Diabetes epidemic growing

CDC: Diabetes epidemic growing at an alarming rate.

This was the headline a few years ago. Has it changed? No, we haven't gotten any better. We rarely do until we decide as a whole to embrace change. Change isn't easy but necessary. Necessary if you want to make REAL PROGRESS in your life.

Yesterday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released its 2014 National Diabetes Statistics Report indicating growth in the rate of Americans with diabetes and prediabetes. The report garnered over two minutes of coverage on one major network news program as well as coverage by major wire sources, newspapers, and consumer medical websites. 

In a segment on NBC Nightly News (Williams), NBC News correspondent Tom Costello reported that the diabetes “epidemic continues to grow at an alarming rate.” Currently, some “29 million people in the US have diabetes...yet a quarter of those people don’t know they’re diabetic.” 
The AP (Stobbe) reports that CDC “scientists calculated that more than nine percent of Americans have diabetes — or one in 11 people.” 

The Los Angeles Times (Healy) reports that the CDC “said an additional 86 million American adults – nearly one in three – has prediabetes.” Approximately 15 percent to 30 percent of people “with prediabetes will go on to develop the full-fledged metabolic disorder within five years, a transition that can sometimes be averted with substantial weight loss and increased physical activity.” The CDC’s latest “statistics are based on national health data gathered in 2012 and represent a nearly 12% increase in the number of those with diabetes since the last statistical report was issued in 2010.” 
TIME (Goldberg) reports that according to CDC estimates, “the direct and indirect costs of the disease have reached $245 billion, with direct medical costs making up 72% of that amount.” Patients with “type 2 diabetes incur medical costs on average 2.3 times higher than people without the disease, the CDC found.” 

The CNN (Kaur) “The Chart” blog quotes Ann Albright, PhD, RD, the CDC’s director of the division of diabetes translation, who stated in a press release: “These new numbers are alarming and underscore the need for an increased focus on reducing the burden of diabetes in our country.”

How far will we allow ourselves to fall prey to this disease? When will we realize that by just taking a pill will cure, heal, fix, stop or solve our issues with diabetes. We need to take it serious and take our lives serious if we want to get better. It takes work. It takes lots of work. Really lots of work! Run Eugene Run and our volunteers care about you and want to help in any way we can.

Do you need diet plans? Do you need exercise plans? Do you need an encouraging word everyday? We are here to help find answers for you. We are here for you.

RunEugeneRun.com

Running for diabetes awareness

293 Indepedence Blvd, Suite 310

Virginia Beach, VA 23462

757.716.4501

Eugene Thompson

What I've Learned

The pros and cons of having the use of only one leg (or foot):

- saved laundry by reducing socks by 50%

- increased skills of balancing on one leg

- learned how to go to the bathroom on one leg.....use your imagination

- opening door with automatic closer while on crutches

- building strength in my left leg

- a very tired left leg

- inability to drive a car

- ability to creatively enter a car

- learning how to carry everything in a back pack while on crutches

- losing weight.....too much work to get to the kitchen

- finding out I only have two pairs of pants that fit over my foot 

- get to wear shorts to work

- building strength in my arms using crutches

- having sore armpits using crutches 

- bathing is a chore

- having very tan toes......or is that dirt?

Yep....it's all in how you look at it.

KEEP GOING!

RUN EUGENE RUN

Eugene Thompson

Runner + Founder

Poor Timing

Poor timing. Isn't is always that way? The absolute worst timing ever for tragedy to strike. It would be a tragedy if it came at a time when we were better prepared or at a better time for us. Unfortunately it doesn't ever really work that way.

Many of you know that I was 50 days away from running my 50 mile challenge for RUN EUGENE RUN to raise awareness for diabetes. You have heard my story of my own battle with diabetes and the struggles I still face regularly. I had set up the charity as a non-profit and was working towards launching it all with the big debut of me running 50 miles in one day......and then it happened.

My car had slipped out of gear in the middle of an intersection. Something happened with the clutch and it wouldn't engage. No worries, it's a small sports car.....I just push it out of the middle and off to one side. While doing that I heard a pop in my right ankle. I knew immediately the feeling of a broken rubberband springing free was my Achilles. There was no doubt. I also knew within minutes what it meant for my running.....and for the 50 mile challenge.

Yes my leg hurt but I hurt deep down inside far more. I was in tears feeling I had ended something before I could even get started. What good is a RUN EUGENE RUN movement if Eugene cannot RUN? We headed straight to the hospital Emergency Room to find out what I already knew. The entire time I was praying for a miracle and someone would tell me differently. I knew better.

