BRIAN FOSTER

East Amherst, NY
Age: 39
Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at age 7

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Collegiate athlete - 4 yr, 3 sports (cross-country, indoor track, outdoor track) per year
Qualified for Boston Marathon at age 18
30+ Marathons
Nine time qualifier for Boston
Two time Ironman
Winner of the 2011 Toronto Indoor Marathon

MEET BRIAN FOSTER

When were you diagnosed with diabetes?

I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age seven.

How did you, as well as your family, feel about diabetes when you were first diagnosed?

Hard to say, it’s so difficult to remember because I was so young. I know I was the only child in the area with diabetes – no one in my school or surrounding area had it. JDRF did have a chapter, but it was for the whole state of New Jersey, so we weren’t really able to participate. I do know that my current attitudes towards my disease are the direct result of my parents’ influences; it was their outlook towards diabetes that I emulated. It was through my parents I learned it was ok to be frustrated, angry, etc., about diabetes. But I also learned that while being angry with the disease, that I shouldn’t direct the anger inward – the disease was not my fault. I also learned that although I was allowed to be angry, that anger was not productive to control. I learned that giving up was an option, but not one that would provide me the outcome I wanted. I learned diabetes is not always fair - that sometimes all the effort in the world (i.e. - work put into counting carbs), doesn’t always bring the results you want (a reading in range), but that the result should not deter the attempt (i.e.- counting carbs). That is not fair, but that the truest example of life there is.

How do you feel about diabetes now?

Although there have been a few tweaks along the way, my original outlook has not changed - Ma and Pa Foster did a pretty good job.

Tell us about your life at home. Married? Any children?

Married (Tricia) with one child (Peyton) and hopefully more someday. Tricia was actually diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes while carrying Peyton. She went on a pump for the last 1/3 of the pregnancy and thanks to all of her hard work, Peyton is happy and healthy, mom is too (and off the pump for now).

Why is exercise and competition a part of your life?

Exercise is my source of power over my disease. I know that my control over diabetes is improved with daily exercise – therefore I exercise. When I don’t exercise, it’s harder for me to maintain the BG levels I want. Without exercise, I’m crabby, lethargic, and anxious. I like endurance races because of the pain, yes, because of the pain. Accepting diabetes is indirectly accepting that at some point during the day your not going to feel well (either because of a high or a low) and despite your best attempts you may not be able to avoid it – that’s a very hard thing to accept. When I do endurance races, I’m putting my body through similar pain, but it’s by choice. It’s not caused by a high or a low, but many of the physical symptoms can be the same. Continuing forward in a really tough race (and they’re all tough) gives makes me feel very powerful, so much in a sense I seek it out now.

What drew you to Team Type 1?

I met Phil Sutherland (one of the co-founders of Team Type 1) when Team Type 1 was just a dream, before the RAAM wins, before the big sponsors, before the elite team. I was giving a talk on diabetes and Phil was attending. After hearing him speak from the audience I knew right away that there was something about him; that he was going to go on to do some pretty great things for the diabetes world. Soon after that TT1 was founded, the first RAAM was won, and the rest was history. It wasn’t the right time for me then, (I was involved in other projects, other team / racing commitments), but I knew if he was to go after his goals, that I wanted to be a part of it. I asked to be a part of TT1 at my first opportunity, and was lucky enough to be taken.

Tell us about a personal achievement that was highly significant to you.

Fatherhood. Nothing I’ve done thus far has been as challenging, or as fulfilling. My challenge there was accepting the fact that there is a potential I could pass my diabetes on to my children / grandchildren. That is a scary thought. Accepting that idea, and that should it happen that I’d be able to provide them with the same perspective my parents gave me was enough to give me the strength to know I could do it.

How about an athletic achievement that you find especially significant?

Everyone has a different idea of what is significant. For some it’s a mile, for others its twenty six point two of them - neither is any better than the other. I don’t believe there is any athletic achievement greater than the one you individually accept as challenging for you, set out to accomplish it, prepare for it, and do so. As for me, the thought of completing this year’s schedule of Team Type 1 races while being the husband / father I hope to be will be especially significant.

If there is one piece of advice you could give to someone who was newly diagnosed with diabetes– what would it be?

You are the one with the power. You’ve got diabetes. You can accept it and move forward…..or not.

How did you feel in school about having diabetes?

Growing up was lonely in a lot of ways. Not knowing other kids with diabetes made it tough to share with others how hard it was sometimes. Diabetes management was a lot different than it is now, and because of that it was a lot harder. Sugar was restricted (so no birthday cakes or treats at school) and exercise wasn’t really encouraged. But running was a real blessing for me. It gave me confidence in myself and control over my disease, two things I really lacked before I started running.

Tell us about your favorite TT1 event to date.

The Relay (2010) has been by far my favorite event. Twelve of us from Team Type 1 took turns running in a relay fashion a total of 199 miles, from Calistoga to Santa Cruz, CA. Sharing a van for 48 hours with other athletes who understood the same challenges I did in running multiple times over the weekend was a great feeling. I expect it will be the same type of feeling when we tackle the Run Across America this year.

In what way have you found that your diabetes has helped you grow as an individual?

Diabetes has helped me to understand that life is not fair, but that it does not mean you shouldn’t play by the rules. It’s helped me to realize that attitude is everything, and sometimes the only thing you have in your control. Despite all of the racing I’ve done in my life, diabetes is where I learned that winning is not everything, and that there really is no finish line.

Are there any areas of your diabetes management that you are currently targeting to improve?

Right now my life is so hectic with being a new father that I’m having difficulty finding patterns to make corrections. I’m not working out, eating, or even sleeping on any kind of a routine – which is usually where I thrive. So I’m actually trying to really focus on my carb counting and my record keeping. It is the only way I’m able to analyze what’s going on to try and make changes. .

Tell us about an athletic goal you have for the short term – say within the next year.

It seems old to say this every year (but it’s getting tougher with every passing year) I want to re-qualify for the Boston Marathon – which would be my tenth in a row.

How about an athletic goal that you have for the long term?

If I could have that same short term goal every year for the next 15 years, that would give me 25 years of running the Boston Marathon consecutively – that would be pretty cool. It would be pretty neat to donate those medals to a diabetes institution to have on display – yea, that would be pretty cool.

Brian, all the best to you. Thanks for taking the time to talk with us.

Thank you – its been fun.