More than a week (I think maybe 9 days?).  I don’t have a good explanation for this but I’m on my 3rd (yep, 3rd) pump since my Burlington Ride. 3 pumps in 9 days).  Apparently the second pump had an error code which is a language/microprocessor failure.  I really don’t know/understand what that means. but I asked a TON of questions and made a lot of jokes about how my pump is probably mispronouncing my name now too.*

*Note: I have had a good track record with Animas pumps.  3rd time’s the charm right?

I recently saw a photo of a Dexcom site in the forearm and on the back next to the shoulder blade.  I don’t know that there’s enough of me for room on my forearm and I don’t think I could do that Dexcom back thing on my own (even if I were a contortionist) but I am intrigued.  I’ve had two thigh Dexcoms that have been problematic.  I’m sure it’s because I have thighs of steel.  I know, funny.

I took part in a JDRF/NYFAC ride.  20 mile loop called, The Loop.  I did this same ride last year on a rental bike after training on Citibikes (our NYC Bike share program… those bikes are heavy!) and what a difference a year makes!  I rode with a few of my fellow JDRF Riders from Manhattan out to Howard Beach.  Last year didn’t involve riding on the boardwalk.  Nice!  Door-to-door it was 50 miles and I rode well.  Cycling cobwebs dusted off!  90 degrees and it was wonderful.  Last year, 20 miles felt daunting.  This year it seemed easy.   As disappointed (I down play this… I am much, much more than disappointed) I still feel about my Burlington performance, I need to remember the progress I really have made.

Below, I’m the person front right.  I love this photo because of the shadow.  Yes I was taking photos….

OR doing monkey impressions (I’ve laughed multiple times at this one).  Who’s a Barrel of Monkeys?:

This week concluded with a Friday evening snap decision to ride.  As I passed by familiar haunts overflowing with Happy Hour revelry, it occurred to me that my idea of “Happy Hour” is a bit different these days.  Yes, this is a cool pic and it did take 3 tries as I rode along (no one was around me and I was on the bike path, not the road, all safe).  Freedom Tower!  Bedazzled helmet.

We have an event called “Summer Streets” that was started a few years ago.  The first 3 Saturdays in August, Park Avenue is closed to cars from 72nd street down to the Brooklyn Bridge from 7am to 1pm.  There are activities along the route too.  This was the first year for Piñata Bike so I got going this Saturday, bright and early.  I had to snack a bit at the beginning as I usually start a ride an hour after reducing my basal rate for an hour.  Shot Bloks (made by Cliff) have been incredibly helpful.

There was a Water Slide (strange but true) and a Zip Line.

I planned to ride further than I did.  The route got crowded and then it just got silly (by silly, I mean WAY too many people and little kids and parents not paying attention) to ride with speed BUT I made enough loops (23 miles) to checkout the scene and find some photo ops.

Wall at the Brooklyn Bridge

Hey Ladies!

I LOVE this.  Street Art and my bright bike.  A bunch of rainbow girls checking out Piñata!  Notice the graffiti above?  “Love is Baked Goods (and Gold Bond)”.  Ahhh NYC, you still  make me crooked smile. I put Piñata next to this Peace mural (note the Smurf) and started taking photos.  A bunch of people started taking photos too.  Silly.  An older lady started talking to me and I explained JDRF and the Ride program and how all the colored bracelets are the names of the donors from my ride.  She offered to take a photo for me so I could jump in.  I had low hopes as she didn’t seem like she knew what she was doing and never stopped talking.  Life lesson: Don’t judge.  She took this awesome photo.  Ab-So-Smurfly fantastic!   Summer Streets before the crowds:

I have ideas right now.  Just ideas.  The importance of advocacy.  Make.  Create.  Love.  Do

That voice in my head that says over and over “Do good, feel good” is still right there, but there is a whisper, a little devilish, smirking voice that says, “fighters, fight”.  Change is in the air.

Wine, all the batteries and fire? No thanks. (I know, that’s not what it means)

huh?

My bike is in Burlington.  More names to add when I get there.  Amazing.

