Busy Busy Busy

The funniest thing about this whole adventure is what is going along with it!

I definitely consider myself a diabetic, for obvious reasons.

I'm not sure if I would call myself a "runner" yet.  I'm excited for this race and I do enjoy running a little (not that much).  But I feel like you have to this innate need to run in order to call yourself a runner.  I don't have that.

 My last label that I'm considering is a "baker".  I make cakes for people.  So many that I have another blog (www.mysweetdaisycakes.blogspot.com) about those and a recently started facebook page for my little cake biz called "Sweet Daisy Cakes".

So, when you think about it, a Running Diabetic Baker is kind of a hilarious trifecta.  There are days when I'm making buttercream after a run and testing my sugar as I'm testing the frosting to make sure its perfect!  This occasionally results in perfect buttercream and not-so-perfect blood sugars, but I'm working on that.

Ok, back to running.  On Sunday, my husband and I decided to run a 5k in Milton, DE.  It was the inaugural St. Patrick's Day run and was followed by beer and a parade, so we didn't need much motivation and the kids loved it.  Thanks to my wonderful mom we were able to leave the kids on the sideline while we ran our best times!  I was able to run under a 10 minute mile and finished 102 out of 187 and 13th in my age group.  My overachiever husband finished 26th overall and 7th in his age group with just over a 7 minute mile...but his legs are way longer than mine...ha ha!!!

5k's are a really good way to get in shape, if you ask me.  They are fun, there are usually giveaways and sometimes free beer, there are a ton of different people at different fitness levels, and there is no competition so it's not intimidating.  So if you need a goal, this is the perfect time to start working because there are a ton of 5k's now through the fall.  Go to races2run.com and you'll find information.

I also ran 5 miles on the treadmill yesterday!  It took me 51 and 1/2 minutes and I felt pretty good after! I had to back down my speed on the last two miles but I ran the whole time and realized that Eminem is a really good motivator when you are 3/4 of way through a run/workout.  I added "I'm Not Afraid" to my playlist and I don't regret it.  I also found a pretty sweet t-shirt that reflects my feelings for my running playlist oh so perfectly.  Best part is that it's from a little shop in Philly called Print Liberation (http://store.printliberation.com).  I love shopping local small businesses and I love it even more when they come up with stuff like this!

My advice this week is to find what makes you feel invincible (and make sure its legal and relatively healthy) and put it into action or put it on a t-shirt or BOTH!  

Happy Wednesday!

Such a Big Deal

A few setbacks to my training and progress but nothing major.  We had the barf bug sweep through our house impacting all four of the family at some level. So the day I felt good enough to run, the 3 year old was not.   And so on and so forth.

I did run outside for the first time and managed to pick the coldest windiest day ever, which resulted in a weak 2 mile run and major pain in my chest, but I did it!  woo hoo!

As I'm typing, my screen is significantly blurry since I just returned from the eye doctor.  Just a check-up. But for my fellow diabetics, you know this is always a stressful appointment as you wait to hear if this stupid disease has had any impact on your vision that you haven't already noticed.  Luckily, I have two healthy eyeballs that will stay that way if I keep the big D in check.

What I found particularly entertaining about this doctor visit was the way my optometrist tried to drop some diabetic knowledge on me.  First, he compared me to a Type 2 diabetic.  And no disrespect to the Type 2's out there but there's a BIG difference.  Then, he decided to let me know that as long as I keep my blood sugars controlled, I can live my entire life with no complications!  Breakthrough!  I never knew that!!!!  That said, I should have expected this input since this is the same doc that told me that the best way to get pregnant is to stop worrying about getting pregnant and just do what you gotta do to make it happen.  I'm still having a hard time understanding why he's an optometrist and not a brain surgeon, but I will save that question for my next appointment.

Now, you may be asking why I keep going back to this doctor if he's essentially a tool?  And my answer to that is I'm not entirely sure but I think it's due to intrigue and convenience.  I'm always anxious to see what he's going to school me on next and he's in a network of doctors that gives me very easy access to specialists in the event that I ever need one.  I also have a weird guilt thing about asking to see someone else in the practice.  I have a lot of weird guilt issues but I'll start that blog another time :)

The point of my mention of the doctor's appointment, though, is that these appointments always remind me that while I live with this disease every day and it's a part of my life, I can't forget that it's a big deal.  All of the little parts of diabetes, when separate, disguise themselves and little details that are easily attended to.  It's a pain to test my blood sugar, but it's not that big of a deal.  It's annoying to have to be aware of every thing I eat, but it's not that big of deal.  But when you take all of the small pieces of the puzzle and put them together - BOOM -  big deal.  Losing your vision, heart disease, nervous system failure, kidney failure.  Big Big Deal.

So, if you are battling a health issue, whether it's diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, cancer, immune diseases, etc., don't forget that it's a big deal.  Don't take a few days off from being healthy or improving your health because you deserve it.  You owe it to yourself keep at it full-time.  And if you have happen to fall off the wagon due to some evil carb-heavy culinary delight, don't forget to jump back on as quickly as possible.  Because you are worth it and that's what you deserve.  And if you don't believe that, then talk to the people that love you.  They will remind you.

Back to running tomorrow.

Peace out.