Name: ERIC TOZER
DOB: 1984
Age of diagnosis: 22
Advice: "Know your numbers! Knowing your blood sugar number is the foundation for living confidently with diabetes. It will allow you to learn how different activities effect your blood sugar"
Highlights: Father, husband, World Marathon Challenge Finisher, Multiple 140.6 & 70.3 Ironman, Adventure racer/MTB, Ran Across America team, Boston marathon, ITU Long-course & Olympic National Championship Qualifier, NCAA Soccer Final Four all tournament team, two time NCAA soccer team captain, Senior sales exec for a healthcare IT company
Name: BEN SEMEYN
DOB: 1982
Age of diagnosis: 23
Advice: "Start off slow. Don’t head out the door planning to do a marathon next week. Set manageable and achievable goals. Come up with a plan that gets you moving and build from there"
Highlights: Ironman World Championship (2X), 70.3 Ironman WC, Multiple 140.6 & 70.3 Ironmans, 2013 raced for Team USA at ITU World Championship, father of two, husband, Boston marathon, Run Across America Diabetes Team, network administrator at a global machining company
Name: ERIN MCGOWAN
DOB: 1984
Age of diagnosis: 20
Advice: "Be regimented. Maintaining a good routine is important, but there will always be days that throw you off. Don't get frustrated, learn from them so you can be more aware of those situations the next time. "
Highlights: University of North Carolina @ Chapel Hill Varsity Swim team Captain, multiple 70.3 & 140.6 triathlons, 70.3 Ironman World Championship, Tampa Bay Marathon Relay Swim Winner, Boston Marathon Finisher, Solutions Architect for a Business Analytics Software Company, most importantly a wife and mother.
Name: SOFIE SCHUNK
DOB: 1992
Age of diagnosis:16
Advice: “Train with people who know you at your best and at your worst and can push you. It’s often trial and error in knowing what intensities affect your blood sugar the most, but with a community and resources you can’t fail. As unpredictable as it sometimes is, Type 1 Diabetes actually can give you an athletic edge—you have to know what your blood sugar is at all times and how your body is feeling. No one else has to do that!”
Highlights: Qualified for 2016 ITU Olympic-Distance Triathlon World Championships, Cozumel USAT Team USA at Age group nationals 2015, placed 3rd female at the Lakefront Marathon in first ever marathon with finishing time of 2:52:45, Boston Marathon Qualifier. 3 X Big East Soccer NCAA Division 1
Championships and 2 time NCAA Division 1 Sweet 16 appearances for Marquette, Masters in biomedical engineering
Name: BRADFORD GILDON
DOB: 1984
Age of diagnosis: 11
Advice: "Not every day will be "perfect". It takes resolve to persevere and continue moving forward. Try to look at difficult days--whether BG management related or even workout related--and make a plan for adjustments in the future."
Highlights: 2016 USAT Team USA, Multiple 70.3 and 140.6 triathlons, Piloted a friend to a top 10 finish at 2014 Para-cycling Road Nationals in BVI (blind visually impaired) category, Husband, Soon-to-be father of twins, Assistant Professor of Radiologic Technology
Name: NICOLE MICHMERHUIZEN
DOB: 1992
Age of diagnosis: 14
Advice: "I'm excited to use this opportunity to show that T1D doesn't have to slow you down!"
Highlights: 1st place overall (women) at Indianapolis marathon 2015 (her second marathon ever), Running in 2016 Olympic Trials, 10,000 meter NCAA D3 champion, currently studying for her PHD in Pharmacology
Name: RYAN JONES
DOB: 1979
Age of diagnosis: 7
Advice: "Aside from check, check, check, educate friends, family, coworkers/students/etc. The more people who know, the better."
Highlights: Ex-pro triathlete, ultra marathon (100+ miles) champion, Multiple 140.6 & 70.3 Ironmans, ITU Long-course & Olympic National Championship Qualifier, NJ Ultra-marathon world record holder, 2016 Beast of Burden 100mi Overall Winner, father, husband, Vice President for a consulting and tech services firm.
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Name: MATT PATRICK
DOB: 1971
Age of diagnosis: 36
Advice: "Find good training partners/friends for when you exercise and tell them about diabetes. When you work out with them, they'll help you immensely. You'll train better and if you run into a challenge with diabetes during a race or workout, they'll be there to help - it'll make you (and your family) feel better every time you go out the door to train."
Highlights: 12X Boston Marathon, completed Run Across America, 10X NYC Marathon, collegiate crew team captain, leader in local running community
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Name: MIKE HEBE
DOB: 1967
Age of diagnosis: 43
Advice: Test, test, test. Every day is new, learn something today that makes your life easier in the future with management
Highlights: Twenty nine years racing experience; eighty-five overall/age-group wins including: five State cyclocross titles, age-group National titles in Mountain bike and Off road Duathlon and an age group World title in the ITU Off-road triathlon 2012. 3X Team USA member and IM Worlds finisher. Senior healthcare account specialist
Name: CASEY BOREN
DOB: 1971
Age of diagnosis: 34
Advice: “There's no one right way out there. Be flexible with your management. Do your best and always look at all your resources out there. You're not alone in your journey.”
Highlights: 14 X 140.6 Ironman & multiple 70.3 triathlons, 2015 Ironman world championship, 2014 raced for Team USA at ITU World Championship, Boston marathon qualifier, completed Run Across America, Husband, adopted a dog from a prisoner treatment program, 2016 70.3 Ironman World Championship qualifier
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