Dr. Korey Hood is one of my favorite people. He training to run the 2014 Boston Marathon (!!) with Team JDRF on April 21st, and could use some help.

I love Korey because he’s a great guy, and he has dedicated his life to helping us with the hardest part of living with diabetes – the part that happens between our ears.

As a practicing staff psychologist and associate professor at UCSF’s Madison Clinic for Pediatric Diabetes, his work today is all about helping with kids with diabetes and their families to improve outcomes and overall quality of life.

His diagnosis story fascinates me. Korey was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as a young adult. He was in graduate school at the time, studying for his Ph.D. in clinical and health psychology and had just decided to work in diabetes.

I have the pleasure and honor of working with Korey regularly as faculty at CWD’s Friends for Life conferences and have grown tremendously as a result of knowing him. He’s been known to make Kerri cry on sight, and I once saw him with an infusion set in his bicep. Totally badass.

Let’s see if we can kick his fundraising up a notch (and spread the word).

 

 

I had two thoughts when I received the invite to run an 8k race and speak at the Insulindependence Philadelphia Weekend:

1. Cool!
2. Holy crap! 8k? I better start training!

8k is just about 5 miles. Well outside of my comfort zone, but not so far outside that it felt unachievable. The Insulindependence group provided a training plan that looked realistic, and I started following it – to the letter – on day 1 of week 1.

The Training Plan

Run 20 minutes. Yikes. I haven’t done that for over a decade. I play basketball, and do some biking, and have experimented with some running (run 2 mins, walk 1, run 2, etc), but 20 minutes straight? Not going to be fun, but let’s go.

I couldn’t show up in Philadelphia and not be able to do this. So I took it slow and steady and worked through it. I thought back to my cycling training in 2012 and knew I could do it if I stuck with the plan.

It took about three weeks before the running felt different. It felt … not easy, but not as hard. I noticed a difference, and it felt good to notice that difference. It was encouraging and motivating.

Kick It Up a Notch

I was still playing basketball – my favorite form of recreation – but I was doing the running just whenever it fit in. After basketball, in the evenings, sometimes instead of basketball. Just whenever. One Saturday I did my running right before playing basketball in order to hoop with my buddies and enjoy lunch with them afterward.

It was a complete disaster. I shot air-ball after air-ball. I felt horrible, was exhausted, and my basketball game was a train wreck.

One of my buddies coaches high school varsity basketball.  He said that I should expect to feel terrible for about three weeks, but if I could stick with it, if I could tolerate the terrible and continue to run before playing, that I would feel like superman on the court before too long.

So I started to be very intentional about my running. I’d get to the YMCA early and hit the treadmill before basketball. If I was running late, I wouldn’t let myself play basketball until I got my running homework done first. More than once it meant that I completely missed basketball – I was on the treadmill while the guys were out there hooping it up, only to be done playing ball by the time I was done running.

But I was starting to notice a difference, and it felt good to notice that difference.

It was encouraging and motivating.

Feeling Good

As time went on, I started feeling better and better. Balancing my blood sugars was still tricky, but I figured that’s to be expected when adding a big variable into the mix. Part of investing time in training with exercise and diabetes is preparing physically, part is experimenting and learning about blood sugar behavior during the activity, and part is building the mental confidence. Again, I leaned on my experience with the cycling training in 2012 to know that this process isn’t necessarily smooth but is critically important.

As race weekend approached, I was feeling so good on the basketball court that I knew I was going to continue running after the race.

Having Fun on Race Day

Running at the gym before basketball and running outside on race day are two very different things. But this was a very fun weekend for me and I had worked hard. I was ready.

On the eve of his 8k debut, @scottkjohnson says he feels ready and accomplished. He's completed 8 weeks of training, never missing a step.

— Insulindependence (@IN_Events) November 16, 2013

I had the great pleasure of Gary Scheiner and his son running with me for the whole race, and they gave me an awesome tour of the city as we ran. We even got to high-five Mayor Nutter at the finish line!

Official finish time? 53:49 pace of 10:50/mile.

How Awesome You Are

On Saturday afternoon, I had the privilege of giving a short presentation during the Northeast Symposium on Diabetes and Exercise. It was like a fancy rock concert where I got to open up for Gary Scheiner, MS, CDE, Anna Floreen, and Dr. Matt Corcoran, MD, CDE.

The goal of my talk was to remind everyone what an amazing job they do with the tools they have to manage their diabetes and to be proud of that!

Seriously, the cards are stacked against us in many ways, yet we all find a way to not only make it through a day in one piece, but to do a bunch of amazing things on top of it all.

We kick so much ass.

