This will be me at Big Horn at night...

Even if you're not a runner, you'll probably think this is cute,

Finishing what I started and pictures that have nothing to do with it...

There are two kinds of people, those who finish what they start and so on.
  - Robert Byrne

Some of you might remember that I went down to Texas with the intent of finishing Rocky Raccoon 100 mile race.  I didn't finish and only got to 57 miles, crying and whining.  My husband picked me up and I said I was done and would never try to do another 100 mile race.  By the time we had reached the hotel, about 20 minutes later, I had figured out about one hundred things I could have done differently.  I would try another 100 miler in the future!

With Antelope Island 50 miler and Pocatello 50 miler under my belt, I've decided to upgrade from the Big Horn 50 to 100 mile.  Please understand, I am not "racing".  I am attempting to finish and once again, finish without crying (too much) or hallucinating (too much) and under the cutoff which is 34 hours.  I'm still working out the details...

Here are some pictures from the last week or so.

Nasty Bitch (I didn't name it!) from Henderson Canyon

Nasty Bitch from far away

Joanne tearing up the downhill on Aspen Trail

Paul on Aspen Trail, about to run Targhee over.  No worries, Targhee got up at the last minute.

Clematis yesterday on Aspen Trail

Allison's favorite tree got cut down on Cold Springs, it was huge and old.  Anyone want to count the rings?

What is normal when you've got Addison's?

What is normal when you've got Addison's?

Normal is what you make of it and how you define it.  In my case, normal is much healthier and active than I've ever been able to be in the past with restrictions that I did not have in the past*.  Normal for you might be quite different than it was before diagnosis but it's all in how you define it.

Define normal as something positive.  Find something you love, a passion and follow some aspect of it.

Survival is nothing more than an ordinary life well lived in extreme circumstances...It's simply saying, "I'm not lost, I'm right here."

Lawrence Gonzales Deep Survival, Who Lives, Who Dies and Why 

You may no longer be able to chase your kids all over the playground but you might be able to practice your photography skills, make scrapbooks, play Chutes and Ladders.  

At some point, I might not be able to run or ride but there are so many other things that I CAN do.  I can volunteer at a race, pack goodie bags, help with a race website, encourage people to try to do something they've never considered doing.  

Physical limitations can be worked around and worked through!  Redefine normal if you need to.  You'll be much happier for it.  Set goals and baby steps to reach your goals.

I guess what I'm saying is that your life might not be the normal that it was before but it can be better.  Addison's Disease doesn't have to be an impediment, use it as a stepping stone that motivates you to redefine normal.  You know what the beast is that you're dealing with so do the best with it that you can.

Lastly, don't let anyone tell you that you'll never have a normal life.  That's a bunch of crap.  You decide to have a normal life, by your definition of normal, and you will.

*My restrictions are:  I have to go to bed early nearly every night, I don't eat gluten, I don't eat dairy, I don't eat foods that people kindly make for me, I take pills all day every day, I refuse appointments after 5 or 6 pm.  I've stopped drinking alcohol.  I carry an arsenal of pills everywhere.  If it's after 3 in the afternoon, I'm a dud, brain fogged, boring and slightly lethargic.  I've learned to simply say, "No" when someone asks me for more than I am able to give.

There's not much to say except thank goodness for Spring!  

The Tetons from Deerhunter Trail in Henderson

Only in Idaho.  Lawn ornament.

This is why I live here.  Beautiful trail up Henderson Canyon.

Bigger duckies require a bigger run.

Speaking of big, this cow is huge and on very short legs.  They are mini cows or something.

Stunning.  This is also why I live here!