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Edition #2 released 12 March 2026
Welcome to the March edition of ‘The Move’.
This month has been productive and exciting in several ways. I’ve been training hard for my next run, and developing contacts in research to progress my ideas on how focusing on the positive strengths we develop living with diabetes difficulties can provide opportunities in other areas of our life, as well as a coping mechanism when diabetes sometimes feels too much.
This content in this edition is inspired by three things.
Winning a travel award to attend and participate in PSAD 2026 - the 30th Annual Psychosocial Aspects of Diabetes Meeting in Geelong, where I met some smart researchers. Secondly by an inspiring Fitter for Having It Conversation I had with Australian World Champion Lara McSpadden. Third from the training progress I’m making on my journey to run in the race with no finish line.
Read the Insights Paper I wrote reflecting on my meeting with research experts at the Psychosocial Aspects of Diabetes Conference
Look out for my inspiring Conversation with Lara McSpadden about being a World Champion Athlete with Type 1 diabetes (launching next week)
Explore the running experience and training plan that I’m drawing to get to the end of a race with no finish line - Sydney’s Back Yard Ultra
My insights from PSAD 2026
In February, I asked the question on Linked In: What are the positive aspects of living with a chronic condition like diabetes?
People responded with aspects like: health literacy, community, problem-solving, and purpose. So I asked a follow up question: ‘Can a positive or negative outlook on a chronic condition influence outcomes?
I took this idea to the meeting of the Psychosocial Aspects of Diabetes (PSAD) Study Group at Deakin University and tested it with researchers, clinicians, and advocates who were there.
Here's what I learned: The research explores every aspect. But it measures the negative “let’s fix it” angle. Looking at aspects of diabetes as problems and costs; not as strengths and benefits.
I decided after the conference to write about an opportunity to research not just what's wrong, but what's working for people living with diabetes, and whether a focus on mental strength can make people living with it fitter.
I think this is a research gap. So if this interests you too, please read more about it in my Insights Paper.
A World Champion with type 1 diabetes
When I got back to Sydney after the PSAD meeting, I met up with an Australian Basketball World Champion who's lived with Type 1 diabetes since primary school.
We had a Conversation on being Fitter for Having It.
Lara McSpadden embodies every positive capability you can imagine. Our conversation was on the positive aspects she takes from type 1 diabetes and how she copes with the difficult parts about living with it.
We talk about inspiration and goals, how she manages food, elite sport and travel, the moves she takes to make diabetes smaller in her life and keep physically and mentally strong.
It was fun, there was music, board games, and some great insights to what life with diabetes is like for those that have ‘lived’ experience with it, and their friends and families who have ‘loved’ experience.
You can listen to the conversation as a Podcast *coming soon*
Please let me know if you have something to contribute or discuss with me on a future episode of ‘Conversations’ on Fitter for Having It.
**My Long Beep Test**
I announced last month that I’ve entered a race without a finish line.
It’s the Sydney Backyard Ultra and the format means I’ve been training differently. There is no set distance - it is a race where 500 runners run for as long as they can. Instead, of racing for a fastest time, they race to complete the furthest distance.
There is a timing catch, which people I’ve described it to say is like a “giant beep test”. That is quite a good way to describe it because you need to complete one 6.71km lap of a loop course every hour, on the hour.
If you are not at the start line when the next lap is scheduled to start your race is over. The winner is the last runner standing.
Images I’m drawing on (clockwise from top left):
1. Testing BGLs and T1D strategies in training
2. Breaking points ‘Racing the Planet Queenstown’
3. Running 19 hrs non-stop ‘UTA100km, Blue Mountains’
“What is your target?”
“How do you train?”
“What will you eat?”
I honestly don’t know how far I will get
I’ve raced the distances of some milestones before, but not in this time constrained and competitive format:
1 hr - 6.7 km. Comfortable (8:56 / km for average pace)
7 hrs - 47 km. Probable (my marathon pace is around 6hrs)
12 hrs - 80 km. Probable (ran Bondi to Manly 80km in 11.5 hrs)
15 hrs - 100 km. Possible (ran UTA100 slower, but over mountains)
18 hrs - 120km. Stretch (UTA 100 was 18hrs, I’ve run that time)
24 hrs - 160km. Big stretch (this would be new territory for me)
Winner - Last runner. Unlikely (previous BYUs go for 3 days! I’ve run 250km before in a staged race over six days)
This format is new territory.
How far I get will depend on several factors. Can I stay injury free, the race conditions like heat and rain, my leg strength, my ability to balance insulin + carbs + blood glucose effectively, and of course my mental strength.
It is mental strength where I start my training, but it is leg strength and nutrition that I test and train the most. I’m experimenting with different T1D strategies on long training runs, trying different insulin delivery rates and assessing these against my performance.
I’m also building muscle with leg and core strength programs. Its a big commitment and I’m also throwing in some high intensity runs and spending as much time as possible on my feet, when I can.
Find out how far I go by following me - the race is in St Ives, Sydney and starts at 8am on 18 April 2026.
In the next edition:
The next issue will include feedback and photos from my race in Sydney Back Yard Ultra 2026. Further information on my research interests and more news about who I’ve lined up for more Conversations on Fitter for Having It.
You can follow my progress in The Move, or connect to me on Linked In or via this website.