Sweet Stuff: Eugene Half Marathon

I flew to Portland this past weekend and drove to Eugene in order to visit some college friends! Ran my first half marathon (13.1 miles!) last weekend! For the record, this was not my idea. This was my college roommate's idea and the "purpose" of our trip. Which was really to just see friends and eat at our favorite restaurants. It was successful in that we more than made up for the calories burned during the half marathon. 

Some highlights:
1. Traveling. This was my most productive airport experience ever. I discovered that the San Jose Airport has a meditation room, yet I skipped it and splurged for a massage chair and margarita instead. 
2. My bag of cucumbers at the dinner table. I had no time to spend in Portland so my mom and brother met me at the airport for dinner. I didn't want to carb load on chips with my dip so I ordered a side of jicama and pulled out the cucumber snack I had packed instead. (This was after eating chocolate on the airplane of course). I spend my carbs like I spend my money, get the most out of it! So.... chocolate>chips!
3. Arrived in Eugene and greeted by the adorable "Wadsworth"!! The pet of the amazing friends who hosted us in Eugene!    

 

4. We went to Florence for the day, a coastal town. It was amazing weather for Oregon spring. The beach was actually warm!!

5. We enjoyed a small jaunt down to the coast called "Hobbit's Trail" and played some frisbee on the beach. I cannot throw a frisbee, but it was still awesome.

6. Dutch Bros Chai Latte! It says "I missed you". I missed you too, Soy Chai latte!

7. With friends along the river.

8. My training for the half marathon was exhausting and I was discouraged, but turns out I must have done it right because I beat my goal time. I still came in last of my group of friends though. However, they've all run half marathons before so I had that excuse to make me feel better.

9. My friend Erin was doing the race as well and joined me. Since she has done this BUNCHES she basically paced me the whole way, I would not have finished nearly as quickly on my own!

 

10. The hosts of the weekend ready for the race!! 7am and bright-eyed!

11. Puddles was there for photo-ops! I flew to Portland, drove to Eugene, and ran 13 miles....picture with the Oregon Duck? Um YEA!!

The whole trip was a fabulous escape, so thankful for such great friends and company!

Diabetes note: I was very careful with my blood sugars during training and the race. I run with a Camelback backpack which holds: water, blood sugar meter, back-up sugar, emergency glucagon shot, Dexcom CGM clipped on where I can constantly look at it, and I keep my insulin pump on. I reduce the rate of my pump usually before exercise, sometimes more during, and remove it if I know I can after much trial and error. I check my patterns using the Dexcom and check my blood sugar at least once during a long workout or if I feel low. During the race I ate a fruit strip, piece of banana, and drank one of the cups of gatorade they hand you to keep blood sugars stable.