SF Dirt Bike Racer Rides With Type 1

by Phil McIlrath, KDLT News
January 24, 2013 5:02 AM


Have you ever heard the phrase, 'The only thing stopping you is you!'? While it's common to hear in times of adversity, some medical conditions can affect the ability to achieve one's dreams. But one Sioux Falls Boy is not letting his disease keep him from enjoying his life, and pushing him "off track."

For 8-year-old Connor Strand, life doesn't begin until you hit 20 MPH, and if you ask him, he spends most of his time in the fast lane.

Do you like to go slow? "No," said Connor Strand. Do you like to go fast? "Yeah."

For the past two years, Connor has been spending his spare time on two wheels. He's a member of the Sioux Valley Cycle club and loves dirt bike racing. But in the summer of 2011 he hit a bump in the road with a diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes that threw much of his life off track.

"We went to Lake Madison to go boating. He kind of started not feeling good,"said Cathy Strand.

After initially thinking it was a stomach bug, Connor went to the doctor, where he spent four days in the ICU to get his body back within normal range. It was at this time that his family got the news.

"At first it was kind of shocking or numbing. I didn't want to believe it,"said  Chad Strand.

Since that day, the Strands have had to alter their lives around Connor. Things aren't so simple anymore with having to monitor blood sugar levels and count carbs, but Connor takes it in stride. After a few months, he was back doing what he loved most, but not without careful planning and his trusty med kit.

"I have to be good to ride or if I'm too low my vision will get blurry and I'll go run into a wall or something,"said Connor.

Keeping upright, on both wheels even when the track throws you a few quick curves.

-Phil McIlrath
p_mcilrath@kdlt.com
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