Inspired

I spent Sunday spectating the Philadelphia Marathon and Half-Marathon. I woke early to show support for my Insulindependence brothers and sisters who were running  (seriously, y’all, we were out there at 5:45 am…).  I spent the rest of the day hanging out with Amrie, taking in the marathon experience, and seeing some of downtown Philly before heading home later that afternoon.

I had never spectated a marathon before, but it was an absolute blast. But even better than that was being there to be inspired by some incredible people with diabetes who I am proud to know and call friends. I watched Bill King finish his 21st marathon, I saw Stephen Meo grit out a hard fought finish, I celebrated a great half-marathon finish from Harry Thompson, just to name a few. I even got to meet The Diabetic Camper (and runner (and streaker)) himself, Dave!

And then there’s Danielle. Her guts. Her attitude. Her drive. And her medal.

Yeah. She’s right. I do want that. But more importantly, because of her example, and people like her, I think I can do it. Which is encouraging and motivating.

Seattle – Here I Come!

Four short days after returning from Philadelphia I was doing a live recording of DSMA Live with Cherise Shockley and George Simmons, with our guest Stephen Shaul. I was still riding high off the Philly trip and committed, live on the internet (recorded internet, at that), to running 2 more 8k’s and 1 half-marathon in 2014.

@SweeterCherise Wait – I thought I said two 8k's and ONE half marathon? You're putting me in deeper water, sis! 🙂 (cc: @IN_Revolution)

— Scott K. Johnson (@scottkjohnson) November 22, 2013

Long story short? I’m running the Rock n’Roll Half-Marathon in Seattle on June 21st with Dana M. Lewis, Cherise, and hopefully a few more who are on the fence.

Motivated by Basketball

This all comes back to the basketball.

It’s what I enjoy.

And the running I’ve been doing has been making the basketball more enjoyable. I feel so good out there that I can’t help but keep going with this running stuff.

I’m motivated to run by how I feel when I play basketball.

That is encouraging and motivating.

 

I’m a big fan of the folks at Jerry the Bear, and my love and support for Kim and her work is almost as true and strong as my love for Diet Coke. When they came up with this idea, I couldn’t wait to add my contribution!

I can’t wait to see the other videos and pictures.

The rest of my World Diabetes Day is packed with fun activities as well!

As this post is published, I’ll be arriving at the gym to complete my last scheduled training run for the Insulindependence Philadelphia Weekend. I’m really proud of myself for following this training plan. I’ve completed every single assignment without fail except for falling 5 minutes short on one run because of a low blood sugar. I’m writing that one off as close enough.

After completing my 30-minute run (and my first #BigBlueTest of the day) I’m hoping to enjoy some basketball (and another #BigBlueTest or two). I can’t say enough about how much better I feel on the basketball court because of the running I’ve been doing. That alone is enough motivation to keep me running for at least 30 minutes a day a few times each week.

Once I get home I’ll be joining the Diabetes Hands Foundation staff for an action packed World Diabetes Day Living Room Workout (and another #BigBlueTest) LIVE on TuDiabetes.org! Check it out!

 

Were you interested in the 14th North American Conference in Diabetes and Exercise that took place in August but couldn’t afford the hundreds of dollars for travel, lodging, registration, and accompanying expenses? I totally feel you, and so do the incredibly generous Corporate Members of Insulindependence and friends at Brown Hound Media. The entire conference, including the Greatest Award Show in Diabetes, is online for you to view completely free.

For so many people living with diabetes, getting to events like this is just plain out of reach financially or logistically. I am so happy that Insulindependence has made all of this available to everybody. Please do yourself a favor and take advantage of this great resource.

Thank you to all of the sponsors and corporate partners who made this possible – I can’t say enough how much this means to the diabetes community.

Insulindependence Corporate Members

 

Platinum Members

 

 

 

Silver Members

Join Me in Philly?

In other news, I have been running, running, running in preparation for the Insulindependence Philadelphia Weekend. To kick things up a notch, I’ve been doing my running homework before playing basketball. The first few weeks were really rough. I shot more air-balls than ever before, my stamina was super sketchy, and my defense looked more like “efense” (get it? no “d”?).

 

But I knew that sticking with it would pay big dividends, and I’ve recently turned the corner. I’m starting to feel really good on the basketball court. So much so that I might even keep running a few times a week before basketball after this Philly race is done. I’m starting to hear some really crazy thoughts in my head while I’m on the court:

“I can outrun this dude.” & “I have more stamina than this guy.” & “I can wear him down.”

I can’t even describe how empowering it is to hear those things in my head while I’m out there. I’ve earned them by investing a little time in running.

