marathon if you have reactive hypoglycemia?

Ask your doctor. "Oya" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi all,

I have a reactive hypoglycemia (ie. I crash an hour and change after eating more than a certain
amounts of carbs. Sugar induces the worst crash). I love running, but never ran more than 7 miles
at a time... Now! Watching the NYC marathon makes me want to run a marathon at some point.

I just wanted to know if there's anyone else here with hypoglycemia, and what their strategies are
for dealing with longer runs. I can't load up on carbs the night before, because I would not wake
up the next day. I can't eat a big carb filled breakfast 2-4 hours before the run because I could
end up in the emergency room. Or just fast asleep. And I am not sure if those sugar filled power
gels would make me crash half way into the race.

Rrrrrgh! I hope there's a way to do it, and I won't just have to give up.

Thanks, Oya

Same. Ask your doctor.

"Oya" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi all,

I have a reactive hypoglycemia (ie. I crash an hour and change after eating more than a certain
amounts of carbs. Sugar induces the worst crash). I love running, but never ran more than 7 miles
at a time... Now! Watching the NYC marathon makes me want to run a marathon at some point.

I just wanted to know if there's anyone else here with hypoglycemia, and what their strategies are
for dealing with longer runs. I can't load up on carbs the night before, because I would not wake
up the next day. I can't eat a big carb filled breakfast 2-4 hours before the run because I could
end up in the emergency room. Or just fast asleep. And I am not sure if those sugar filled power
gels would make me crash half way into the race.

Rrrrrgh! I hope there's a way to do it, and I won't just have to give up.

Thanks, Oya

If you doctor permits. Then I'd recommend a one to two year year ramp up to marathon capacity so
your system can gradually adjust. The three month "quickie" programs probably would aggravate
your problems.

The only problem being, the couple of doctors I've seen so far had no clue. It's very hard to find
someone who can give any sort of solid advice about hypoglycemia, let alone anything as specific as
marathon training with hypoglycemia. I'm still looking for that elusive medical expert who would be
able to help me out. In the meanwhile, I wanted to shout out and see if there's anyone out there
with a similar issue.

[email hidden] (rick++) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

If you doctor permits. Then I'd recommend a one to two year year ramp up to marathon capacity so
your system can gradually adjust. The three month "quickie" programs probably would aggravate your
problems.

Oya said:

The only problem being, the couple of doctors I've seen so far had no clue. It's very hard to find
someone who can give any sort of solid advice about hypoglycemia, let alone anything as specific
as marathon training with hypoglycemia. I'm still looking for that elusive medical expert who
would be able to help me out. In the meanwhile, I wanted to shout out and see if there's anyone
out there with a similar issue.

Find a good nutritionist who works with athletes.
--------
Colleen

Your description of your problem doesn't sound that much different than that of a type 2 diabetic.
All the research I have found is for Type 1's.

The solution is to learn to manage your carbs along the way. I crashed in three straight marathons
until I figured out the problem, I was OD'ing on gels, couldn't believe that a runner could have a
sugar problem. Now I run strictly on ades and feel a whole lot better along the way. Also you don't
have to rely on sugar, it's just faster. A lower glycemic carb might be what you need - stay away
from anything that contains high fructose corn syrup. There was an interesting piece recently in
Running Research News about negative results of a big slug of sugar right before a workout, so your
concerns about a big breakfast are unfounded. Major nibbling the day before a marathon and a
Powerbar and a couple of cups of coffee are my pre-race protocol.

Lots of long runs, built up slowly over time, will condition your body to naturally carbo load, in a
safe way, so during the marathon all you really need to do is keep topping off the tank with a small
amount of carbs (ie ade drinks or carbs of choice) and you should have no problems. You may find
that the added miles in training actually improve your condition, that is make your body more able
to handle the "insult" of additional carbs.

A endocronlogist who is a runner might help, but you will probably be a case study of one.

HTH

Oya said:

Hi all,

I have a reactive hypoglycemia (ie. I crash an hour and change after eating more than a certain
amounts of carbs. Sugar induces the worst crash). I love running, but never ran more than 7 miles
at a time... Now! Watching the NYC marathon makes me want to run a marathon at some point.

I just wanted to know if there's anyone else here with hypoglycemia, and what their strategies are
for dealing with longer runs. I can't load up on carbs the night before, because I would not wake
up the next day. I can't eat a big carb filled breakfast 2-4 hours before the run because I could
end up in the emergency room. Or just fast asleep. And I am not sure if those sugar filled power
gels would make me crash half way into the race.

Rrrrrgh! I hope there's a way to do it, and I won't just have to give up.

Thanks, Oya