Blog changes

Thanks to everyone who followed Training Because I Can! over the last nine years. This blog started with Addison's Disease, hypothyroidism and a crazy idea of doing an Ironman distance triathlon. My life has changed and so has this blog. I am using this blog strictly for Addison's Support topics from here on out. I hope to continue providing people with hints for living life well with adrenal insufficiency.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Last week in pictures


My favorite section of Mill Creek Trail. Soft, smooth trail, through the trees, in the shade, with lots of switchbacks. A little slice of heaven.




View from the bottom of Mill Creek Trail. Same view as always.



  • Doing 40 miles one day and 8 miles the next calls for upping of HC for more than just one day after the 40 mile run.
  • I want to finish a 100 mile race.
  • I'll post my race schedule and exercise plans in the next few days. Do you have goals you want to reach? If so, what are your goals and what steps over what time period will accomplish them?
  • 37 degrees is too cold for multiple summer mornings in August. What is wrong with Idaho???




Coming down Mill Creek Trail.




View of Teton Valley from Lightening Ridge at Grand Targhee.




This is what a ski run looks like in the summer. Teton Valley in the background.




Zane took me up Mahogany Trail to where he did some trail work with Teton Valley Trails and Pathways.




Our summer has been so cold. This is how the tough people enjoy the deck. The weak ones stay inside with the camera.



Warning: animal pictures. I'm obsessed with them.

Last year's turkeys. Big!




Zane and the baby horse. The baby horse looks like it's getting darker and definitely bigger!




Yes, I'm obsessed with the baby horse. She's so cute. Here she's pretending to eat the hay. I don't think she's swallowing much.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Moose video, Pole Canyon



Looking north into Teton Valley from Pole Canyon


In order to train for a 50 or 100 mile race, I've been doing back to back long runs. Yesterday was my second "long" run. It was pitiful. I walked slowly uphill and trotted downhill when it wasn't too steep. I slogged to the car, came home and was a slug for the rest of the evening. I was super lazy, tired and achy. All of that was to be expected so I took it in stride and did some reading.

For the Addison's contingent, I took an extra 10 mg of HC on the day after my long run. I was feeling excessively tired, sore and run down. I was not expecting to feel perky or anything after a 40 mile run but I felt my body needed a little bit more HC to keep the nausea at bay. Nausea is my symptom for low hydrocortisone.

Anyhow, here are some pictures from yesterday and a moose video at the bottom.



Holy cow! Does this look like a shark or what?!




Jesus was here




Mistletoe killing a tree. Joanne taught me that's what those ball things are one the tree. I thought they were squirrel nests. I learn something new every day!



Baby horse is growing up fast! Born June 19th.



I came over the hill and noticed a big mud pit that looked like cows wallowed in it. Because I was exhausted, I stared stupidly at the mud pit, wondering if cows were even allowed in this part of the forest. As I stared, I noticed a bull moose in the mud. Here's some video of it as it noticed me.

Monday, August 3, 2009

Long run




Stunning wildflowers in Death Canyon near Fox Creek Pass.



Great run yesterday. Went from Teton Canyon to Moose Creek. I was so fortunate, my husband dropped me off and picked me up (with Dave) so there was no shuttling post run.

My little packets of pills are working out great for my long runs and I would highly recommend this method to others who do endurance events with Addison's. I put salt tablets in and 5 mg of HC. I take them every hour on the hour (the only way I can remember to take them). It keeps my energy stable throughout the day. In the last few hours, I felt like I was lagging a little bit so I took 10 mg HC all at once and that held me over to the end of the run. I had no trouble sleeping so I don't think I over did the HC.

I estimated the run would be about 25 miles but it turned out to be 40 with 14, 500 vertical elevation gain. I felt really good about how prepared I was. I had most everything I needed to spend the night out there if I had to. The only thing lacking was a backup chapstick. I lost my chapstick half way through and considered asking perfect strangers if I could use theirs!! I toughed it out. My body feels good today but I am a little tired. I will take extra HC today, probably 10-15 mg.

For all the pictures and captions, click here.


Teton Canyon




Buck Mountain




Getting dorkier the more time I spend alone.




High point of the run





Amazing view of Death Canyon.




Moose in Moose Meadows, good thing I saw it early. The though of meeting up with one of these beasts kept me yelling loudly and singing badly. I scared off some elk with this technique too.




Love this sign. It always makes me a little bit scared day or night. Good thing I was almost about to be picked up before I really freaked myself out.

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