2013 Youth Ambassador Alex Hogge

      

This edition will introduce us to our 2013 Youth Ambassador: Alex Hogge! Thanks Alex!

 

The American Diabetes Association of Michigan is proud to announce Alex Hogge of Brighton as a 2013 Youth Ambassador for the Annual Tour de Cure. The Tour de Cure is a bike ride that enables all skill levels of bikers to take part in a fun day of cycling throughout Brighton and celebrate their yearlong fundraising efforts for diabetes research. Alex will be riding ten miles in the 2013 Tour de Cure, which takes place on Saturday, June 15^th. This will be Alex’s second year in the ride.

Alex Hogge is an eleven year old sixth grader from Brighton, Michigan who has Type 1 diabetes. Diagnosed at the age of three, Alex’s parents were initially concerned that diabetes would limit what Alex would be capable of doing while growing up. Fortunately, they could not have been more wrong, as Alex plays tackle football, loves to read and write, takes part in his school’s pride cadet team, and is also on safety patrol. He wants to be an author when he grows up, and frequently reads Rick Riordan’s books.

While Alex is thriving as a straight ‘A’ student and busy with his many activities, diabetes certainly plays a role in his life. Alex says that he has to be aware of his carbohydrate in-take every day, take shots and monitor his blood sugar. Instead of dwelling on these tedious tasks for an eleven year old, Alex says that having diabetes makes him feel as if he is in a “special club.” Alex is able to be a part of the special club at the Annual Tour de Cure where he is highlighted as a Red Rider and the 2013 Tour de Cure Youth Ambassador.

When asked what advice he has for other children who have diabetes or have been recently diagnosed, Alex said to not be afraid of the disease. Alex has chosen to focus on the positive aspects of diabetes, such as going to The American Diabetes Association’s Camp Midicha and riding in the Tour de Cure. Alex’s parents are thrilled that Alex has such a positive outlook on his diabetes and his future. Their advice for parents with children who have diabetes is to research the disease and have a support group of individuals who also have children with diabetes. This group can serve as an outlet when times are hard as well as another informative resource. With the help of people like Alex, the American Diabetes Association hopes that there will be a cure to diabetes soon.

Tour de Cure

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Check-in begins at 6:30am (see website for all check-in and ride times)

Brighton High School

7878 Brighton Rd.

Brighton

For more information and to register please visit: www.diabetes.org/michigantourdecure, or contact Nicki Gabel at ngabel@diabetes.org or 248-433-3830, ext. 6694.

Keep in touch:  Twitter @Mitourdecure, Facebook and You Tube.

The Tour iPhone and Android applications are now available in the iTunes store for free. 

Media Contact:  Chris Morrisroe  cmorrisroe@comcast.net  248-666-3897

More Cycling Training

Continuing with some tip for those riders with diabetes:


Remember to talk to your doctor about your cycling and any increase of activity!!

Check your blood sugar often during training and be prepared to modify your diet. Exercise can improve circulation and we know improved circulation can be very important to diabetics.
Be sure to check your feet after cycling for blisters and make sure you have good fitting cycling shoes. Your favorite bike shop can help ensure you have the right shoes.

Weight training is a good piece of the puzzle to add to your training. Good core strength will help you during your long rides. A few times a week is all you need, be sure to hit a wide range of muscle groups.

A study from Duke University found that intensive exercise can improve carbohydrate metabolism. This is good news for diabetics. What was also interesting about this study was that the improved insulin sensitivity seemed to last for several months after the participants stopped exercising. But I'm betting that you will feel so good you won't want to stop exercising!!

Always keep in mind that there are training resources to help you here at Tour de Cure.
Check back at the blog for updates on Tour and other special features. Please comment or check in with us. Who knows--we may even feature a story on you!

See you at Tour (or before!)

Cycling Training for Beginners

Welcome to the Tour de Cure Blog for the Michigan Tour de Cure!
Join us for the Ride of your Life on June 15, 2013 in Brighton

Training for a cycling event is not impossible-- even if you have a job and a life! There's just a few things to consider.

First: Sign up for an event! This is more important than you think. Paying the registration fee not only secures your spot avoiding disappointment later, but an event on your calendar provides constant motivation. It also leads to constant training, week after week, in a slow progression. 

Next, make sure you are comfortable on your bike. If you aren't, get a professional fitting. Take yourself and your bike to the bike store and ask for a fitting.  

Check your sugar often and modify your diet if necessary. This is a slow and consistent training philosophy, so ride every week! Put in miles but also don't neglect things like intervals and hills. Both of these are vital to a training program. When riding those long miles, do so at a steady pace--don't dilly dally and stop too often for a break.

When you plan your workouts: intervals, hills, long rides, don't just do the same workouts on the same days on the same routes. Mix it up! Training will never be boring. Try different things! This will make consistent training a breeze. Lastly, remember that rest and recovery are a part of training. Take time for recovery and cross training.

Tune back next time for more training tips!