Illinois, and the majority of other states, are under mandatory “Stay at Home” or “Shelter in Place” orders. Here in Illinois the order is (currently) in place until the end of April. What happens then is anyones guess.
The big question is …
When will life return to normal?
– Everyone
I have a theory that’s not going to be very popular … and probably be viewed as cycnical.
In a nutshell: This IS the new “Normal”!
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Yes, it should be pretty obvious that I think diabetes sucks. Otherwise, why would I be working so hard to help eliminate it.
Anyways, I figured it was high time I started talking a bit more about the topic… so I created a category to discuss diabetes, Tour de Cure, and related topics.
As always, you can donate to my Tour de Cure fundraising ride by visiting diabetessucks.net.
If you are interested in seeing where donors to my ride are from, visit diabetessucks.net/map.
Enjoy!
Team Novo Nordisk posed an interesting question on their website …
WOULD YOU GIVE BACK YOUR DIABETES DIAGNOSIS?
There are two sides to the question for me …
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As you might have guessed, I like keeping track of my fitness. On my bike, I use the Garmin Edge 1030, on the trainer I use Zwift.
I also like to keep track of my steps. Being a programmer, my job is mostly sedentary, so being aware of how much I’m walking and moving in general.
To this end, I wear a Garmin Vivoactive 3 smart watch.
Continue readingI really don’t understand some people … why is someone else’s success a reason to send hate mail?
Recently, the Diabetes Daily blog published a piece about Deven Pearson … a Type 2 diabetic that lost 160 lbs and got his diabetes well under control.
Soon after the article was posted, Deven started getting hate mail.
One of the things I like to do when I’m cycling, is keep track of various statistics related to my ride.
This includes things like speed, cadence (how fast I’m peddling), and heart rate.
To do this, I have a number of sensors that connect to my bike computer (Garmin Edge 810). The sensors communicate with the bike computer using a low power communication mechanism called ANT+.
There are, however, some advantages of being able to track the sensor data on my iPhone in the various fitness apps (Strava, Endomondo, iBiker, etc). The problem is that the iPhone needs an adapter to receive the ANT+ signal. It’s not a big adapter, roughly the size of a charging cable connector. In addition, the adapter is currently only available for iPhone 4S’s and earlier … it uses the 30 pin connector. There are no ANT+ adapters for iPhone 5’s & newer (which use the lightning connector).
iPhone 4S’s & newer do have a variation of Bluetooth called “Bluetooth Smart” … also known as Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE). SOME fitness sensors support BTLE, but very few support both BTLE and ANT+.
This is where the 4iiii Viiiiva Heart Rate Monitor comes in. It functions as a heart rate monitor with both ANT+ and BTLE communication. In addition, it can act as a BRIDGE between other ANT+ sensors and feed the data via BTLE.
Well, it’s that time again.
The 2013 Tour de Cure is over and was an unqualified success.
Time to start thinking about the 2014 Tour de Cure.
I’m setting my goals pretty much the same as they were last year … I’m going to ride a metric century (100 km / 62 miles) and raise at least $5000.
To sponsor me, please visit my tour page “Ride With David“.
Once again I’m taking on the mantel of captain of Team RED. For the 2013 ride we raised, as a team, $50,000 and recruited 90 riders. For 2014 we’re shooting for 120 riders and $60,000.
During the 2013 Tour de Cure ride, my friend Marty was active on various social media sites … he frequently used the phrase “Not dead yet”.
As it happened, I recently finished a book that was recommended to me by a fellow type 2 diabetic. It was “Not Dead Yet: My Race Against Disease: From Diagnosis to Dominance” by Phil Southerland.
When Phil was a child, he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. His mother was told that he would either be dead or blind by the time he was 25. Despite this prediction, he went on to be a world class professional cycle racer and founded a professional cycle racing team: Team Type 1 (now Team Novo Nordisk).
I found the book to be very good and quite enlightening … on multiple levels.
Well, I did it. I rode a metric century (100 km / 62 miles) for the 2013 Chicago Tour de Cure!
That’s the longest distance I’ve ever ridden in a single ride.
I also raised $5,291 for the ADA. That made me a Champion on a Mission. A big thank you to everyone who sponsored me.
I’m super proud of myself for both achievements!
I was quite worried about the weather. The forecast was for rain, but thankfully the meteorologists were as accurate as usual, and the weather was perfect. Sunny, warm, but a bit cool at the start. Perfect riding weather.
I rode with my friends Marty & Steve. Due to allergies, lack of sleep, and the remnants of a bad cough, Steve wasn’t able to finish. Steve did do 45 miles which, under the circumstances, was pretty darn good. Marty and I finished the ride with few problems.
Below is a map and statistics of the ride from Strava…
Well, I’ve achieved my goal for the 2013 Tour de Cure!
Last year I raised $3500 for diabetes research & education … this year I initially set my goal a little higher than that … $4000. I quickly found out I have a group of very generous and supportive friends, family, & co-workers. My goal was (rather quickly) raised to $5000.
Last Thursday, I achieved that goal.
Am I going to stop trying to raise money? Of course not. More is always better.
Being involved in the Tour de Cure is a wonderful outlet for me … it’s a very worthwhile cause, gets me on my bike on a regular basis, and has introduced me to a lot of really great people.
I’m also enjoying getting Team RED transformed into something a little more cohesive. While we haven’t been able to get as many training rides organized (mainly due to weather), I’m pleased with what we’ve done so far. I’m hoping to keep Team RED organized as a group through the year so we can continue pulling together as a real team next year.