Also in Chicago was the Lopez family.  I had the opportunity to meet the Lopez family the previous week.  Mary Lopez found my website while surfing the web to find resources for her newly diagnosed 12 year old son Andrew.  Turns out the Lopez Family was getting ready to race in the Chicago Triathlon as well.  Congrats to Mary, Ed, Mary-Kate and Andrew…welcome to Team Iron Andy.

Last but no least, we had some representation at Ironman Louisville.  Last year when I competed in that race I met Paige Batcher.  Paige was inspired by me to train for and complete her first triathlon…her first being an Ironman!!!  Although not officially racing on Team Iron Andy as she was raising money for her sister who has a heart condition, I like to include her anyway as she surely is an inspiration.  In Louisville we also had Maria Wimsatt.  Maria raced on Team Iron Andy and was raising money for the Iron Andy Foundation via the Janus Charity Charity Challenge.  Both Paige and Maria finished Ironman Louisville in a very respectful 14 ish hours.  Amazing job for their first attempt.

Congratulations and Thanks to all.

IRONANDY

IRONANDY

I enjoy writting this BLOG, especially when I have something interesting to write.  But with my CRAZY schedule most weeks I forget.  One of the only constants in my life is Melissa’s e-mail reminder every Monday - “It’s BLOG day, don’t forget!” 

Today is Melissa’s last day in the role of my travel agent, gate-keeper, backbone and BLOG reminder.  Thankfully (for AmerisourceBergen) she is not leaving the company but taking on a new and exciting job.  Diabetes Shoppe and Living Without Limits will miss her and so will I.  I wanted to take this opportunity to dedicate my last BLOG of Melissa’s tenure to her.  THANKS MELISSA!!!  

The reminder’s are going away, but I am sure she will continue to read so I hope I can make her proud with a prompt delivery.

Good Luck and thank you!

IRONANDY 

Last week I was in San Antonio, TX speaking at the AADE (American Association of Diabetes Educators) Convention.  I was there representing Animas/Lifescan and spoke on their main stage.

 I will have a “bonus” BLOG this week to announce a very exciting Iron Andy Foundation fundraising event that will take place on October 10th in Skippack, PA…stay tuned.

IRONANDY

To find out how you can support Run The Coast, check out http://www.runthecoast.com

IRONANDY

That same morning I spoke at Camp Leo in Shelton, WA.  There were over 100 kids, staff and LIONS volunteers present.  I spoke for about 45 minutes then answered questions for another 30.  This was one of the best diabetes camp audiences I have ever spoken to…very enthusiastic, attentive and they asked great questions.  Thanks to Camp Leo, the counselors, directors and volunteers for making this experience for kids possible.  And thanks to “Shorty” for inviting me.

 IRONANDY

Next week I am manning the Iron Andy Foundation booth at the IronKids Tri in Carmel, IN, then more camps - Camp Possibilities in Maryland and Camp Red Jacket in Allentown, PA.

Lots of young people to inspire!

IRONANDY

Nothing more to report.

IRONANDY

The swim, like all Ironman swims was very crowded.  My time was 1:24.  Not earth shattering but average…for me.  It is always such a relief to get out of the water.

The first half of the bike was very good, just under 3:00 hours.  I was on pace for my fastest Ironman CDA bike split.  Then, at mile 75 my blood glucose dropped to 80.  It was above 200 for the first part of the day, then out of nowhere it was 80.  Way too low, especially since I still has 37 miles on the bike and a marathon still left.  In the past, my blood sugar didn’t get low until half way through the run, but never that low.  I had to slow it up a little, going barely faster than a coast, AND I started loading up in Gatorade and Gel in an effort to bring my blood sugar up.  For two hours, it would not budge above 100.  I was facing the prospect of either not finishing, or best case scenario having to WALK the marathon.  So the second loop of the bike took over 3:40…and most of that was over the last 37 miles.  Needless to say, all the get and gatorade was making me feel very sick!

I managed to keep the blood sugar at around 100 and I finished the bike.  It was very frustrating to feel strong, and like I could have ripped up the course, but instead I had to watch as hundreds of people rode by me.

I got into T2 (transition are between bike and run) and although I felt sick from all the junk in my stomach, my blood sugar was finally starting to rise…150.  I left transition and ran into a volunteer I knew, I told him my issues and he handed me an ice cold can of coke.  Obviously I don’t drink Coke on a regular basis but I was in survival mode.  I downed half the can and started running.   A few hundred yards up the road was the Special Needs Run are, where at about mile 14 of the run you are allowed to get into the bags with the “special needs” (stuff you put in the bag the night before - gel, drinks…in my case an extra blood glucose meter and a few bottles of glucose gel.)  I downed a bottle of gel and kept running.  At mile two I tested again and my blood was 426…higher than I have ever been in my life.  Not only is that too high, but it meant that I could not take in any carbs/energy….which would make it very hard to run a marathon.  I decided to give myself a small bolus of insulin to bring it down a little.  But by the time I got to mile four, I was back down to 150.  SO…I spent the rest of the run with my blood sugar hovering around 100.  I had to run slow because of it…and once again very frustrating since my legs felt very strong.

The good news is - I finished.  My time wasn’t great, but considering what i had to deal with I am very satisfied and relieved.  Someone asked me today “why I do this, the other triathletes out there don’t have half the battle you have?”  What I said is the same thing I always say - If it was easy, no one would be inspired!”

Next stop - Ironman Wisconsin in September…but for now I will take some time off from traning and bask in the glow of my 6th Ironman finish in four years!!!

IRONANDY

On Wednesday of this week I leave for Coeur d’ Alene for Ironman, my third year in a row doing this event.  Hard to believe it’s here already.  I am excited although slightly apprehensive as my very busy travel schedule this year has cut into my long training runs and rides…but at 7:00 am on Sunday morning that won’t matter much - adrenaline will kick in (and I hope muscle memory too) and I’m sure I will be fine.  If I can successfully manage my blood sugar and the weather cooperates (not couting on that one) I should have a great race.  You can follow me at http://www.ironmanlive.com  Just find the “Athlete Tracker” for Ironman Couer d’ Alene.

Check back next week for my race recap.

IRONANDY