It's the athletic event of ALL athletic events: the Ironman Triathlon, long known for testing the mettle of even the most seasoned athletes. Women are still a rare breed in the competition, and a diabetic? Even rarer still. In yet another shining example of how you can achieve anything in life, even with diabetes, Michelle Reina-Long chose running over medication as a treatment, and has emerged as an amazing athlete.

The 35-year-old said that soon after she was diagnosed with diabetes 10 years ago, she decided to lose weight and exercise more to combat the disease that afflicts 51 percent of Salt River residents over 30 years old, according to reservation statistics.

Three years ago, Reina-Long ran her first half-marathon.

Now, she's training for the 2007 Ironman Arizona Triathlon in May and said she plans to enter the Timex Triathlon in September. But she started with smaller goals.

"Right when I found out, I started watching my diet," she said.

Reina-Long said that after she lost 50 pounds, she found her diabetes symptoms hardly bothered her at all.

"When I found out, I didn't want to use insulin," she said. "I saw what my grandmother went through."


No matter how the competition turns out, Michelle deserves a HUGE congratulations.

(Photo Source: East Valley Tribune)