I finished the Austin Half Marathon on February 15, very pleased with myself. I hit my target pace and experimented with carb loading — I still have more to do in that regard. My blood sugar was exactly where I expected, based on the 50 grams of uncovered carbs I had for breakfast.
It was a great trip. But I'll admit to being a little burned out — with running, carb counting, weight lifting, and diabetes in general. And winter on the farm.
I kept up with my weight training. Appointments with my trainer keep me honest. But the cardio dropped off a cliff.
I had planned a week of lazy indulgence once I got home, and my right hamstring was not happy about the hills in Austin — we don't have hills in Chicago. So I could have played this off as a running injury. But it wasn't. A swim or a bike ride might have been good for my hammy. It was pure burnout.
As the weeks went by, my HRV fell. My resting heart rate went up. I started craving sweets. And most of all, my blood sugars started getting harder to control. Week by week, my carb ratio crept down and my overnight numbers became less stable.
Somehow, I just couldn't convince myself to get back with the program.
Sunday night, I pulled out an old training plan — from my very first days training for a triathlon. A tried and true old friend. No goals or ambitions attached. Just fit enough to finish.
Week 1, Day 1.
And yesterday — Monday — I did it. Week 1, Day 1. Run 2 minutes, walk 1 minute. Repeat 8 times.
Then I went to the gym and lifted weights with Aiden.
And my blood sugar was HAPPY!
This post reflects my personal experience managing insulin-dependent diabetes. It is not medical advice. Always work with your healthcare team on your individual management plan.