Hawaii Diary
World Age Group Triathlon Championships October 2005
Day 1, Traveling Day,
Got up at 3.30am, tested sugar 4.5 mmol/l so had cereal and was out the house at 4.10am. My dad drove me and my mother to Manchester airport and having tested on arrival I had a reading of 5.6 mmol/l, spot on for the journey..
The 8 hour journey to New York was ok, i.e. watch out for airplane meals as I aint got a clue how much sugar is in them but had to guess and was out a little sugar level 10.8mmol/l. Immigration took the mick so we missed our transfer and ended up going to LA for the night.
As usual my diabetes didn't cause me any trouble what so ever...
Day 2, Traveling re: should have been surfing by now,
Ay the airport for 7.30am, Security causing us grief again searching our bike boxes and not giving a monkey's what they were doing, sugar levels were spot on basically just maintaining a level of about 5-7 mmol/l, got lots of attention in the executive lounge in my condition, not diabetic related it was the fact that I was for filling my obligation to wear a grass skirt and coconuts that had other passengers in stitches re: cheers lads, now pay up!!!
Got into honolulu at 2.pm.
Day 3, Ko Olina Triathlon,
Having just arrived and not nearly half recovered, myself and my dad got up at 3.00am for the Ko Olina sprint triathlon (660m swim, 18.6 mile cycle, 4.5 mile run).
It's warm even before the sun comes up which is great considering its usually freezing cold in UK.
Sugar levels are spot on again 7 mmol/l before the event, had extra shot of lantus (9units) 2 hours before the start as usual.
What a race, sugar level 4.3 mmol/l at the finish (using only a electrolyte sports drink to maintain sugar levels through the bike section diluted with water to make it drinkable) and a silver medal to go with it, what a day!!
One thing I forgot about, my bag was in the sun all morning so probably cooked my insulin so replaced the vial with one of my spares back at the hotel in the room fridge, will need to buy a thermos flask or something so it wont happen again....
Day 4, Finally a sleep in... or not,
Once again up at 6.30am, sugar level 3.8 mmol/l which is fine so had glass of milk and banana before photo shoot,
Mid way through had a snack bar,
Got back to the hotel about 11am and went surfing for an hour, after catching some waves and a turtle or two went to register for the aquathlon which is tomorrow (1.5mile run, 750m swim, 1.5 mile run) a short blast probably wont need extra lantus this time, will try with out...
Day 5, World Aquathlon Championships,
Day starts well a chilled out morning with a bit of surfing, as before I decided not to take any extra insulin for the aquathlon as it will only take around 35-45 min's, the first run was fine but the swim was tough my arms were knackered after paddling in the surf for the last 4 days, this worried me, I would have to do the same swim twice on Sunday in the Tri Champs but at least felt strong on the last leg of the run,
Diabetes wasn't a factor I felt fine the whole way round showing that i didn't need anything extra apart from a pre race snack.
The best part of the day was racing alongside my dad and although not his idea my brother Alan, who just came over to support and chill out, and without mountains of training still finished ahead of our dad, Lol, finishing 173rd out of 275 in the World Aquathlon Champs 2005, nice one bro...
Day 6, The parade of nations,
Another day of rest and surfing, once again eating at dukes the famous beach restaurant and introduced myself to hula pie!!!!!!
Later on at about 5.30pm was the Parade of Nations, everyone in the GB team was there for the short walk behind the Union Jack, in front and behind were the other 50 countries competing in the World Age Group Championships, after the presentation in the park was the buffet, which was canny but nobody seemed interested in the poi (Hawaiian staple food before McDonalds, Star bucks and the 7/11 got there)
Day 7, Friday,
Friday started with the Team breakfast and race briefing, sugar levels are still going strong, 6.6mmol/l before breakfast.
Insulin still the same as normal, 12 units of Lantus at about 8pm and then Humalog when ever need like when eating or if sugar levels are a little high,
No more surfing today just relaxation in the sun till race day on Sunday..
Day 8, Not long now,
Day before the race is basically rest only short activities so as not to tire out muscles, Every one is carbo loading in prep for race day tomorrow but I have a thought,
If I carbo load that means I have more carbohydrate stored in my muscles for the 2 hour big effort, but if my body releases these extra carbohydrates I unlike every one else will need to take extra insulin when the carbos are released otherwise I might have a sugar spike half way round which wont help a bit,
So I decide not to go stupid loading up carbs.... early to bed lantus as norm.
Day 9, The Big Day, Come'th the hour...
Up at 4.30am, bought some sushi the day before for breakfast, the start times are weird they start with the 25-29s at 7am then all the way through to the 55-59s and then the chuck the 20-24s in at 9am, on gas mark 9!!!
Took 8 units of lantus 2 at 7am so it will come into play at kick off time, took slightly less than norm because the heat will make it work a little more i presume,
Although I wasn't looking forward to the swim because it nearly annihilated me on tuesday in the aquathlon and this time its two laps and not one, I still put my brave face on as I get kicks from watching everyone else get into a panic:)
I felt awesome in the swim, not what I was expecting at all although i hadn't just ran like a idiot before hand like before, and then on to the fun bit the 25mile bike, I enjoyed the bike so much I could have gone round again and It helped me get some time back on the good swimmers, and then finally the run, probably the hottest run I've ever done and I don't mean fast, my legs where cramping up so to replace the electrolytes i was taking on the gatorade at the drink stations as well as water so that probably explains why my sugar level was 9.2mmol/l at the finish, It was so surreal the run into the finish was unbelievable it was a shame it had an ending nice to see matt clicking away on the finishing line, could do this again and again,
What a day, Three races in one week including the best tri ever by far and now time to party!!!
Day 10, Rest Day,
The day after a race is always a rest day so that you can recoup and enjoy the moment, so lots of lazing and eating tasty food, swam with dolphins and on the night went to Maltoe's which was apparently Frank Sanatra's favorite (Italian)restaurant,
Day 11, Surf's up,
Got up at 9am and had breakfast then picked a nice spot on da beach and caught up on me sun bathing then went surfing,
Came in at 12 and had some food, met up with mates and went back out into the surf,
Another cracking day most people are off home, as usual I monitor my sugar levels whenever I feel I need to, like before going out in the surf as its not much good being half a mile off shore and needing a snack, plus it gives you the confidence to do anything you fancy.