Let’s not get too excited – we’re still talking lunchtime ball at the local YMCA. I’m not putting in big minutes at any intense leagues or anything, but it’s still progress, and progress feels good.

What I haven’t figured out yet is my blood sugar management with this new variable in the mix (running before basketball). It always takes a lot of time, a lot of experimentation, and a lot of good record keeping whenever I add something new into my diabetes and exercise routine, but I’m confident that I’ll get it nailed down before too long.

I still don’t like running – but I do like how I feel on the basketball court because of running, and that’s good enough for me.

It’s my honor (or “honour” as they might say up north… is that a bad Canadian joke?) to present a guest post by Jen Hansen from Connected in Motion!

What is the special occasion? Slipstream is coming to the United States, October 25-27, 2013! I’m so excited!

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In 2009, I attended my very first Slipstream event. In fact, it was the very first Slipstream event. Hosted by Connected in Motion, a Canadian-based Charity focused on creating community for adults with Type 1 diabetes and using physical activity and outdoor adventure as a forum, Slipstream weekends have become a staple in my own sanity as a Type 1. It is the place where I can totally relax where having diabetes is both the focus and the very last thing you are thinking about. It is a second home, no matter where the geographical location. It brings together a community that somehow becomes instantly tight-knit, caring and supportive a community that understands all of those ‘little things’ that can really get to you as a Type 1.

The Slipstream is more than just a weekend event it is the very philosophy upon which Connected in Motion and the Type 1 community here in Canada has been built upon.

Connected in Motion creates a ‘slipstream’ for people living with diabetes.

slip•stream\slip-strēm\ noun:

1. the airstream generating reduced air pressure and forward suction directly behind a rapidly moving person with diabetes
2. to ride in the slipstream of a fast-moving person with diabetes
3. the momentum that fuels Connected in Motion

Something incredibly unique about Slipstreams is that they are formed by those who ride along in it. Although the CIM Team has been a driving force of the Slipstream, guiding it as its momentum builds, one of the coolest things to see has been the power it can generate and the energy it builds through the community who chose to make it their own. Each Slipstream forms its own unique culture and begins to take its own direction as it grows and that is something that, as we have seen, knows no borders.

The CIM Team, in partnership with Riding on Insulin and with the support of Insulindependence, are excited to bring the energy of the Slipstream to the Pacific Northwest in October. This will be the first time that the Slipstream has traveled outside of Canada and we are so excited to see where it will take us in the future.

If you are an adult (18+) and living with Type 1 diabetes, I would like to formally invite you to join the Slipstream at YMCA Camp Orkila, just north of Seattle, October 25 – 27, 2013. We will have the chance to connect with one another, share our experiences, challenges and success stories, and pick up a tip or two for living a life with Type 1, without limits. All the while experiencing the outdoor adventures that the facility has to offer, including testing the waters sea kayaking, pushing our limits on the challenges course, and enjoying the beautiful west coast hiking trails.  For more information and to register, CLICK HERE.

In the meantime, keep in touch with the CIM Facebook Page or Twitter, and check out some previous Slipstream experiences on our YouTube Channel.

See you in the Slipstream!

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Thank you, Jen! You are awesome, as is the whole Connected in Motion crew, and all of you dedicated Slipstream enthusiasts! I love that these are coming to the US, and I love that these groups are collaborating to make it happen.

See also: Guest Post: See You in the Slipstream! at SixUntilMe

While in San Diego for the Insulindependence event I met Doug Masiuk (@1RunAmerica) in person. I had heard of him, something about a crazy guy with type 1 diabetes who ran across the United States last year.  He and I had chatted via Twitter a time or two, but meeting him in person was a real thrill.

He told me about a project he’s been working on, and I’d like to do my part to help spread the word.

Doug needs all the help he can get with this, both for this year, and for upcoming years. He’s got a lot of people excited about supporting this, and a lot more who are interested in joining in.

If you have some time and energy and are interested in helping Doug coordinate something in your local area, he would love to hear from you.

If you don’t have any more time and energy than it takes to get out and run one mile that weekend (10/25-10/27), he would love to hear from you (or not – just go run, he’s happy with that, too).

If you can’t run one mile but want to get out and walk, he would love to hear from you.

Bottom line? He just wants people to get out and get moving, and to do it because they believe in a good cause.

Maybe you have a bit of time and can help keep his website up to date, or have some ideas how he can better track participants without doing a donation based system? He’s all ears. The guy is a one-man machine doing incredible things by shoe-stringing it together so far.  I’d love to see what he could do with some help and a budget.

If nothing else, maybe you can help spread the word. That often helps more than you know.