Ok.....now what? It's 6:30 PM call the doctor.....let's do surgery tonight! Right! Like that's going to happen. It's not like I'm Kobe Bryant or something......I'm just a guy with a cause. They sent me home that evening with a BOOT and CRUTCHES. I stick my foot in a Home Depot bucket with ice as soon as I get home. It reminded me of high school days when I cracked my foot and the trainer had a "horse boot" that they used on my recovery. Yes, you read correctly. I did grow up in Oklahoma. Big tall boot made for horses, you put ice and water in it and there is an air hose at the bottom. Within seconds it is freezing cold and your foot goes numb in five minutes. It's those first five minutes of pure torture that I remember.........I wanted that boot that first evening......still praying for something miraculous.

Amazingly I got an appointment with the Opthopedic Surgeon the very next morning. And yes....I told everyone the real importance of my concern...... I HAVE TO GET BACK TO RUNNING! I'm not sure everyone is as concerned as myself. Dr. Blake Moore gave me the news. It took him less than 5 seconds to see without doubt that I had ruptured my Achilles. I figured. The options were presented and surgery was recommended, especially knowing what I still wanted to accomplish. Without any doubt.....ok.....I am scared.......but I said, "LET'S DO IT!"

With that said I'll be having surgery this coming Thursday. The quicker the surgery date the quicker I can get back to it. He said I'd be running again in 3 months! Really!? So I'm thinking I can still run marathons in December! Ok.......probably not......a little too optimistic. I haven't got the exact details of my recovery schedule......so I look it up on the Internet.......DONT EVER DO THIS!

When I Google Achilles surgery I find pictures.....Ahhhhh! They looked like something from a Dr. Frankenstein's experiment. Everything opened up. Some showing stitches all the way up the back of the ankle and into the calf. I WILL LOOK LIKE FRANKENSTEIN'S MONSTER! Realistically it will take me 6 months for full recovery. And then whatever it'll take to train for a marathon again.

I hope to share more when I know. We are working on how we can still launch everything with RUN EUGENE RUN as well. After all, this wasn't ever about me. It was about all the others I'm hoping to help. I am just the figurehead. I'll know more once I meet with my wonderful team. They have been so supportive. I'll need more help than ever.

Please take a look at contributing to the cause. We are making adjustments to our website launch.....obviously things change in life......quickly......and at the worst of times.

Keep going to this link until we revise. www.GoFundMe.com/idg4vk

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. You do not know how encouraging it is to me.

Please go run for me......and when you do.....HAVE A FUN RUN!

Eugene Thompson

RUN EUGENE RUN

marathon runner.......again soon!

Doctor Says Neuropathy

Well, I pretty much had a good idea of how my A-1 C was going to turn out today. Just as I expected it it jumped up. I believe it was primarily due to the poor eating that I have been doing over the last six months while running marathons. Marathon food isn't necessarily conducive to diabetics. So I need to get that straight and get it adjusted so I can bring it back down. I was at 7.8 which was significantly higher than the 7.16 months ago.

I started off appointment on a really good note, I gave my doctor a photograph of all of my 2015 models with run Eugene run over the top of it. Also saying diabetes isn't going to stop me. She thought it was really great. I probably wouldn't of been here if she hasn't been able to motivate me and keep me challenged.

So on one good note of my visit my HDL number was extremely high…… That's a good thing. Should mention that man at my age have a difficult time getting the number any higher than 40. Mine was 71 nearly double what most can accomplish. Should mention that that's going to help me a lot in my heart keeping a strong and healthy most likely due to all the running.

The bad part of the visit was my worry about my foot. I have had a funny feeling over the last year under my toes. It feels like my socks are wodded up and not straight. Good never hurt it just bothered me. It didn't affect my running at all. I'm in about two months ago it started tingling a little bit and I did notice a little bit of numbness in my big toe so that meant it must be spreading. I mentioned it to my chiropractor who is a big factor in helping me keep my body together with all these marathons, and she said it sounded like a neuroma. I had to Google what neuroma minute and basically it is dullness on the nerve endings.

The doctor phrased it as neuropathy which is nearly the same thing. However specifically two diabetes. What she indicated is that the tingling could become painful and medicine could be provided at that time to relieve the pain however the numbness is something that I would just have to live with the resent any medicine to overcome that. One good part is that the circulation in my feet is very very good and that is important so that I can keep my toes! She didn't think it was funny whenever I said that even if I lost my toes I was still gonna keep on running.

