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.

Friday, August 3, 2007

Pictures of the view in Nevada

Beautiful! Dust blowing through the air and sunshine in the Nevada desert.


















The unbelievable view from the tiniest hotel room ever. The pink glow was from the neon light directly outside the window.

Pictures











Here's my sparkly, good luck mascot from Kim S. Thanks Kim!






















An amazingly well kept Lincoln Towncar (1980 something model) It looked brand new and seemed to have a clearance of about 3 inches! The car was vibrating with bass.

This car was in Twin Falls, ID. Quite out of place with pickup trucks in Twin Falls!

No camping in California! August 3

I woke up this morning and got a migraine. Crap. I cried for a little bit and now all I can think is, "I hope I caught this early enough to keep it away." Typically, migraines lower my heart rate for days after the migraine and I am tired. Maybe I will not have this problem this time...the migraines are so inconsistent that I won't know.

Today we're going to the Expo, picking up the race numbers, dropping off bags and the bike.

I hope we can get some rest tonight!

Pictures in the next post and then we're off to the Expo!

No camping in California! August 2

Thursday was a busy and tiring day for us, again.

We drove from Reno to Johnson's Beach in Guerenville where the swim starts to check out the river and the beach. The river is narrow (relatively) and straight. From there we drove about 50 miles of the bike course. The bike course is gorgeous! Many patches of shade and vineyard after vineyard all along the course. We ended up driving for nearly eight hours yesterday. I should say Paul drove for 8 hours yesterday! Thanks Paul!! The 10 mile drive from the end of the bike course to the motel took 30 minutes. Although Paul and I grew up in NJ in the middle of traffic, it's always a shock to go back to it.

We checked into the motel room, organized ourselves, went for a run, ate dinner and crashed into bed, exhausted.

We were supposed to meet the Northern California contingent at the home they rented about an hour from here. I am bummed that we couldn't fit it in. Sorry to skip out on dinner gals!!

No Camping in Nevada-Wednesday, August 1

I'm not sure pictures are going to happen in these posts because the internet connection here is not too good.

For once we’re not camping while on a trip! This is pretty much the pinnacle of excitement for me and about as close to a real vacation as I am going to get for a long time.
I precooked all of our food this morning before we left so I won’t have to cook so much as at home. I’m pretty darned tired because I packed until 12:00 last night, just as I was dropping off to sleep Dolly (our Miniature Schnauzer) started barking like crazy and woke me up. I was up this morning at 6:20 am to do the rest of the packing, cleaning and cooking. Paul drove Dolly over to Jackson and came back, packed the car and we finally left.
We’re staying at the El Dorado Hotel & Casino in Reno tonight. I’m hoping we get to the hotel early enough to enjoy sitting around in the room for a little bit. As I was thinking about sitting around time, I realized there would not be much!
We’ll spend about 132 hours on this trip from the time we leave to when we return to our home.
  • We’ll spend about 30% of our time driving (40 hours)
  • I hope to sleep for about 30% of the time (40 hours)
  • The triathlon and preparations will occupy about 15% of the time (20 hours – race/prerace meetings and gear dropping)
  • That leaves 25% of the time (33 hours, if we’re lucky) cooking food in the motel rooms, showering, checking in, lugging luggage in and out and, hopefully, resting a little bit

Travel really wears me out. I wonder if it’s just me or the Addison’s? Comments??

We’ve got an hour until we reach Reno and an hour and a half until we eat. After being in the car for 10 hours (11 by the time I post this), I’m ready to put my PJs on and eat dinner!!

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

I Am Woman Hear Me Roar

Yep, "I Am Woman" by Helen Reddy is what I've been listening to on my iPod today (and for the last few weeks). Not only are the lyrics inspirational, Ms. Reddy also has Addison's Disease!

I rode to town today and ran a little bit. It feels so good to not be exhausted from physical effort. The last week has been light on training and heavy on computer work and planning.

