2016 Anzac Day Challenge, 60km

The 100km Anzac Day Challenge taught me two really important lessons: preparation is critical; and safety comes first. I also learned a thing or two about my kit and medical supplies.

Anzac Day Run, by Big Run Events

The route was around some spectacular local trails I had run on before. Starting in Manly on Sydney’s Northern Beaches the course would wind through 3 legs on beautiful and brutally steep trails. The first leg from Manly to the race hub at St Ives, the second leg a loop around the National Park starting and finishing back at the race hub in St Ives, and the third and final leg a longer but slightly different loop out and back again to the event hub.

If you’ve read my report on Sydney Trail Fest is is essentially the same course, but in one day… not three.

The event was structured so you could complete the first leg on its own (35km), legs two and three together (65km), or set out for all three and take on the ‘challenge’ - 100km in less than 24hrs.

Of course, to me, the temptation was too much. The Challenge was on. I signed up.

My mum used to tell me when I was eating that my eyes were often too big for my belly. And, in this case she was right.

Lesson 1 - Preparation is Critical

I went into the race under prepared, my training plan had been disrupted by travel to the UK and I hadn’t put enough time into my legs. I’d been running in Sydney and covered a few long training runs to see what racing with an insulin pump and CGM was like, but, I hadn’t done anywhere near enough to feel comfortable.

For three weeks before the race I’d been in the UK visiting friends and family and, although I’d got a few runs in, it wasn’t my usual plan. I’d flown back to Sydney just one night before the race, and what made matters worse was that I was still jet-lagged and my body clock was out of sync.

Lesson 2 - Safety Comes First

I considered withdrawing before the race. But, I didn’t because:

(a) I didn’t want to - these were great trails and it was a super challenge and;

(b) I had a contingency plan. The race set up was perfect because there was a race hub - three stages all finishing in the same location where I could leave kit, food and medical supplies. It also meant I could rest and recover and seek medical support between legs; and if things weren’t going well I could revisit my plan to do the grand slam and stop after leg one (35km), or two (60km).

Result

My decision to withdraw from the race after two legs and 60km, was tough - in fact it hurt more than my legs. I was disappointed to receive a DNF (Did Not Finish) but I was proud that my decision was the right one. The race mapped out this way.

Leg 1 | Manly - St Ives Showground (35km)

During Leg 1 the adrenaline, excitement and beautiful trails pulled me along. The weather was good, but it was very wet underfoot because of some heavy overnight rain. However, my previous experience taught me about looking after my feet, my T1D and my nutrition. So, when I reached St Ives I was tired and aching (due to limited training) but my feet, body and T1D needs were in good shape.

Training and racing with CGM was a revelation. Seeing the trend of BGLs and how much insulin on board is incredibly helpful in endurance racing. During the first leg my pump had also been excellent, I was able to set temporary basal rates that helped manage my insulin on board and allowed me to eat what I needed for energy, not for BGL or bolus corrections.

I’d also had a strategy of putting on two canulars in case the sweat or my back pack strapping displaced the one I was using during the run, then I could swap to another without too much water time or fiddling on the trail.

Diabetes has taught me before that having back up plans is key.

My CGM receiver was working well and fixed in place with some extra strapping and the visible and continuous trend direction arrows for my BSL suggested my food-insulin-exercise balance was pretty well judged. It was early afternoon by the time I got to the hub, so I rested for around 20 minutes, ate more substantial food and re-packed my kit with extra muesli bars, water and my rain jacket as the rain clouds were building.

Leg 2 | St Ives to St Ives Loop 1 (25km)

My mood changed quickly after leaving the race hub. I’d embarked on Leg 2 in good spirits, but I was tired my lack of training and jet lag meant I had to walk several sections where I would normally have run, so my pace was slower than my typical. I was 10-11 hrs into the race and not even half way - so the outlook for finishing this leg in the late afternoon and starting Leg 3 in the dark and running the final 40km in the middle of the night was weighing on my mind. Then it started to rain.

My spirits were low, but I trudged on.

A few km later I checked my insulin pump which had been displaying (via blue tooth) my blood glucose level. It had been working well all day, but now it was displaying ‘no sensor’ reading. Sometimes this is just a bluetooth glitch, but not this time. My spirits fell with the rain, because when I checked the site of my sensor it had gone.

I’d lost it - literally.

The sensor must have got too damp during the rain and slipped off (a costly and frustrating mishap). Not a critical one because like always,

I had a Plan B. My finger prick blood glucose testing meter in my pack, which I got out and used for a test. My BGL was high and above the range I like to run with, so I checked my pump and insulin on board seemed in order so I made a minor tweak (small bolus top up) and carried on. Tired, jet lagged and frustrated.

Sometimes T1D gives you reasons to quit, but I was desperate for this not to be one. I turned my mind to better things and my spirits lifted, which helped. A bit later into the race I still didn’t feel right. So with a 3-4km and probably another hour or so until the end of Leg 2, and still in the rain, I checked did another finder prick blood test. It was higher. This didn’t make sense. So I checked my pump again - ok. So I checked the canular to which my pump was connected - not ok. It had detached (the rain had got that wet too and it was hanging by the tubing but not in my belly). Rather than being demoralised, I actually gave myself a little pat-on-the-back because my back-up plan for this type of situation was easy to implement. I’d attached a second canular before the race to switch to for exactly this situation.

Mum would be proud - what a bright bean!

Unfortunately, my self-gloating was short lived - the second canular had also become wet and detached [*cuss*]. Diabetes teaches you to be prepared for anything and Plan C was another canular insertion kit in may back pack (which I could have attached and used), and Plan D was a spare insulin injecting pen also in my back-pack.

I’d sorted out the predicament, but it was not a great leg or a triumphant arrival.

Leg 3 | Pulling the pin at race hub

I trudged into the race hub at the end of Leg 2 - exhausted and flat. I sat down in a tent sheltered from the rain and went through my supplies, food and pack. I weighed up the options - waited; then weighed then up again.

Then, I quit.

I’d done 60km, still 40km more to go. I was sleepy-tired from jet lag, leg tired from running and underprepared for the race. That was enough, but with the additional responsibility of T1D to carry with me in the rain and dark, and when I was already down to T1D Plan D, the call was clear.

It was not safe. Stop.

Reflections

I’m proud of my decision.

I’d weighed up the options and it was possible to go on, but not worth it. The trails in that part of the Ku-Ring-Gai National Park are steep and slippery when wet, it was dark and although I’d had a powerful head torch there was a fairly good chance of a slip, or even wore a serious fall or injury. The race organisers had an excellent safety plan and record, there were other runners and check points, race sweeps and marshals to check on safety. But, it would have been dangerous for me to carry on, even without T1D I don’t think I would have been safe. My tiredness, my race fitness, my body and my mind were not prepared.

I called home. Not long later I was in a hot bath, sleeping. Best decision I ever made.

I use T1D as motivation - it has helped me through many tough times and I’ve drawn on it in what seem like helpless situations. I stand by my belief that T1D makes me #fitterforhavingit it also makes me risk aware and adaptive, but it doesn’t make me bullet-proof.