So that's my doctors report for this quarter. I have another doctor for my general practitioner coming up in a few weeks for the rest of my blood test. I don't expected to be any different. I did hit the running strong again after my break from the dopey marathon in Disney and felt much better this weekend. 6 1/2 miles on Saturday morning in another six and half miles on Sunday. After which my wait was back down from 204 pounds to 196.7.

And before I posted this it's back up again.....consistency is the key!

Fight the fight my friends. Hang in there and don't get discouraged.

Persistence will be rewarded.

Have a FUN RUN.

RUN EUGENE RUN

Eugene Thompson

A Dopey Start to 2016

So it has been a long time coming.....the running of the Dopey. Yet another bucket list item. I put the Dopey Challenge on my list only after I had already finished the Goofy Challenge last year. You actually get the Goofy medal when you run the Dopey.....I didn't realize that! So for some of you that are unaware of what the heck I'm talking about, here is the explanation. Disney has a marathon challenge every year in January in Orlando. I first ran the half in 2008 and then didn't run a lick for nearly five years after. Each race is a character......of course....you would expect anything less from Disney!

5k (3.1 miles) - Thursday - Pluto

10k (6.2 miles) - Friday - Minni Mouse

Half Marathon (13.1 miles) - Saturday - Donald Duck

Full Marathon (26.2 miles) - Sunday - Mickey Mouse

Now if you are crazy enough you can double up on these races and do the half and the full back to back. That challenge has a name: The Goofy Challenge and you get three medals. One for the half, one for the full and an extra for the goofy inside of you. I did this in 2015.....a bucket list goal.

Now if you are really really crazy you can run all four and then you will have entered the Dopey Challenge. Yes, all the races....waking up at 3:30AM for four mornings in a row (5 if you are flying back the following morning) may be biggest challenge. So yes, you guessed it, a medal for each of the four races plus the Goofy medal for doing the half and full and of course the Dopey medal for doing all four. Needless to say there are challenges far more than the running to overcome as well.

The cost of the races, the flight there, the stay there, the waking up each day really really early, the crowds and the time off to do such a ridiculous task. But it's fun.

So let me first say that my wife and I had a blast. It's always fun. Running together in our INCREDIBLES outfits was hilarious. Lots of fun comments from people. And of course we made it on the RunDisney post video. That's right.....because we're goofy......er Dopey. It was a nice surprise and a bonus to continue marketing Run Eugene Run.

We ran our own 10k races in the rain. I was soaked. It wasn't that bad though.

Together we did the 13.1 taking the opportunity to create a plethora of "selfies" along the race. I never stop for pictures but this was all about having fun......besides.....at mile .75 (yes you read correctly) I had to pee. We were pretty much in the back of the race. The last 50 or so runners......lol there's an experience.

Regardless of how we finished in the race, we finished together. It was a fun run to encourage each other and share in the adventure. We reminded ourselves that this half marathon was just a warm up for the full marathon the next day. My wife took an ice bath to ......errr....celebrate!

The next day was déjà vu all over again. Early morning again but great weather was expected. Super crowded with an expected 26,000 runners. As always I get to share my story while sitting in the corrals in the morning waiting. Met several people and chatted about why we were there and what we intended to accomplish. Some I would never see again after the race starts but others have become my Facebook friends. FLASHFORWARD:   I passed one guy  (forgot this name....I hate that) back and forth during the course of the 26.2 miles.

I actually had my best marathon ever. Not my best time.....second best....but my strongest finish. I kept really close to the pace I wanted to maintain throughout the entire race. During the course I knew I had to figure out how to refuel.....I haven't been good at that. This time I was able to rehydrate easily and eat two  bananas without getting sick. I think that was an accomplishment in itself.

The race is very crowded, almost entirely, except when we were on the highway portions. Other times we are squeezed into small paths or walkways. Often I found myself behind slower runners and could not pass them. I'm sure that hurt my time. At the half way point I was only 3 minutes off of my overall time. I didn't think that was too bad. I knew I still needed to conserve energy at this point in the race to push past my wall. It was beginning to get really warm out there too. When was that dreaded wall going to show up?

Mile 20 came and is always right near the Wide World of Sports. Yes I ran around the ball field and at the right field wall I once again pretended to jump up and catch a fly ball from going over the fence saving a home run and in effect winning the World Series......everyone always looks at me strangely! Well I felt great at that point.....everyone around me looked dogged. However my time has now slipped to 6 minutes off of my desired time......so I kicked it in gear!

