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Ironwoman by Wendy Ludbrook. Completing an Ironman is no easy task for anyone, but it’s especially difficult for those living with Type 1 Diabetes. On September 13 I toed the line at all changed into my runIronman Wisconsin with 2,800 other brave ning clothes I headed out souls. Ironman triathlons consist of a 2.4 for the marathon. I had no mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride followed by idea what to expect since I a 26.2 mile run. This was my first attempt at was in uncharted territory anything this crazy but I was in good comat this point and I wasn’t pany. I competed with a team called Riding sure if I would run a mile or On Insulin that consisted of 63 athletes, 36 two and just fall flat on my of which have Type 1 Diabetes like me. Our face or be able to hold on for goal was to become the largest group of multiple miles. Turns out Type 1s to compete in a single Ironman and I was able to run the bulk not only did we reach our goal, but we also of the time, only walking at raised over $100K for outdoor adventure the aid stations that were camps for kids with Type 1 diabetes. set up along the course and The race itself went about as smoothly amply stocked with a variety as could be expected. The swim was a mass of foods. The fans lining the start with all 2,800 athletes in the water run course were great with lots of enertaking off together. Exiting the water in gy, music and signs. The course wrapped an hour and thirty minutes I picked up my around on itself a lot, so I was able to see diabetes supplies, got my wetsuit stripped my support crew numerous times. We also off of me and headed in to change got to run through for the bike leg. the University of I had no idea what to The bike portion of this particWisconsin football expect since I was in ular Ironman is exceptionally hilly stadium twice. The uncharted territory at and I was worried as to how I would run took just under fare as the day went on. Surprisfive hours and 14 this point and I wasn’t ingly it went very well and with the hours and 37 minsure if I would run a amount of cheering fans that lined utes after I started mile or two and just all portions of the course and the swimming I crossed fall flat on my face or Wisconsin dairy land as a backdrop the finish line. be able to hold on for there was plenty to take your mind Managing dioff the long miles. My personal supabetes during long multiple miles. port crew of Chris and the kids, my endurance events parents, Chris’s mom Helen, and my is a constant litany sister and her kids were camped out along of testing your blood sugar, eating, dosing one of the steepest hills on the course. We insulin - all in the right amounts, at the passed by them twice and the kids were right time. Having a huge team of fellow diaable to run alongside me cheering as I rode betics to bounce ideas off of during the nine up the hills which was a welcome boost of months of training is at the heart of these encouragement. In all, bike portion took types of events and camps run by Riding On seven hours and thirty minutes. Insulin. Peer to peer information sharing Once back to the transition area and is really an underappreciated resource in MAKING DISCIPLES
BUILDING CONGREGATIONS
diabetes management not only for Ironman training, but just for general day to day management. And of course there was a large sacrifice at home by my support crew to get this accomplished. The training peaks at around 15 hours per week, which leaves a lot of weekend mornings away riding your bike and running. Fortunately Chris and the kids got in on some of the action with Chris joining me for the hours-long rides and the kids riding their bikes as I ran behind them. This was a wonderful nearly yearlong journey and while I would consider doing it again, I will be switching gears next year and heading up the support crew as Chris will take on his first Ironman. Wendy, photo above, is an active member of Grace Church in Kirkwood, along with her husband Chris and children. She is the daughter-inlaw of the Rev. Helen Ludbrook. This article first published in Grace’s new quarterly, Bread for the Journey, editor Janis Greenbaum.
FOR THE LIFE OF THE WORLD