BG tails off but, on the long runs, I have Gatorde and it seems to work ok. They have it at races and I think that it's useful to have for fuel, as if I were a "normal" (ha ha) person.

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...and have a great race!!

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1). I've used Hammer as well - primary reason no GI problems on long runs. Generation UCAN also has a product that I've used - keeps BGs very stable, though I've used more on longer rides than running. Tend to prefer using what I know works. 2). For most exercise over an hour I turn my basal off (though for a marathon I'd probably keep a small basal running), but have friends who increase theirs slightly and eat more. 3). The times I had pump failures is in a continual downpour of rain. It usually goes on my belt, and I have tried various cases. Spibelt also could be useful to keep the sweat off and keep the pump "warm" under a layer or two of clothing. Correct on the trial and error - another thing you'll probably find is that the level of intensity in your workouts will impact what happens to blood sugars afterwards - and post workout adjustments to insulin can be very important to watch as well. Good luck in your race! Depending on when you do the race - a couple options you might want to consider in order to learn more from other diabetics - Carlsbad (CA) half (not sure if it is sold out yet or not) which is the last weekend in Jan. (over 100 people as part of the Insulindependence team last year), or the Ragnar Relay - SoCal in April (Insulindependence will have at least one, if not 2 teams for that). Both provide good opportunities to learn from other diabetics.

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I'm new to diabetes over the last few months been diagnosed and have been running a lot. I'm up to about 2 hours and want to experiment with Honey as I heard a small package might be better than Power Gel, Gu, etc. Has any of you type 2's experminted with Honey during a long run?

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I just ran my first marathon one month ago. I do not pump or use CGM. I created my strategy during all my long runs. What worked best for me to eat Honey stingers (two) every five miles. During the marathon I ate two every 4-5 miles and at mile 18 and 22 I ate three. I drink water every mile. I carry a handheld water bottle and wear an Amphipod belt with the stingers. I also wear a Spibelt to hold my meter, insulin and candy in case of a low. My blood sugar was right where I wanted it before the race (160) and right after (160.) i learned a lot from this site. Keep asking questions...that's what worked for me.

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Awesome news! I've done three halfs (two more before year's end), two 10Ks and a bunch of 5Ks this year. I'm gearing up for my first full marathon in January. I took up running about a year ago, and there was definitely some trial and error involved. Here are some answers that work for me.

1. I ran a half marathon yesterday. I took a I took a GU Roctane about 30 minutes before the race along with some water. I popped a gel (not Roctane -- they were giving out Hammer gels along the course) every 40 minutes or so, and I was very, very happy with my time and my blood sugar at the end of the race.

2. I killed my OmniPod during the race, but I brought along my controller, strips, and a lancet. Blood sugar was 148 at the end of the race -- I was very, very happy with that rather than being hypoglycemic.

3. Can't help you with this one since I'm a podder.

I have a few other tips in no particular order.

1. Buy a good running belt that will allow you to carry a glucose meter and strips, pump, phone, gels, and some cash in case you get in a bind. I'm in good control, but I really like to be prepared for anything. I have a Nathan running belt that has two optional bottle attachments.

2. Buy a RoadID bracelet. Just do it.

3. Different races are organized differently. I ran a brutal trail 10K with a 1000 ft climb in the mountains this summer, and I was shocked that there was only one water station. On the other hand, the flat-as-a-pancake half marathon I ran yesterday had water, gatorade, gels, and bananas at almost every mile. For the 10K in the mountains, I brought along the gatorade bottles. For the half marathon yesterday, I left the bottles home.

And finally, good luck and have fun -- running is the best!