Inducing voluntary Hypoglycaemia

What a cracker of day here in Sydney this morning. Second last day of my $2 a day living below the line challenge. Supreme sunshine glinting on the harbour and high of around 16c. Not too hot and not too cold – three bears weather really.

Today is the day that I push myself the hardest and try to induce hypoglycaemia (extreme lack of sugar in the blood). Right pull myself together and with no breakfast in me (this is part of the plan) I will now proceed to run to dropping point.

Out on the roads and it is a nice clear and cool day. Not planning to run more than about 25K by myself, I find that I fall into conversation with another runner who I know and the KMs just melt as our conversation progresses. He is running 55K on the day and knowing that is perhaps a little beyond me, I turn around and push for home at a slightly faster clip. 23K in the stomach is telling me that it would quite like something (flat Coke and donuts for some reason  ). I have to resist – surely this is as easy as telling the brain to take over and put the stomach in its place. Pressing on – no stopping and the only way home is on my own two feet.

Last 4K the head starts to get a little fuzzy and I am having trouble focusing on the watch time (yep the classic hypoglycaemic symptoms) – getting home for around 34K, I collapse on the grass and watch the world swim by. I make it into the flat and sprawl out on the lounge floor while swigging from the water bottle – was this wise to run on nothing? Probably not, but for the first time ever I felt effects of true hypoglycaemia and lived to tell the tale.

Bowl of porridge and three slices of toast with peanut butter later I am feeling vaguely normal – would kill for some sugar laced snack and a bacon and egg roll, but that is not in the diet and I must remain disciplined. Still a little tired as I write this, I may have a mid arvo nap so that I can do some mental work later on.

The difficulty concentrating and unable to do mental arithmetic in the head is exactly as Noakes describes this condition and one which he voluntarily brought on during Comrades to test the first FRN (Fordyce Rose Noakes) gels that he developed in the early 80s (bit of trivia as to the orgins of gels).

Lunch – who knows too tired to think of that.

Dinner – some of the leftover tuna and veggies should get me through this.

Water – lots of it today (craving some sugar with it, but will remain disciplined).

Meditation – big session last night and big one tonight to push through.

Vitals:

Weight – 68.7KG

Waking pulse – 43

Energy levels generally still tracking well although had a bit of a fall last night.

Sleep pattern normal (although I did have a weird dream of running away from an alien race that were all like 4m tall)

For those wanting more info about saving money and eating on $2 a day, go to http://www.2dollars.org/. It has a $2 meal plan on there. Good luck !!

Running together – while inducing voluntary hypoglycaemia – stride for stride on a life changing ride!