That never has been an option for me at this point in a marathon. I've been way too tired. I'm just trying to maintain a pace to finish. This last six miles is also the most crowded due to the tight sections  while we are running through the parks or resorts. I am often able  to push a 8 min/mile pace until having to slow down until I can get around the crowds. I have to pass in the grass, on the median wherever and however to keep pushing. I have my eyes set on a goal. Despite my efforts I can't really gain enough time. It's a great effort if I say so myself. I finished in 5:20:15 which is about 11 minutes slower than my best time which was here in Virginia Beach during the Shamrock.

Now that I'm done, I collect my medals and get my photograph taken and head to pick up my gear bag. I knew my wife would be a while and I needed to get out of this nasty sticky wet clothes. I sit and wait and chat with a few people. Congratulating them on their completion. That is always so awesome to see others finish and happy of meeting their goals. Especially the first timers.

Finally my wife came through.....she was exhausted but SHE DID IT! Grandma ran the Dopey! She said she struggled with keeping the pace up ahead of who she called "The Balloon Ladies". They were the pacers at th end of the pack. If you fell behind them at any point you were picked up and escorted off the course. She said they were right over her shoulder at one point. She has a great story as well. I'll let her tell it. I'm so proud of her.......she said she has now officially retired from marathons!

Don't care where you finish in a race.....just finish. That is the reward. As competitive as I am I know I am not an elite runner. I will never finish in first place.....not even in my age group. Just a fact. But I can run against myself and push myself to be better than I was before. Running a marathon allows you to find yourself. Find something down deep where you can draw amazing energy from. It's real....and its powerful!

Until next time my friends.....see you out on the course.....and remember.....HAVE A FUN RUN!

Eugene Thompson

RUN EUGENE RUN

2015 Race Status Update

Here is an update of all the races for 2015. I'm still trying to find and fit one more marathon in. If anyone has any ideas, please please let me know.....Thanks and if you can please follow my blog. I am really hoping we can get this to explode and I can get more followers and wouldn't it be great if I had Sponsors!!!!!












Race updates that I finished.
DISNEY 1/2 MARATHON 2:47 read the story....1/2 MARATHON
DISNEY FULL MARATHON 5:33:50 PR read the story....FULL MARATHON
ROCK N ROLL NEW ORLEANS 5:42

NEWPORT NEWS ONE MARATHON 5:32:42 PR read the story....FULL MARATHON
SHAMROCK MARATHON 5:09:47 PR read the story....FULL MARATHON
ROCK N ROLL MARATHON RALEIGH 5:35:45 read the story....FULL MARATHON
FLYING PIRATE 1/2 MARATHON 3:12:57 read the story....1/2 MARATHON
ROCK N ROLL MARATHON NASHVILLE 5:57:46 read the story....FULL MARATHON
KALAMAZOO MARATHON 6:01:55 haven't wrote this one yet
 

2015 RACE SCHEDULE UPDATED again as of 6/29/2015

10 January   Disney 1/2 Marathon - Orlando Florida SIGNED UP

11 January   Disney Marathon - Orlando Florida SIGNED UP

25 January   Rock n Roll Marathon - New Orleans LA SIGNED UP

15 March     Newport News One Marathon - Newport News VA SIGNED UP

21 March     Shamrock 8K - VA Beach VA SIGNED UP

22 March     Shamrock Marathon - VA Beach VA SIGNED UP

11 April        Swamp Stomp 1/2 Marathon - Chesapeake VA

12 April        Rock n Roll Marathon - Raleigh NC SIGNED UP

18 April        Flying Pirate 5K - OBX NC SIGNED UP

19 April        Flying Pirate 1/2 Marathon - OBX NC SIGNED UP

25 April        Rock n Roll Marathon - Nashville TN SIGNED UP

3 May           Kalamazoo Marathon - Kalamazoo MI SIGNED UP

31 May         Rock n Roll Marathon - San Diego CA (under consideration)

6 Sept           Rock n Roll 1/2 Marathon - VA Beach VA SIGNED UP

3 Oct            Wineglass 5K - Corning NY SIGNED UP

4 Oct            Wineglass Marathon - Corning NY SIGNED UP

18 Oct          Rock n Roll Marathon - Denver CO SIGNED UP

31 Oct          Wicked 10K - VA Beach VA
1 Nov           NYC Marathon - (entered the lottery but didn't make it)

7 Nov           Rock n Roll Marathon - Savannah GA SIGNED UP
22 Nov         Philadelphia Marathon - Philly PA SIGNED UP

14 Nov         Anthem Marathon - Richmond VA SIGNED UP

6 Dec           Rock n Roll Maration - San Antonio TX SIGNED UP

If anyone knows any races that I should consider please send the information and link to me. Thanks again for all the encouragement! I'm two short from completing 14 total

