I have been running/jogging for 12 years but the longest race I have completed thus far is a 10k. I have the Dexcom 7 that I wear during races, and I carry juice as well for the 5ks and 10ks.
Recently my good friend asked that I run a half marathon with her in May. I am wondering how to prepare for over double the mileage with supplies to boost my glucose.
What products do you recommend, and how do you carry everything you need?? Also how often do you test during a longer race?
There’s a group: http://www.tudiabetes.org/group/diabeticswhorunmarathons that has supply lugging tips, war stories and hundreds of marathons of experience. It’s a very friendly group. If you read back through the old threads, people (or at least I…) will post journaly things about some of the longer runs.
I have a MiniMed CGM and usually test maybe once or twice during races? If it’s behaving itself, I will blow off testing but sometimes it’s run out of gas and doesn’t provide accurate data. I use an amphipod belt for carbs. I use little bags I got @ Hobby Lobby, I think they are for jewelry but they also hold about 30G of jelly bean and then the belt holds bottles. i get the powdered gatorade and weigh it depending on how long I’ll run. Races are somewhat easier, depending on how well supported they are but I always lug extra stuff “just in case”.
For my meter, there’s a brand of shorts called Race Ready that have a mesh pocket in back that holds my One Touch UltraMini meter very nicely, a baggie is a good idea if it’s hot.
Like acid I am a member of http://www.tudiabetes.org/group/diabeticswhorunmarathons which I have found to be helpful.
I have learned that getting basal insulin doses adjusted for long runs is key (I now reduce my basal insulin to 30% an hour before I run).
After seeing acid’s pic I went and got one too here is mine:
Note that a lot of people have spikes during long runs and especially long races. Yes, spikes. I usually bolus 0.5u about 15-20 minutes into my run to prepare for this.
As far as lows go, most marathons and half have stations set up all along the route with goos and stuff that will help with lows. When running a half, I start out with 1-2 packs of sport beans (or whatever) and just refill if needed at the aid stations. Obvs, make sure your race will have fully stocked aid stations before planning this way.
I make sure my CGM has been working fine for the few days leading up to the event, and then I don’t do finger pricks during the race. That just seems like too much work and too much stuff to carry around while running.
I have an OmniPod and Dexcom CGM and here’s what I carry during training runs and races for my diabetes:
OmniPod (for bolusing when high (yes, it does happen - about 60- 90 minutes into the race for me))
Dexcom
1-2 packs of sport beans (for lows)
That’s it. Everything fits nicely (along with my iPhone) in the pockets of my race clothes. I make sure to get tech clothes with lots of pockets whenever possible. If you look into tops for cyclists, they have a lot of tops with 3 big pockets across the lower back. Skirt sports makes running skirts with 2 big pockets under the skirt. 5 big pockets is plenty for me to avoid having to wear a race belt.
