Dialogs about diabetic dynamos

by Debra Frank M.S., M.S.

As a diabetic exercise physiologist, I believe in exercising within safe
enjoyable limitations. It is documented that exercise enhances both the
musculoskeletal system and the biophysical functions of the body.
Additionally, the improved body image, self-image and self-esteem seen with
positive exercise programming cannot be measured. Having a disease which
requires constant checks and balances as well as often unexpected physical and
emotional responses makes it hard to try something new or to change a routine.
The integration of a slow progressive program of initially supervised exercise
can open new doors.

They Ran The Marathon
Against All Odds!
Sunday, November 6, 1994 marked the 25th anniversary race of the New York City
(NYC) Marathon, one of the most historic sporting events in the world of
running. The first NYC Marathon, held on September 17, 1969 with 152 entrants,
was won by Gary Muhrcke, an NYC fireman. Twenty-five years later, Gary took
another first. He was the first fireman to cross the finish line out of over
160 firefighters who ran amongst a field of over 25,000 runners. The welcoming
and incorporation of the Achilles Track Club to the New York Road Runners Club
also occurred on this 25th anniversary.
The Achilles Track Club was started by Dick Trump, Ph.D., an amputee athlete
who participated in the marathon for the first time 18 years ago. Through his
efforts and the support of thousands of other differently-abled athletes
around the world, there now exist 111 chapters in 31 countries, stemming from
Europe to Mongolia and recently established in areas such as South Africa,
Vietnam and Bosnia with 40 chapters in the U.S. The Achilles Track Club
invites athletes of all abilities to share in the agony and the ecstasy of
adaptive running. This year, 182 Achilles athletes from all walks of life,
ages and abilities, were equally represented in the 1994 NYC Marathon. There
were over 300 Achilles volunteers and thousands of fans and supporters along
the route.
A contingency of athletes from New Zealand and Australia, sponsored by
Kentucky Fried Chicken, came half way around the world to participate in this
historic event. Craig Jessop, a sharp 27-year-old, blond-haired, blue-eyed New
Zealander or Kiwi, who has been challenged by diabetes since age five, joined
the determined troupe of athletes. Eager and prepared with his walking cane,
he came with his renal nurse to New York City; a city with over seven million
residents not including visitors and marathon participants; a city with twice
as many people living on an island than the entire continent of New Zealand
proper!
Craig was paired with a specially trained, American Achilles volunteer. Miles,
a running coach from New Zealand, who had trained with Craig and had
successfully escorted him in a 30 kilometer race in the past, joined forces
with Debra Frank, an exercise physiologist who has had IDDM for 22 years.
Prior to race day, Craig and Debra joined the 21 other diabetic runners from
around the world for a pre-race dinner and powwow at the home of John Maddon
Esquire, president of the International Diabetic Athlete Association, New York
Chapter. The group was positive and physically fit, but the mental power in
this room was staggering.
For the race, glucose replacement and test kits were set up every five miles
along the route for the 23 runners. For Craig and Debra, this was not
convenient since they started three hours earlier than the others and had to
cover their own early 'bouncing blood sugars'. This was to be the first time
Craig had run or race-walked more than 30 kilometers. The additional 12
kilometers had significant impact on his overall medical and nutritional
well-being. Nevertheless, on the morning of the marathon, Craig, Miles and
Debra boarded the bus at 5 a.m. with other Achilles athletes and were taken to
the start location. The gun for the Achilles athletes went off at 7:30 a.m.,
three hours before the main race began. Miles was wearing a knapsack with
everything from Craig's glucometer, Maro Bars (Kiwi type candy), rain gear,
water, Gatorade, trail mix and Debra's rice cakes. Debra had syringes,
insulin, a pocket camera and a portable phone in her waist bag. As a safety
precaution, Debra had made arrangements with the NYC fire department to have
her blood test kits and medical materials at two firehouses on the race
course, the 11- and 20-mile points.
At the start of the marathon, Craig had a blood sugar of 194 and Debra had
216. This may sound high, but remember they were nervous and had little sleep.
For the type of endurance, non-impact activity they were to perform, the
elevated glucose levels would be quickly lowered. As the seconds turned into
minutes which rolled into hours, the three athletes shared many stories and
managed to keep their spirits up until the bitter end. Debra's blood sugar
level was 176 and Craig's was 56 at the end of the race. This low level was
quickly raised with leftover goodies. At the finish, Craig expressed his
feelings simply by saying, "Finishing this marathon was the ultimate
experience of my life. It was like having a seven hour and eleven minute
orgasm. All three of us climaxed at the same time and there was no fear of
AIDS!!" It is well known that those Kiwis get right to the point and have a
tendency to hold little back. Craig is planning to run again in 1995 and this
time he is coming to the States with a new addition, a healthy functioning
kidney. For information on the Achilles Track Club telephone (212) 354-0300.
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