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.

Monday, February 28, 2011

Beads, Berbers and Blizzards

On my long run last Sunday, I tried to pretend that I was running in the desert.  This is what it looked like in my mind.  My Photoshop skills stink.

Reality was a vast expanse of snow and wind.
With 28 days until I leave for Marathon des Sables, training is winding down and preparation is getting into gear (ha, pun intended!).  I have a little bit more time now than I have in the last five weeks.  Whew!  There's lots of packing to do, things to buy and logistics to put into my brain.

What I'd like to do is wear a necklace with beads or other small objects from friends and Addisonians.  I'd like to take a little piece of each of you into the Sahara Desert.  It doesn't have to be new or fancy or even a bead, just something really small (under 1 inch) and that won't tickle (like hairy).  If you are interested in sending me something, email me at my regular email address or contact@addisonssupport.com so I can give you my address.  If you need a couple of bucks for postage, I will be happy to send you a small prepaid envelope.

So far, I have a square pearl from Leigh and parts from a bracelet that Nancy gave me (sorry Nance, I didn't take it off after you gave it to me and I wore it out!).

Berbers - I thought I needed some clever alliteration in the title!  There will be Berbers at Marathon des Sable!  They will be transporting and setting up tents.  Want to see a cool video about MdS?  Here you go.

Blizzard - last Sunday I did my long run.  The morning started out nice enough with no breeze and fluffy ankle deep snow.  It was gorgeous!


Pretending the snow is sand.

Stopped at the coffee shop to warm up and get some espresso.   Because I'm so dang slow, I don't mind taking pictures, drinking coffee and looking around on runs.  Heck, I'm not going to win so why don't I enjoy the hell out of it.


I had to take a picture of this poor horse.  He's the ugliest paint I've EVER seen!
About 25 miles in, I was alternately slipping on ice and tripping over drifts.  I don't know if you can tell from this picture, it was nearly a white out at times.  I'm smiling because I was laughing so hard at what a crazy person I was.  The wind was blowing SO HARD.  At this point I though, I could have Paul pick me up.  Oh, no, he can't the drifts are too big and the car can't get through!!

By the time I got home, the sun had momentarily come out, the drifts in our yard were 4 - 5 feet high!  That's a 500 gallon propane tank.  You can't tell there's a 3 foot high deck under about half of the picture and several lilac bushes half way!