In March 2008, Mari Ruddy, a recreational triathlete with Type 1 diabetes and founder of the Red Rider Recognition Program of the American Diabetes Association Tour de Cure, started wondering, “Where are the women athletes with diabetes?” and, “Why aren’t they more organized?” A number of awesome organizations and teams of athletes with diabetes had started to emerge, most of them dominated by men and people with Type 1 diabetes.
It occurred to Mari that although many aspects of women’s training are identical to men’s, some are unique. She thought, “Wouldn’t it be great to create a team dedicated exclusively to women with diabetes and their needs and their approach to fitness?” Mari discussed the idea with Nancy Eastman, a fellow cyclist and triathlete with diabetes. And so, Mari and Nancy made history: They decided to create such a team and organization!
Mari and Nancy began by reaching out to the larger community of people with diabetes to gauge interest. One thing they did was contact their friend and supporter, Matt Corcoran, MD, founder of the Diabetes Training Camp (DTC) and an endocrinologist, and asked if he would spread the word to female alumni from DTC. The response was overwhelming. By July 2008, Nancy and Mari had heard from more than twenty women with diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2, who were ready to commit to train together for a half iron distance triathlon: a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike and a 13.1 mile run, all to be completed in under eight hours.
Over the course of the next several months, these more than 20 women created the first team of Team WILD: Women Inspiring Life with Diabetes. All winter, these women from across the country and Canada, met on Sunday night conference calls to brainstorm, plan and begin training. By January 2009, Team WILD had a mission statement, a vision for growing beyond the 70.3 Triathlon team, a logo, a blog site, a dedicated race for which to train, three coaches, a sports nutritionist, an endocrinologist, 20 committed women with diabetes, and a partner – the Diabetes Exercise and Sports Association (DESA). We were official!
Then, this first team of Team WILD athletes focused on increasing the rigor of their training under the excellent guidance of three coaches – Yoli Casas, Head Triathlon Coach, Celeste Pierre, Swim Coach, and Nicole Freedman, Cycling Coach and Olympic cyclist – and two medical coaches – Matt Corcoran, MD, and Marcey Robinson, Sports Nutritionist and Diabetes Educator. In April 2009, twelve of the athletes and all five staff met for the first time face to face at a 3-day Team WILD training camp in San Antonio, Texas, which Doug Dressman, Executive Director of DESA, also attended.
With the enthusiasm of the team and outstanding support of the coaches, Team WILD has developed into more than a team of women training for a triathlon in October. We are a community: building bridges between women with Type 1 and Type 2, and the people who love and live with them – often referred to as “Type 3.” Of the 23 athletes on Team WILD, eighteen are Type 1, two are Type 2, and three are “Type 3.” Through Team WILD, Type 1’s reject the old-fashioned notion that insulin dependence is a life-inhibitor; Type 2’s refute the stereotype that they are not or cannot be in excellent physical condition; and Type 3’s express their invaluable support, understanding, and empathy, without which people living with the daily challenge of diabetes, could not thrive.
Together, the Type 1’s, 2’s, and 3s, the sports coaches and the medical coaches will make history in October 2009 as the first team of women with diabetes to compete in a 70.3 distance triathlon. The inclusiveness, collaboration, top-level coaching, compassion, and female focus of the Team WILD community make it unique and powerful. We will use this power to propel ourselves across the finish line in October and innumerable finish lines thereafter.
Upon the success of the finish in Austin, Team WILD will grow to include the 70.3 Triathlon Team, an Iron Woman Team, a Cycling Team, a Running Team and Team WILD 101, a unique program to train women with diabetes who are new to fitness and athletics on how to use exercise as a key component of excellent diabetes management. We look forward to building all the teams of Team WILD in partnership with the Diabetes Exercise and Sports Association.