Piñata.

Parade float.

Not aerodynamic.

Festive.

#100Miles

Bedtime.

xo

Love that song (totally a product of my generation and I remember watching that video in my best friend’s basement as she had cable (!!!) and we’d play Barbies as we watched MTV videos).  I’m behind on updating JDRF Ride training information.

Lots of training stories.  Funny spin class incidents (I was the only attendee at a spin class in Dallas and got there 15 minutes early to make sure I got a bike… 5:45AM.  Only one).  Crossing fears off my list… riding in the rain?  Done.  Riding alone in the rain?  Done.  Riding alone in the rain across the Manhattan Bridge twice?  Done.  Riding alone in the rain across a bridge and actually finding Prospect Park?  Yep, done.

There have been some down times.  Problems with dehydration, low bgs, running out of energy to the point that I was actually falling asleep.  Dry heaving through Harlem off the side of the bike.

I have met with a nutritionist which was/is helpful.  I eat so much more now and after being salt conscious for years and years, I need to maintain an increased salt intake when I’m riding for hours.  Crustables are my favorite food.  Seriously favorite.  PB&J that thaws on my back?  YES, YES, YES!  Things I figured out on my own.  Who knew I’d like bananas and peanut butter?  I have 2 water bottles on the bike.  One is 1/4 Gatorade to 3/4 water.  The other is 3/4 Gatorade to 1/4 water.  Did I mention I can eat 1/2 a Crustable as I am pedaling?  Only half though.

As part of the AP Trial I participated in months ago, I did an interview for a medical/health website.  I thought the interview and questions were interesting but nothing ever came out of it.  They contacted me 2 weeks ago to get some additional footage of me in my normal life (specifically walking my dog).  Somehow we got on the topic of my cycling “adventures” (let’s face it, it’s all I talk about anyway).  They decided to film me on my bike.  No biggie.  Oh I get to wear all this Spandex madness (don’t forget the padded crotch and tush) on a video?  Well I can cross that off the list of things I’ve never done.  Great.  Really, terrific.  Spandex.  Oh this never gets old.

The night of filming, was brief (well except riding to the video spot with all sorts of craziness through Tribeca at rush hour… that was kind of crazy and I kept having to look at directions).  It’s a long story and yes I did end-up explaining to a police officer about the Artificial Pancreas (talked his ear off) but I realized that all these things are opportunities.  Opportunities to share, connect, and advocate.  The fella who was in charge (videographer?) and shot the video, I’d met months ago and we’d bonded about diabetes and the AP Trial and what his father has dealt with also having diabetes.  There were 3 interns from the website  In the down time, I got a chance to talk to them about the Ride program and why I’m doing this (and sharing Manhattan cycling adventures).  They were great and asked questions.  I gave one of them my phone when I’d arrived and asked, if she had a chance, to take some photos (I wanted pics of the GoPro cameras.  I fly Virgin America a lot and I am ADDICTED to their GoPro channel.  ADDICTED.  I get off those flights and want to balance my suitcase on my head, hang from a helicopter and and then jump off with my suitcase and use it as a toboggan down a snowy mountain).

I have no idea how she made this video with my phone.  Fascinated:

Hopefully this link works: IMG_2410-2

Otherwise, here’s one of her pics:

And here’s another:

The night I filmed, was the day the whole Crossbit Twitter irresponsibility/sadness hit the fan.  It weighed heavy on my mind.  After the pics, I went for a ride.  From the west side of Manhattan through Battery Park (southern tip) and then I sprinted up the East Side.  And as I huffed and puffed and dodged obstacles, I thought about how angry I felt.  Many reasons to be angry and sad to see T1s and T2s dividing themselves.   So I kept riding.

Only 14 miles that night, but probably my best training ride so far.

A life well lived with drive and fight, to me, is the best revenge.

Drive currently = ride.

Training continues. I made a spin class for myself. Alone. Many stares. Many. I keep taking photos. Big day this Saturday. Big ride this Sunday.  I liked this quote today:

“It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.”

—Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519). Artist, Inventor, Scientist

So far this week: