Fueled for the Finish: Bryan Koch’s Marathon Mission

Training for a marathon takes a lot—hundreds of miles on the pavement, time and the right fuel. For Bryan Koch, it’s no different. But after 39 years of living with type 1 diabetes, there’s an added layer of preparation: making sure he has not just the right food, but the right tools to manage his blood sugar every step of the way.

Here’s how Koch made sure he was equipped with both—ultimately finishing strong with the Beyond Type Run marathon team.

*Responses have been edited for brevity and clarity

Choosing the right foods

Koch has been athletic his entire life, and any athlete knows that fueling performance isn’t one-size-fits-all—especially with type 1 diabetes in the mix. So when it came to dialing in his nutrition, Koch had to find what worked best for him.

“Nutrition’s really where I’ve been trying to tweak my approach,” Koch explains. “Carb loading is trickier with type 1 diabetes, but I make sure to get enough—like a carb-heavy meal Friday night before a race. I stick mostly to baked or sweet potatoes, I don’t do much pasta and try to keep things healthy.” 

Training and race days are a little less carb heavy and a little more nuanced.

“On race mornings, I eat breakfast early and add snacks an hour or so before the start to make sure I have fuel,” Koch says. “During runs, I stick to a schedule: gels every 45 minutes, plus fig bars or Clif Bloks if I need a quick sugar bump. It’s all trial and error, but I’ve found a mix that keeps my energy steady and my blood sugar stable, whether it’s hot or cold out.”

Never Without Novo

To know Koch is to know his journey—and when it comes to type 1 diabetes, Novo Nordisk has been part of it since his diagnosis.

“I’ve always used Novo Nordisk products—without even realizing it as a kid—and they’ve been a staple of my diabetes care for 39 years,” Koch says. “I’m proud to support them because they’ve kept me healthy all this time.”

It’s easy to see why Koch relies on Novo Nordisk—specifically Fiasp—to keep his blood sugar in range during his training. He remembers when insulin wasn’t nearly as simple to use.

“Insulin therapy has come a long way since my diagnosis: what used to require multiple injections and careful mixing can now be managed much more easily with modern long-acting and bolus insulins.”

With the right fuel and plenty of resilience, Koch was able to reach the finish line in November.

Bryan already crushed the marathon, but the Beyond Type Run squad is still making strides and showing T1D never sets the pace. Ready to support his push through year-end? Check out his fundraising page!

This content was made possible by Novo Nordisk, an active partner of Beyond Type 1. Beyond Type 1 maintains editorial control over its content.