Eugene Thompson

RUN EUGENE RUN gofund.me/idg4vk

ET This I Believe

RUN EUGENE RUN Update

Just a quick update on all the things involving my own personal fight with diabetes. As most all of you are aware, I have finished up six marathons this year's plus a slew of other races all adding up to 600 miles in 2014. All of this in hopes of helping control my blood sugars just a little better.

So the last time I went in to my endocrinologist in August I was dissappointed with my A1C results of 8.2 because I thought I had really been doing good with my exercise and watching what I ate. Mind you I often cheated but only moderately. I didn't think would hurt too much. But it was preventing me from loosing more weight. I was consistently weighing in around 212.

So this visit I had hoped for better results. My blood sugars had been pretty good and I was now down to around 208......and I had done so much more running!

Disappointment again. A1C was still at 8.2 but everything else was excellent. The doctor didn't see how the numbers related to because it was all looking good. Another medicine added that would use my insulin more effectively was the determination. I was giving several samples to try out along with instructions to reduce my dosage of insulin since the new medicine would work better.

The results after only a few days: My blood sugar in the morning have been really really great. Typically I'm high but over the last few days I have been in the 90s and yesterday after my run I was only 80....that rarely ever happens.......like once every two years sort of thing. So I think I might be on the right track and obviously this proves that I cannot just run and expect the blood sugar to be better. I need to truly watch my weight which means STOP CHEATING ON SNACKS!

On the running front yesterday I went for a ten mile run and ended up hitting a full 13. A great run before work. It was my fastest 13 mile pace all year with the exception of the race I ran down in the OBX in May. Not bad for a work out! The accomplishment makes you feel amazing in the morning.

Keep at it my friends. If you have any questions about your own battles with diabetes or just want to chat, feel free to write me. I'm no doctor, just a regular guy trying to figure a way to overcome all of this myself. Be sure to check with your doctor before starting up an exercise routine or changing anything. BTW, I told my doctor I was planning on running 14 marathons this year and although she though she thinks I'm crazy, she is encouraging me!

Happy holidays my friends......Who's planning on a run on Christmas morning before presents?

ET's This I Believe

Eugene Thompson
http://www.gofundme.com/idg4vk

2015 Race Schedule

Here is what I have planned for 2015. It begins quickly in Orlando with a big one. These are my goals but the schedule may change (adding or altering) due to travel/work and my health. I haven't added in some of the various shorter races that I always enjoy running and supporting. Once I know those dates I will update my schedule.

I appreciate everyone's support of RUN EUGENE RUN. Please share my link with others and always look back here for updates and news regarding my success. Always success......never failures.

2015 RACE SCHEDULE

10 January   Disney 1/2 Marathon - Orlando Florida SIGNED UP

11 January   Disney Marathon - Orlando Florida SIGNED UP

25 January   Rock n Roll Marathon - New Orleans LA SIGNED UP

15 March     Newport News One Marathon - Newport News VA

21 March     Shamrock 8K - VA Beach VA SIGNED UP

22 March     Shamrock Marathon - VA Beach VA SIGNED UP

11 April        Swamp Stomp 1/2 Marathon - Chesapeake VA

12 April        Rock n Roll Marathon - Raleigh NC

18 April        Flying Pirate 5K - OBX NC SIGNED UP

19 April        Flying Pirate 1/2 Marathon - OBX NC SIGNED UP

25 April        Rock n Roll Marathon - Nashville TN

3 May           Kalamazoo Marathon - Kalamazoo MI

31 May         Rock n Roll Marathon - San Diego CA

6 Sept           Rock n Roll 1/2 Marathon - VA Beach VA

3 Oct            Wineglass 5K - Corning NY

4 Oct            Wineglass Marathon - Corning NY

18 Oct          Rock n Roll Marathon - Denver CO

31 Oct          Wicked 10K - VA Beach VA

7 Nov           Rock n Roll Marathon - Savannah GA

14 Nov         Anthem Marathon - Richmond VA

6 Dec           Rock n Roll Maration - San Antonio TX

If anyone knows any races that I should consider please send the information and link to me. Thanks again for all the encouragement!

Eugene Thompson

RUN EUGENE RUN

ET This I Believe