Diabetes vs High Endurance Training - A Great Combination

On September 11, 2011, I volunteered with my running club (Headhunters) aid station for Ironman Wisconsin. I purposely chose the 7:00pm - 11:00pm shift so I could see the age groupers push out the final miles en route to earning bragging rights for the rest of their lives. A few of the triathletes that stopped for water, cola, chicken broth or power aid were smiling and upbeat while others appeared mentally and physically exhausted. But what each of these amazing athletes appeared to share was a determination to FINISH!

On the morning of September 12, 2011, I stood in line at Madison's Monona Terrace from 7:45am - 10:00am, before finally completing registration for the September 9, 2012 Ironman Wisconsin Triathlon. I will join more than 2400 Triathletes from around the world as we participate in what has become the worlds most challenging endurance event. For the next 359 plus days, I will again push my diabetic body to a level beyond comprehension. This will be my 3rd Ironman Triathlon and certainly my most challenging one. As the worlds 1st African-American Diabetic Ironman Triathlete, I know that this extreme endurance event offers forgiveness to no one, and therefore my training has to be on target. In 2005, I completed my 1st Ironman Triathlon, but in 2008, I failed to reach the finish line of my 2nd Ironman due to elevated blood sugars that led to severe cramping. As my friend Dino Lucas once told me, "You're not a true Ironman until you get that 2nd one under your belt".  My goal for Ironman 2012 is to cross the finish line in under 13 hours. Stay tuned for regular updates on my year long training regimen.