Well, I've been training hard and following the coaching plan with some interruption due to weather conditions, lightning and rain.

Did the Jacksonville XTERRA race on Sunday, July 27th. Had some glucose issues. The race included a 1/2 mile ocean swim, 13 mile off road single track mountain bike, and a 3 mile off road run. I awoke at 5:45 am with a fasting BS of 44. Drank some orange juice and went down for breakfast at the hotel. Made a waffle with some jam and had coffee. Drove to the transition area and got set up. Checked glucose about 45 min before race start and it had climbed to 300. The swim was just gorgeous, very flat w/ the sun rising over the horizon and water temp about 77 degrees. Two large dolphin were swimming and playing not far from the swim course....very cool. I exited the water in 16 mins., a good swim for me and started the long run up the beach and across the boardwalk. I had left my trail shoes and socks at the end of the boardwalk because of the long run on pavement to transition. I got my shoes on and was off. Had a pretty good transition and began the bike course. The bike course was 3 loops. I had ridden the course on Saturday and had crashed twice. The bike course was fast and mostly flat, there were a number of switch backs, sharp turns and lots of roots. I only crashed once during the bike leg on loop two. Hit a soft bit of sand at a turn and just slipped out went down left and slid into a tree head first....love my helmet. The biggest problem for me on the bike was keeping my hands on the bars. I sweat profusely and my hands are always wet and slippery, even with riding gloves. This requires me to grab the bars really tight and creates much numbness in the hands and fingers and puts strain on the forearms.

After completing loop two, I stopped to check my glucose which had now risen to 367...not good. I had my insulin and a syringe with me in my fanny pack and took an injection of two units of Humalog. I continued on and transitioned from the bike to run with little difficulty but felt really drained. I continued on for about the first mile and realized I was not right. I stopped and checked my glucose again and it had fallen all the way to 86. I now had to start eating to raise my sugar level. I consumed a Hammer Gel and each aid station drank some gatorade. Just couldn't seem to get my legs going and started feeling sorry for myself "This damned disease..if I didn't have it I'd be at the very top of my age group, probably a Master...why can't I get my glucose under control...it just isn't fair....I'd be better than these people passing me...Yada, yada, ya".....those thoughts are such bullshit! I started thinking of a poster I saw...you know one of those posters with eagles flying aroung or people climbing mountains or sailing with inspirational sayings below the pictures. This one said..."Courage is not always a roar....sometimes it's the quiet voice at the end of the day saying 'I'll try again tomorrow'"....and so it is...I'll do better next time.

I've got business in Oregon next week and found an Olympic distance race outside Portland. I've rented a bike and plan on doing the race...after, of course, visiting the Willamette Valley and doing some wine tasting. Life is good....if you know how to live it!