Ellen
01-13-2006, 05:29 AM
Greg Vinson takes a break from training to test his blood sugar. Vinson, who has diabetes, hypothyroidism, hypertension, osteoporosis and Addison's disease, will run Sunday's marathon.
STEVE CAMPBELL: CHRONICLE
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Jan. 13, 2006, 12:47AM
HOUSTON MARATHON
Diabetic from infancy, an area teacher runs marathons to inspire students and himself
Driven by obstacles
By JENNIFER RADCLIFFE
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle
TRINITY - Greg "Toast" Vinson's tennis shoes pound against the narrow road bordering Lake Livingston — the only sound to interrupt the brisk, winter morning in the small community 80 miles north of Houston.
A diabetic since he was 10 months old, Vinson doesn't have much of a chance to enjoy the countryside's peace and quiet. With Sunday's Chevron Houston Marathon quickly approaching, the 33-year-old science teacher has thoughts about blood sugar and prednisone levels swirling in his head.
Now saddled with a laundry list of medical conditions that includes hypothyroidism, hypertension, osteoporosis and Addison's disease, Vinson must constantly calculate how his speed, meals and medicines might affect his performance during the next mile.
He must slow his stride to a walk every 10 minutes so he can measure how many milligrams of glucose are in his blood. Pricking a finger on the run is too difficult.
"Not many people know that those are the thoughts that go through my head," he said. "I'm ready to not have diabetes anymore. I can't tell you how free my mind would be. I don't know what I would think about."
Vinson is one of 7,000 runners who will attempt the full 26.2-mile marathon Sunday. Many of the participants are running to show they've overcome personal obstacles, whether they be physical or emotional, said Steven Karpas, managing director of the Chevron Houston Marathon, which will have 22,000 runners on its four different courses this weekend.
"That's, I think, part of the whole marathon aura," he said. "It's sort of a vindication that their particular challenge didn't beat them."
To maintain his health and active lifestyle, Vinson wears an insulin pump, swallows 16 pills a day, pricks his finger to test his blood 10 times a day and makes regular treks to a slew of doctors.
"I feel like a pharmacological experiment," said Vinson, who also plays the drums and has a burgeoning interest in nature photography. "I have a little more to do to manage my body."
Though he appears the picture of fitness, the diabetes and high blood pressure could lead to more health complications for Vinson down the road. He's toying with the idea of someday having a pancreatic transplant to help ease his diabetes.
He's confident he'll be able to overcome the challenges.
"I believe God gives you things you can handle," he said. "I believe I should be a servant of God. I ought to make the world a better place."
To that end, Vinson keeps running.
He does it to stay in shape, to learn about himself and to prove that he can. Vinson also wants to set a good example for the thousands of Houston Independent School District fifth-graders who visit Camp Olympia each year, where he's stationed as a full-time teacher under the district's outdoor education program.
He hopes to teach the children that health is a critical component of their lives and that exercise is a good use of their leisure time.
Vinson also uses each marathon as a chance to raise money for the Texas Lions Camp, a Kerrville program that he attended as both a camper and a counselor.
Past marathon pledges were used to buy digital cameras and wheelchairs for the children with disabilities who attend the camp. This year, he plans to use the money to lease computers for the summer so that counselors have Internet access.
Stephen Mabry, executive director of the Texas Lions Camp, said he's thrilled that Vinson has taken to heart the "can-do" attitude the camp tries to instill.
"He could feel sorry for himself if he wanted to, but he doesn't focus on the obstacles," Mabry said. "He almost feels blessed by his diabetes."
Austin resident Lori Davis, 30, who met Vinson as a Lion's Camp counselor 10 years ago, said she's amazed by her friend's energy.
"He's the most genuine, unique person you'll ever meet. He's an awesome role model for these kids. He gets down to their level," said Davis, a teacher who also has diabetes.
In 2001, Vinson was the last official finisher of Houston's marathon, clocking in at 5 hours, 31 minutes and 55 seconds. Vinson said that since then, he's got a better handle on the hydration issues that caused serious cramps and almost forced him out of running.
This year he's hoping to finish in roughly 4 hours, 20 minutes — about twice the time it will probably take the marathon's winner.
"Those dudes are a different species of animal ... I think it's a true act of courage to make it to the starting line," Vinson said. "It's kind of a journey. We're trying to find out what's inside of us."
As part of this season's training, Vinson spent the summer biking 400 miles from Virginia to Oregon, leaving an unread copy of War and Peace to collect dust on an end table in his house.
Unlike the book, Vinson said he expects to complete Sunday's course.
