Yesterday, January 18, the world over ran in honour of Meg Menzies, the young American mother who was killed by a drunk driver last Monday while out on a morning run. Everyone was talking about it, social media was aflutter with responses, and runners everywhere, every kind, were tagging their miles for the day. Heck, even Big Ring told me I had to run because apparently “Lance” told him via Twitter.
But unfortunately, I could not. Saturdays are generally not run days for me. It’s far too tough to squeeze in any miles with Big Ring working the day, but still, a year ago, even just a couple months ago, I would have for sure pushed my butt out the door, even if only for a quick three or four kilometres, to be a part of such a beautiful campaign. These days, though, I’m just not willing to brave it.
You see, I used to be an avid evening runner. I loved getting out in the dark, cool breeze, especially during the winter months, when there’d be nary another soul out. The sights you’d see, the thoughts you’d have, it was all just so … peaceful. But now, that’s not the case at all.
I fear going out alone at night. I fear the people around me. I fear the what ifs and the what may bes.
I HATE THAT FEAR!
It’s a fear that started in December when a young man was brutally attacked outside a nearby skytrain station, a decent neighbourhood, in what was believed to be a petty theft by a teen. The young man was taken off life support days later. A few weeks later, a middle-aged woman across the pond was also brutally attacked while waiting for her son outside a hockey arena. She, too, did not survive.
What the frick is wrong with people???
It was these thoughts, along with Meg Menzie, that filled my 8 km run today. So, while it was a day late, my run today was very much in honour of Meg, and all those – runners or not – who have been damaged by stupidity and other such evils.
One day, I hope to again be able to enjoy those peace-loving, evening runs.
For Meg, and all others…
TODAY’S RUN – MEG’S MILES:
- 2:30 p.m. BG before: 9.3
- Carbs: See below***
- Temp. basal: -30%***
- Distance: 8.14 km
- Time: 46:57
- Average pace: 5:46 min/km
- 3:30 p.m. BG after: 3.4
- Post-run carbs: 1T honey with tea
As mentioned in a post last week, I’ve been struggling lately in figuring out my running blood sugar levels (this happens every few months or so… thank you Dear Diabetes!). I knew I’d be running not long after lunch today, so I gave myself 40% less insulin than my pump bolus wizard had advised based on the 39 grams of carbs I’d be taking in. My BG at lunch was 8.0. By the time I was ready to run, they were between 9.3 and 10.4 (I took 2 tests). I was going to set a -50% basal for an hour, but opted for a more conservative -30% as I feared they might just keep rising. They did not. Post run they were 3.4. I had some honey, and two hours later they were up to 8.0, which has me thinking I should have set a post-run basal of +30% for an hour after the run.
Still figuring it out…