Advice Required From Runners

[leechilvers82]

Hi all, I am running two 10k's in 4/5 weeks. However never done this distance since being on Insulin 5k is the most I've done.

The last time I completed one 5 years ago I ate a Maximuscle Viper Bar (has the equivalent of about 8 cups of coffee) and I ran like forest gump for first 4 miles or so, any way what I want to know is .... Do the runners out there use any pre run snacks and are there any rehydration packs suitable for diabetics? Or do you just take a few jelly babies with you?

The nurse has prescribed me "hypostop" to carry however touch wood never needed it! Do you carry testing kits just in case?

Cheers

Lee

 

[Northerner]

Hi Lee, it's a very individual thing this exercise lark. Personally, I find that I'm OK up to around 5 miles or so, then I top up with a couple of jelly babies (around 10g carbs) per mile. Although I would carry my meter, I probably wouldn't test during a 10k (i.e. 6.2 miles), but for a half-marathon I would test at around 7 miles (i.e. just over halfway). The thing to do is to see what works best for you in training and bear in mind that things will be different on a race day to some extent because you may be waiting around for the start, perhaps a bit of stress too involved.

Good luck! 🙂

p.s. I usually try to time my pre-run injection and food about 90 mins-2 hours prior so I have food and insulin on board. However, some people find they need less insulin before a run, I don't.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I recently completed my first half marathon with Northi's help and I'd completely second what he says about trying things out during training.

I found a similar approach to 5K worked well as I built up the distance, just more-so because of the extra time/effort involved.

I'm lucky because a pump means I can more radically alter my basal an hour before/during the race which means I need fewer top-up carbs.

I'd suggest some sort of meal/snack beforehand too, and experimenting with a % reduction for the carbs involved (80% worked OK for me, but I was only running on 10-20% basal). Effectively the meal/snack digesting with not quite enough insulin available provided a gentle sustained BG boost to counteract the exercise.

I also use top-up carbs during the run. In training I'd grab a couple of fruit pastilles at certain points (every 20-30 mins), but during the half marathon itself I found sipping a mouthful of lucozade at those points was easier.

Good luck with your run!

 

[Lizzzie]

I am a beginner like you: I have tried to take up running lots of times since being diagnosed and always ran out of steam after the first week, really forcing myself to move even slowly and finding it really hard.

Then someone pointed out that I needed to have both plenty carbs and insulin on board : no point skimping on insulin because I was scared about going hypo, it just meant I couldn't use the carbs I'd eaten. One day I must have just pitched it right because I did the first run I've ever felt good about!!

You've probably passed that stage: I'm still nowhere near the distance you're about to run! - I did a four-week run of childcare after which I found I was pregnant and it all ground to a halt again.

So I can't answer your questions, except to say: it's a balancing act and I'm sure you know when you've tweaked it right for you because it can have a massive effect on your performance.

Oh, and when you do find out what works for you, please share it too (will be looking to loose some babyweight and get my body back, soon).

 

[BigMalc]

and again, I will broadly agree with Northerner.

I am T2, so dont have quite the same strictures and insulin issues as other folk, and am very happy with 10k-10m without extra food intake, but anymore then I do need it for sure.

Totally agree with the pre race stuff advised and dont forget post race restock too (banana and lucozade energy after 3hr+ runs, but nothing quite so sugary after shorter ones)

You have got a few weeks yet to test out what works well - jelly babies are good and dont get too sticky, but raisins work well too and are 'all natural'.

Good luck