"Not finishing is always an option, but it's not one I feel like I need to carry out," he said.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/3584370.html
STEVE CAMPBELL: CHRONICLE
http://images.chron.com/photos/2005/12/29/867879/311xInlineGallery.jpg
everytemplate(); if (document.getElementById("titletemplate")) { document.getElementById("titletemplate").innerHTML=titletemplate.toUpperCase(); **
Jan. 13, 2006, 12:47AM
HOUSTON MARATHON
Diabetic from infancy, an area teacher runs marathons to inspire students and himself
Driven by obstacles
By JENNIFER RADCLIFFE
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle
TRINITY - Greg "Toast" Vinson's tennis shoes pound against the narrow road bordering Lake Livingston — the only sound to interrupt the brisk, winter morning in the small community 80 miles north of Houston.
A diabetic since he was 10 months old, Vinson doesn't have much of a chance to enjoy the countryside's peace and quiet. With Sunday's Chevron Houston Marathon quickly approaching, the 33-year-old science teacher has thoughts about blood sugar and prednisone levels swirling in his head.
Now saddled with a laundry list of medical conditions that includes hypothyroidism, hypertension, osteoporosis and Addison's disease, Vinson must constantly calculate how his speed, meals and medicines might affect his performance during the next mile.
He must slow his stride to a walk every 10 minutes so he can measure how many milligrams of glucose are in his blood. Pricking a finger on the run is too difficult.
"Not many people know that those are the thoughts that go through my head," he said. "I'm ready to not have diabetes anymore. I can't tell you how free my mind would be. I don't know what I would think about."
Vinson is one of 7,000 runners who will attempt the full 26.2-mile marathon Sunday. Many of the participants are running to show they've overcome personal obstacles, whether they be physical or emotional, said Steven Karpas, managing director of the Chevron Houston Marathon, which will have 22,000 runners on its four different courses this weekend.
"That's, I think, part of the whole marathon aura," he said. "It's sort of a vindication that their particular challenge didn't beat them."
To maintain his health and active lifestyle, Vinson wears an insulin pump, swallows 16 pills a day, pricks his finger to test his blood 10 times a day and makes regular treks to a slew of doctors.
"I feel like a pharmacological experiment," said Vinson, who also plays the drums and has a burgeoning interest in nature photography. "I have a little more to do to manage my body."
Though he appears the picture of fitness, the diabetes and high blood pressure could lead to more health complications for Vinson down the road. He's toying with the idea of someday having a pancreatic transplant to help ease his diabetes.
He's confident he'll be able to overcome the challenges.
"I believe God gives you things you can handle," he said. "I believe I should be a servant of God. I ought to make the world a better place."
To that end, Vinson keeps running.
He does it to stay in shape, to learn about himself and to prove that he can. Vinson also wants to set a good example for the thousands of Houston Independent School District fifth-graders who visit Camp Olympia each year, where he's stationed as a full-time teacher under the district's outdoor education program.
He hopes to teach the children that health is a critical component of their lives and that exercise is a good use of their leisure time.
Vinson also uses each marathon as a chance to raise money for the Texas Lions Camp, a Kerrville program that he attended as both a camper and a counselor.
Past marathon pledges were used to buy digital cameras and wheelchairs for the children with disabilities who attend the camp. This year, he plans to use the money to lease computers for the summer so that counselors have Internet access.
Stephen Mabry, executive director of the Texas Lions Camp, said he's thrilled that Vinson has taken to heart the "can-do" attitude the camp tries to instill.
"He could feel sorry for himself if he wanted to, but he doesn't focus on the obstacles," Mabry said. "He almost feels blessed by his diabetes."
Austin resident Lori Davis, 30, who met Vinson as a Lion's Camp counselor 10 years ago, said she's amazed by her friend's energy.
"He's the most genuine, unique person you'll ever meet. He's an awesome role model for these kids. He gets down to their level," said Davis, a teacher who also has diabetes.
In 2001, Vinson was the last official finisher of Houston's marathon, clocking in at 5 hours, 31 minutes and 55 seconds. Vinson said that since then, he's got a better handle on the hydration issues that caused serious cramps and almost forced him out of running.
This year he's hoping to finish in roughly 4 hours, 20 minutes — about twice the time it will probably take the marathon's winner.
"Those dudes are a different species of animal ... I think it's a true act of courage to make it to the starting line," Vinson said. "It's kind of a journey. We're trying to find out what's inside of us."
As part of this season's training, Vinson spent the summer biking 400 miles from Virginia to Oregon, leaving an unread copy of War and Peace to collect dust on an end table in his house.
Unlike the book, Vinson said he expects to complete Sunday's course.
"Not finishing is always an option, but it's not one I feel like I need to carry out," he said.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/3584370.html