Diabetes Can’t Stop Triathlete Annie Bacon

By HOWARD SENZELL

FOR THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Type 1 diabetes survivor Annie Bacon has to give herself nine shots each day and checks her blood sugar level nearly every hour she’s awake.

Think her illness defines her? Not a chance.

On May 7 the Santa Rosan completed a triathlon over a course that has been called the most-grueling in the world. She tackled the St. George (Utah) Ironman and was one of 1,283 athletes to finish.

Annie Bacon runs in Howarth Park on May 2, 2011. She is preparing for a triathlon in Utah even though she is a longtime diabetic. (Jeff Kan Lee / PD)

A triathlon pushes even the fittest athlete to the limit. It begins with a 2.4-mile swim, followed by an 112-mile bike ride and finally running a marathon (26.2 miles). What makes St. George such a test of mental and physical fitness is that the bike and running portions of the course go up numerous hills and the swimming is at Sand Hollow Reservoir where the water temperature fluctuated from hot to 56 degrees on May 7.

A total of 1,892 started the triathlon and 609 fell by the wayside at some point. For the record, the 34-year-old Bacon was finisher No. 1,083.

Despite being diagnosed with diabetes 22 years ago, Bacon’s motto in life is “push the limit.” However, that’s not what inspired her to train and complete the St. George event.

Her mission was to show other diabetics that with determination, they could accomplish goals they never thought possible. A year ago, she was connected with nine other type 1 diabetics in the United States that also wanted to spread the message and they joined a team called Triabetes.

Bacon, who grew up in the Anderson Valley hamlet of Philo, in a home with no electricity or hot water, is the executive director of Seeds of Learning. The Sonoma County-based non-profit  is dedicated to improving access to education in Latin America and promoting cross-cultural understanding.

After returning to Santa Rosa, she took time to talk about the triathlon, her early life and living with diabetes:

You completed the course in 15 1/2 hours, 15:31.14 to be exact. Were you happy with the time?

I felt I competed to my ability, although I think I came in a little slower than I had anticipated. I didn’t ever feel overly-fatigued, but definitely tired at the end. I came in first among the Triabetes and only four of the team finished.  I’d run in a few other triathlons, but St. George is as difficult as everyone says.

Did treating the diabetes during the race prove a problem?

When I was transitioning from swimming to my bike, I realized I didn’t have my long-acting insulin with me and I’d also forgotten my salt tablets.

What did you do?

With no long-acting insulin in my system, I knew I’d have to continually take short-acting insulin shots. Biking, my blood sugar was really high and rising. I don’t like riding with no hands in the wind, so I popped the bottle of insulin into my mouth, pulled the cap off the syringe with my teeth, stuck the needle into the rubber part of the bottle in my mouth and drew out three units.

What next?

Then, I stuck the needle in my left thigh as I continued my cadence. It was a little dangerous, but I pulled it off. It was kind of a fun extra challenge. I laughed at myself and someone who whizzed by me, saw my Triabetes jersey and yelled ”Your ‘re my hero.” I managed to do the same routine twice more during the bike portion, which was definitely the hardest part of the race.

Your were on the course 15 1/2 hours, what did you think about?

I talked to myself a lot. I tried to stay calm as I headed down some pretty steep hills, gripping my handlebars with a death grip and trying to convince myself I weighed enough to keep the 40 mile-per-hour winds from toppling my bike over. During the run, I felt solid at times and other times doubted whether I’d make it.

I tried to stay mentally strong as I’ve heard that about 80 per cent of a triathlon is mental. I also thought of everyone who said they’d be thinking of me, as well as my friends and family at the Triabetes aid station.

You grew up in the wilderness with no electricity or hot water. Was that the way your parents chose to live?

My parents wanted to live in harmony with nature rather than trying to concur it. They chose to live simply, close to the land. Both were influenced by the social justice movement of the ’60s. My mom is an artist and documentary film maker and my dad is a green builder.

Did your parents buy food from groceries?

Not very much and at times I longed for Wonder Bread, Capri Suns and Twinkies in my lunch. However, I was content and saw the value in helping my dad dry the seaweed he collected from Navarro Beach, eating kale, strawberries, lettuce from the garden, pressing apples in the fall and making candles.

How did growing up in that environment influence you as an adult?

Living simply taught me how little we really need to live and also inspired me to work for social justice in the world. It’s the same with my two brothers, one teaches environmental studies at Santa Clara University and the other builds energy efficient green homes in Seattle.

You were 12 when you were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, which is much less widespread than type 2.  What were your symptoms?

I lost 27 pounds, was urinating frequently and was always very tired. Classic symptoms.

You were a three-sport athlete in middle school and at Mendocino High. What do doctors say about exercise and diabetes?

They are incredibly supportive of high-level training. I have a great team of doctors and nurses I work with at Kaiser Permanente. Dr. Jerome Minkoff and diabetes educator Phyllis Biederman have analyzed the trends and changes exercise causes in my blood sugars and have adjusted my insulin intake so I can work out like I do.

How important is exercise to diabetes management?

It’s essential. It’s a huge part of successfully managing diabetes. Whether you walk 15 minutes a day or do an Ironman, it all contributes to increased insulin sensitivity. You increase your capacity to use the insulin you have in you more efficiently.

What was your training regimen leading up to the triathlon?

I began a year ago. Mondays-swim up to 5,000 yards; Tuesdays-yoga, run sprint intervals and cycle sprint intervals; Wednesdays-swim around 4,000 yards and run up to eight miles; Thursdays-yoga, interval sprints and slow, long runs; Fridays-swim up to 6,000 yards and cycle three hours; Saturdays-cycle seven hours and Sundays-run up to 20 miles.

What sport are you focusing on now?

I recently joined a local bike team, the Early Bird Women’s Developmental Team, and I love it.

Where is your favorite spot in Sonoma County?

Annadel Park in the early morning, past Lake Illsanjo, when the mist hangs over Santa Rosa. The view is amazing. I also love to ride my bike on West County roads from Chalk Hill to Bloomfield Road.

For a video of Annie Bacon see below.