Running with Type 1

While I developed the original idea for Running with Type 1 awhile ago, I wanted to carefully plot how I envisioned this blog coming to fruition.  My mind was never wired for mathematics and advanced sciences, but for the random interests and existential thoughts that run through my head, writing has always served as an outlet for my internal shenanigans. Still under the Facebook spell in 2010, one year before officially deactivating myself from that realm, I had joked in a status update that more people should invest into a journal.  It was a serious thought that was taken as a joke, however most people knowing my humor overlooked the rationale from my perspective.  In all honesty though, a journal of random thoughts, short stories, even a few sentences about anything and everything, can go a long way.  I recently heard in a JRE podcast that autobiographical writing allows the mind to analyze and accept past memories in your life.  You gain peace from those moments, and with that pe

The word "Marathon" is synonymous with 26.2, hurt, insanity, and exhaustion amongst others.  I knew of the marathon run but didn't genuinely understand what it entailed until 2011.  A fellow coach of mine was preparing for his first marathon run in 25 years, and it was a rather symbolic for him as a former All American and D2 record holder.  He was 50 in 2011 and needed a strong goal to go along with that feat.   I knew of his running prowess but was rather illiterate with distance running times and what a strong pace was for a 5k, let alone, the near sub 3 hour marathon on his horizon. By winter 2011, running was a regular staple in my weekly workouts but I never counted miles, and never ran more than 25 minutes on the treadmill.  The 2.5 mile run was a great way to keep my lungs in great shape for full court basketball, and help lean me up from the college booze habits. After talking with my coach, for the first time ever, the idea of running a race, maybe even a ha

"I got that runner's gene, and it's something you never really shake." I heard this in an interview by former professional runner, Chris Barnicle.  He is without question one of the more unique running personalities you could ever come across.  Do yourself a favor and Google search this character.  I've read about the runner's high for years, the endorphins, and all the happy chemicals our bodies produce during and after a run, but never did I hear something so compelling, "the runner's gene." Which prompted me to wonder, hmm, does it exist..?! During my youth, I ran all the time, I was a hopeless runner's high fiend, and had no idea.  In Elementary School, our annual Jog-A-Thon, a PTA fundraiser if I remember correctly, awarded the top 3 boys and girls with the most laps during the event. The ultimate bragging rights in our Elementary hallways.  My parents laugh when they recall how excited I'd be the night before.  This was pre diabet

While I was no Rhodes Scholar and the definition of an underachiever, sadly like most traditional jocks, I never missed a workout.  You may shake your head at that, but, if it wasn't for exercise and competition with myself and others growing up, I don't know want to where life would have taken me.  I worked out like a mad man, it kept me sane, it kept my adolescent vanity up, and it put me at the front of the pack with the seniors during Summer 2003 football workouts. Our football team was stacked.  The 2004 Senior class at Beaver was one of the best.  I'll debate that with anybody.  Year and half earlier, I wondered if I would even stick with football.  I was in a full blown growth spurt post diagnosis, and had a standout freshman campaign.  To prove to the group of seniors I could hang, I worked out hard.  I would come down to the track and do extra sprints, and run a fast mile on our off days.  There is no such thing as overtraining to a 16 year old, I was never tire

October 28, 2005.  11 years ago today, I played my last Football game.  I played a year in college, but I never count that to be honest.  The first half of our season, we lost 3 games across a combined 4 points.  We had 3 key starters missing due to injury and vs. the defending WPIAL champs, this was one hell of a round one playoff game to step into. Our team rallied mid season after a tough loss to Center in week 4, and rebounded the following week with a memorable whooping of the highly respected Aliquippa Quips. 36-0 to be exact.  Something I'll never forget.  That whole night was surreal, against a tough, talented, well coached team, you just don't expect it.  Fast forward one month and we scratched our way into the regional playoffs riding a huge momentum swing after a 4 game win streak.  My lack there of blood sugar control during this time period of my life is well documented.  My blood sugars on Friday nights ranged anywhere from 270-430ish.  Looking down at my me

"Why do you run?  Doesn't it hurt?  Dude, no way, ten minutes and I am done.  Aren't you worried about your knees?  What about your heart, is that healthy to run 13.1 miles? Aren't you tired after a 5 miler?  Wow, running sucks" The questioning from non runners always makes me laugh.  When you see somebody who naturally walks around stressed or who look to pop off in anger after the slightest irritant, don't you just want to tell them, "Hey bro, go for a 20 minute easy run and tell me how you feel after."  While it takes time to build up your body for a run to feel desirable, you have to start somewhere. Every runner has their own reason to get out there, lace up the shoes, and go.  Stress relief, to lose weight, lower their blood pressure and resting heart rate, improve their blood panel, or simply for the love and freedom that comes with a run.   While running provides tremendous upside to the above ailments listed; for me, running has brought