How Jordan Sooter Tackles the NYC Marathon with Type 1 Diabetes

Jordan Sooter’s journey to running marathons began in college as a way to stay fit.

It quickly became a passion.

After participating in several races, the allure of the New York City (NYC) Marathon grew, and joining the Beyond Type 1 team made it even more special.

In this Q&A, Jordan shares how he balances managing type 1 diabetes with marathon training, using tools like the Dexcom G7 CGM to stay on top of his blood sugar levels.

He also offers insights into how the running community and Beyond Type 1 have supported him throughout his journey.

What inspired you to start running, and how did you decide to run the NYC Marathon?

I started running in college to avoid the “Freshman 15” and fell in love with it.

After running a handful of marathons, some of the major races got on my radar, and the atmosphere at the NYC Marathon put it at the top of the list.

When I saw the opportunity to join the Beyond Type 1 team I jumped at the chance!

How do you manage your diabetes during long training runs and the marathon itself?

I wear the Dexcom G7 CGM System to monitor my type 1 diabetes. I wear an armband to hold my phone, which is able to send my glucose readings to my Garmin watch so I’m always on top of my numbers while out on a run.

Can you describe any specific challenges you’ve faced while running with diabetes?

Right after being diagnosed, the biggest challenge was learning  how to safely manage my glucose levels while exercising. It was a lot of trial and error.

Beyond Type 1 was and still is an incredibly valuable source of knowledge from the diabetes community that has helped me throughout my T1D journey, especially with running tips.

What are your go-to strategies for monitoring your blood sugar levels during the race?

I haven’t migrated over to an insulin pump yet, so running while performing multiple daily injections, I try to eat a known amount of carbs depending on how far I plan to run that day.

For race day, I always eat the same breakfast before and use the same gels every time so there is no chance of a surprise during the race.

How do you prepare your gear and supplies for the marathon to ensure your diabetes management is covered?

I always lay out my gear the day before and triple check that I have everything I could possibly need. I always run with glucagon, emergency gels, and fruit snacks in the event of an urgent low.

Have you had any memorable moments or breakthroughs related to your diabetes while training for or running the marathon?

While training for NYC on my longer runs and workouts, I’ve also been working on trying to stay in range during and afterwards better. Like everything with type 1 diabetes, it is almost impossible to be perfect, but I’ve seen improvements in overall glucose management, which is always great.

What advice would you give to other diabetics who are considering running a marathon or taking on similar endurance challenges?

Go for it! Diabetes brings a lot of fear, anxiety, and low moments, but it doesn’t have to hold you back from anything. Set a goal, start small, and work at it consistently.

How has running impacted your overall diabetes management and health?

I was a big runner prior to being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, but I’ve become even more engaged in running since. It’s greatly helped my diabetes control and how I plan out meals that will ensure my control is maintained during and after runs.

Do you follow a specific diet or nutrition plan while training and running? If so, what does it look like?

My wife is an excellent cook, and we’ve always eaten fairly low carb and high protein.

So after being diagnosed, there wasn’t a huge change needed in my diet.

Although I definitely enjoy a sugary, high-carb meal before long bike rides or runs, I might as well enjoy the huge spike needed before a long workout.

How do you balance the demands of marathon training with your day-to-day life and diabetes care?

It helps that I have an incredible wife. She’s my biggest supporter in everything, including my diabetes and training. It takes a lot of communication, but we make it work!

What kind of support system do you have in place for your marathon journey?

My family is definitely my support system, and they will be in New York City for the marathon to cheer me on.

My younger brother got diagnosed with type 1 diabetes right before me, so I learned how to be a diabetes supporter first.

The greater diabetes community is also fantastic too, whether it is charities like Beyond Type 1 or Breakthrough T1D, or the several companies helping to create products to assist people to take control of their condition.

How do you handle any potential emergencies or low blood sugar situations during the race?

I run with a water bottle carrier that can hold multiple gels/fruit snacks and any emergency glucagon. I have my emergency info on my watchband that has my name, date of birth, blood type, and most importantly, that I have type 1 diabetes.

What motivates you to keep going, especially during tough training sessions or on race day?

I’ve always enjoyed endurance sports, even before being diagnosed. The mental aspect of longer runs or races is always a challenge, but that aspect of marathon training maps really well to dealing with diabetes. Some races are harder than others, and some days with diabetes are harder than others, but working on conquering those hard days is what keeps me going.

Can you share a particularly challenging or rewarding experience from your marathon training or race day?

There have been many moments of responding to low glucose alerts or CGM malfunctions that either cut a run short or stop it altogether.

It definitely is a bummer, but a reminder that diabetes brings hard days out of nowhere and the best way to respond is to get up early the next day and try again.

How do you plan to celebrate crossing the finish line, and what does it mean to you personally?

My family will be there cheering me on so I will be celebrating with them.

I applied for the Beyond Type 1 marathon team to show my son that you can achieve anything despite setbacks that life hands you. So I can’t wait to pick up my 1 year old son at the finish line and share a fun moment with him.

Help the Beyond Type Run Team Cross the Finish Line

On November 3, 2024 in New York City, the Beyond Type Run team will show the world what it looks like to live and thrive beyond diabetes. The marathon team plays a vital role in awareness and fundraising efforts for Beyond Type 1, so please consider supporting our team by donating today.

Please donate if you can.