Coping with Diabetes and the Pennine Run

7th November 2024 The Pennine Run and coping with Diabetes Dr Chris Cope

Chris explained that he had developed Type 1 diabetes at 14 years old, which gave him an interest in medicine and the rest is history as he is now a 42-year-old GP in East Bridgford. In his 30’s he developed an unhealthy interest in exercise, started on ‘Ironmans’!, A triathlon event with a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile cycle ride and a 26.2 mile run, which have to be completed in less than 17 hours, and he’s diabetic?!...and a Doctor! So, he decided to tackle the Montane Spine Race, the most brutal endurance race you could imagine: a 268-mile non-stop race along the iconic Pennine way, from Edale to the remote Scottish Borders village of Kirk Yetholm, climbing 10000m en route. Once entered he had to get to maximum fitness and he put together a suitable plan, culminating in running the London Marathon, where he did a PB. Finally, he completed a 100km night run he designed around Nottingham, taking 10 hours, with sleep deprivation but proving he was ready. You had to be ‘self-sufficient’ for this race, so a bag containing a head torch, spare clothes, goggles, waterproof 1^st Aid Kit, 3 litres of fluid and sustenance (energy bars and gels) Obviously his diabetes was of concern, but the modern digital equipment he can wear, monitoring his sugar levels and pumping insulin as required is invaluable, he could not have completed this event without them. So, on 16 June 150 started the race at Edale, all wearing a 2G tracker to monitor their every movement, including the 5 checkpoints. Hebden Bridge was the 1^st checkpoint where they are able to get hot food. He was really looking forward to seeing Malham Cove and High Cup Nick, but his luck was out arriving at both in darkness hours, but every picture he showed of himself he was always smiling. He did manage to see the Corpse Road and High Force, but traversing the Tan Hill Bog was quite a challenge, but forgotten once tucking in to the best lasagne he ever tasted (5 portions!) at Alston check point, where they were also afforded a shower.

Then Hadrian’s Wall, where his fatigue and massive sugar level variations started to kick in with large bags forming under his eyes, bearing in mind he had managed 1 hour 10 minute s sleep during this race. On to the Cheviots and with 8 miles to go when trying to thank someone for a cup of coffee, he finished with fly spray in his mouth and although he was anticipating hallucinations, it just made him feel nauseous. However, after 79 hours and 10 minutes he reached the finish, in 1^st place, with the second person arriving 21 hours later, so all that preparation had paid off! When you observed his physical state, it was not a pleasant experience, eyes, cracked lips, blistered and fissured feet (despite constant application of Sudocrem).  His father and Uncle were on the finish line to congratulate him and take him back to Newcastle (Uncles) to wash, feed him and start the ‘recovery’, sleeping 2 hours on the way and a further 16 hours on the couch with his poorly feet elevated. Considering this took place in June, it is only the last 4 weeks that he considers his body to be physically recovered. Apparently having entered a triathlon since, when his 15-year-old son beat him!

He raised £2400 for the Guide Dogs Charity and showed us the statistics associated, one questioned why on earth he paid £875 to enter, but he suggests ‘he likes a challenge’, I believe it was more of a medical exercise to find out more about the impact of exercise on people with diabetes and to prove to youngster suffering that it could be done. He’s already decided on his next challenge cycling around Majorca.

Following a number of questions Allen gave the vote of thanks, suggesting that the experience had been very impressive, although we wondered about his ‘state of mind’ to take on such a challenge.  268 miles for pleasure??, No hallucinations, but a completely knackered body (only temporarily) and smiling through it and what a smile! Perhaps he could give Rachel Reeves some lessons. The main message was exercise is good for you, but probably for this audience “Rest is Rust and SLOW motion is lotion’, asking the members to join him in a rousing round of applause.                                AR