TriAmsterdam 24
Welcome or Welcome Back to my adventures!
This time I will bring you in my details to face a Triathlon!
If you do not know me a little intro:
I’m Eleonora, born in 1995 in the beautiful city of Turin, Italy. With a background in molecular biotechnology and a master’s in oncology from Vrije University of Amsterdam, I’ve dedicated my life to understanding and improving human wellbeing. I work as a consultant engineer in Pharma Amsterdam and I channel my passion for sports as a Swim Director for the Amsterdam Triathlon and Cycling Club. Living with type 1 diabetes since 1999, when I was three, and you know what, I've embraced it as a unique strength that fuels my dedication to triathlons and my quest for optimal health! My journey has led me to become a certified nutritionist and life coach, always striving to inspire and support others in their diabetes management and overall health journey.
My Mission
Diabetes is a full-time challenge, but with the right mindset and lifestyle, it can be managed effectively. My mission is to provide genuine insights and practical guidance to those living with diabetes, enhancing understanding and promoting a healthy lifestyle. By sharing my personal experiences, strategies, and the tools I've developed, I aim to inspire others to take control of their health. Combining cognitive behavioral therapies with medical treatments, my goal is to shift the focus from just insulin and glucose levels to a comprehensive approach that includes nutrition, exercise, and mental wellbeing. Together, we can create a supportive community where everyone can thrive despite the challenges of diabetes.
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Hey reader, this is a difficult period for me emotionally and physically. My parents are getting divorced, my mum is suffering from some serious health issues that concerns me quite a lot. My stress levels are high and I am seeking for support, although in the meantime my glucose is suffering the consequences. The distance between me and my family, from Italy to Amsterdam, seems too big at the moment.
I push myself out of the house every day, battling some anxiety and depression, hoping that the cold lake water and the rain while running will bring some positive thoughts.
Training is hard and recently it is even harder because my body is totally drained.
Recently the General Practitioner directed me to a psychosomatic physiotherapy that manages to release body and mind tensions. I found some relief in combination with more Yin Yoga, which I practice twice a week in Amsterdam. Now back at the race!
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TriAmsterdam is a huge vibrant and fun event in the core of Amsterdam, usually held in June!
Two thousand people are gathering next to the Amstel river, swim in the Amsterdam canals, bike in the Dutch countryside an run in the beautiful park!💪
To be honest, I did not want to compete, I wanted to be in my comfort zone, at home chilling or doing something easy. At the end, I never like easy things, I knew that. Therefore I decided to wake up at 7 am and jump in the cold water. I was tense, the morning of an event is always tense, I pick up the bib number, check in the bike, prepare the transition station and I am allowed to the last glucose measurement.
For me this is one of the most critical moments, the time where I need to go towards the start of the swim leaving everything behind in the transition area. I just would like to be reassured one more time about my glucose. Usually 30 min before the start you leave the transition to reach the warm up area.
Gun shot and here I start!💨
The swimming part was good although the water was quite cold, around 16 degrees. Chilly for an Italian! I did not think for a moment not to wear a wetsuit for this event, very glad I did! I fly through the swim and I arrive at the transition area with the first bunch of people.
I started the swim with a glucose of 11 mmL/L to finish at 8 mmL/L, quite unusual as the swim was quite a short period of time! Moreover usually my glucose spikes up at the beginning of a triathlon.
This unusual event brought me to integrate with more food than planned before jumping on the bike!
I started with a gel and a banana, although as I noticed that the glucose was keeping going lowering I have integrated with another gel.
The bike ride: I was feeling good and enjoying the day out, the sun is shining. Despite I am totally socking wet from the swim, the cold Dutch air dries me up.💣
My heart was pumping and warming me up. I did the swim in threshold heart rate while the bike and the run in High zone 3 and threshold. I always experience higher heart rate in the competition, probably around 30-40 more beat per minute.
The run was wonderful, it was meaningful as I stopped to help two fellow runners that were struggling keeping the pace!
The best thing of all happened the next day, when the girl that I helped, found me on Instagram and she thanked me, saying I was the reason why she finished the triathlon!💝
Technical aspects👍
- No Basal Insulin Reduction
- No Carb load the day before (I never do)
- Nutrition Breakfast: 2 eggs
- Integration: Banana +2 Gluc Up gels
- Insulin at the start: No active insulin
- Insulin in the transition: 1 unit of Tresiba
My Carb to Insulin ration: 1u for 10g cho
What to prepare for a Triathlon
- Gluc Up gels in the bike (strapped on the bike frame)
- Gluc up gels in the Trisuit
- Glucagon spry always with you
Before the Race
- Measure the blood finger glucose before the swim
- Usually for adrenaline the glucose spikes up, do not correct and do not over eat before the start.
- Trust the strategy you have practiced
Post Race
- Measure the blood finger after the race
- The blood glucose could be high but be careful to not over correct
MUST DO
- Emergency contact always wrote down on your bib number
- Inform the organization about Diabetes
- Never attempt a distance you never practiced before
- Never eat for the first time protein bars and shake
All the graphs of my blood sugar and training is on the GlucoFit Instagram page in the stories :)
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To know more about my challenges and my day to day diabetes management on Instagram
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