ChiTown Half Marathon - A Race to Forget

I debated what to call this post:

"Diabetes Sucks Race Report"

"How I Walk 1/3 of a Half Marathon Race Report"

"Second Worst Time Race Report"

The possibilities were endless.  So, I combined the highlights...the race name with the fact that I truly want to forget I ever ran this morning.

Here's the report, in numbered fashion:

1.  The weather was great - little wind, 50 degrees, mostly cloudy.  It was the perfect day for running a half marathon.

2.  I felt great - and then I got to mile 6.5, where it felt like all of the energy I had was zapped from my body.  By mile 7, I was knew I had a low blood sugar.

3.  At mile 7.5, I took my one and only GU.  It didn't really work and it was more of an effort to run.  There were multiple choice words going through my mind referring to diabetes at this time.  Many of these words can be found on this wonderful blog. 

4.  By mile 9, I just stopped.  I stood in the grass, drank 2 cups of Gatorade, and hated life.  But, I started to walk, hoping to "walk off" my low.

5.  I walk 4 miles.  In case you are not aware, a half marathon is only 13.1 miles long.  And it was a hard walk.  Everyone passed me (for the most part).  And I hate getting passed.  People who were wearing cotton pants and shirts passed me.

6.  At mile 10, I ripped off my timing chip on the back of my bib.  I did not want to have this time associated with my name.  (see point 10 for more detail).  I contemplated ripping off the entire bib, but I really wanted the medal.  It was my 10th half, a goal of mine that I wanted to accomplish for the last 6 years.   

7.  When I saw mile 13, I attempted to run to the finish line.  But, having mostly but not fully recovered from being low, my run hurt.  I'm not sure about the rest of the diabetic world, but when I have a low blood sugar, my legs get incredibly weak.  Walking normal is hard.  Even after I had treated the low, my leg function was not back to normal (as usual). 

8.  I waddled into the finish chute, pissed  off at diabetes.  I crossed the line on what the clock said 2:00:36.  I knew I had run a 1:59:xx. 

9.  After putting clothes on, I checked my blood sugar...only to find it was raising rapidly.  Thanks, diabetes...where was that at mile 7.5?

10.  The results were posted online.  I looked for some of my friends who ran the race, and randomly searched for my name.  My time appeared in the online results.  Even though I ripped my chip off the back of my bib and threw it into the bushes, I was still tracked. 

11.  I determined that diabetes sucks some days.  I did everything I normally do this morning, and look at the results.  Routine only works 98% of the time I have decided. 

12.  I don't even know if I want to run my Spring Marathon anymore. 

13.  I want to go back to California.  I had a great trip there last week.  I know that all I did this post was complain, but sometimes that is necessary...at least for me.