I will finish the Vineman even if I have to crawl across the line!

Here are my expected finish times:

A dream come true and virtual impossibility - 7 pm PT, 12:05
More realistic but probably out of my league - 8 pm PT, 13:05
Probable - 8:30 pm PT, 13:35
Likely - 9:00 pm PT, 14:00

Check back with the blog. I'll do my best to post pictures of the NorCal people and give updates on what's going on. At the very least, I'll try to post something on Sunday and let you know how the race turned out!

Thanks to everyone for your financial and emotional support!

If you don't want to donate to the NADF - SHARE INFORMATION, SAVE A LIFE!!

I've got to say, I'm surprised at how many people have gotten ONE email from me regarding this NADF fund raiser and they assume they are on a mailing list. I don't have a mailing list. I promise, I will not email you again! No one wants your money if you don't want to give it.

We would like you to help others through spreading valuable information though. My goal with this fund raiser was not only to raise funds, it was to spread information, see...


I'd also like to be a source of inspiration for people who hope to eventually do more with their lives even if their circumstances don't currently permit. There was a time, prediagnosis, that I could barely walk up and down a flight of stairs, read without falling asleep and I also let all of my plants die because I was not capable of mustering the energy to water them. I haven't always been able to get exercise. I'd also like to inspire people who have perfectly good health and are eating themselves into Type 2 Diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity to slim down and appreciate what they've got that they don't even have to work for!!! Damn, I wish I could eat less and move more and have that solve all of my problems. As it is, I take medication 5-6 times a day, carry around an injection kit, watch what I eat, exercise & go get blood drawn too often. I still have health scares REGULARLY! The gals at the blood lab know me by name.

If you care about people with adrenal disorders and want to help people get diagnosed in a timely manner and/or you think people with adrenal disorders deserve good, up to date treatment from their doctors, print out my brochure (in the email or email me for a PDF version at contact@addisonssupport.com) and give it to health care professionals in your area. They can look at the NADF site and find valuable information that could help save someone's life.

There is no reason in this day and age for anyone to die from undiagnosed adrenal disorders.

Spread information, it's free and easy!
Not all people with adrenal diseases will be diagnosed as easily as you were!

  • Go to NADF for information that you can print out and give to your doctor or health care professional.
  • email me for a copy of the Teton Valley News article, a press release regarding the Vineman or for a PDF version of the brochure.
  • Refer someone with an adrenal disorder to Brain Fog a supportive forum for people with adrenal disorders
  • Have people with adrenal disorders visit this blog
  • Visit my website Idaho, Montana and Wyoming Addisons Support now or when it is returned to its former self (with diagnosis stories, etc...)

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Habits Start at a Young Age

SWIMMING



BIKING



DRINKING WINE

Inspiration & Success

Lisa Smith-Batchen is an ultra runner, coach, mom, fundraiser and pretty much Wonder Woman! Her latest project is to raise $ for the MPD Foundation.

Lisa's project was to run the Badwater double which means she started at Death Valley and ran to the Mt Whitney Portal, 135 miles! Then she was to go to the top of Mt. Whitney and return to the Death Valley starting line! Although she was unable to complete the run as planned, she took her situation and made the best of it. She finished 8th in the women is the Death Valley to Mt. Whitney Portal portion of the race! I'm so inspired to see how when faced with a challenge (unable to finish the run as planned) it was turned into an awesome team event that looks like it was a great time for all! To me, this is the definition of SUCCESS!

Way to go Lisa and crew!!! You guys and gals did awesome!!!

The Taper

6 days until the Vineman. 3.5 until we start the 15 hour drive to California.

I love the taper. No long bike rides, no long swims, no long runs. Whew! It's amazing how the aches and pains subside when the training volume decreases. Paul and I went for a bike ride and short run today. It was nice but there is not much to say about it. Although the training volume has decreased, preparations have ramped up. I'm marking my clothing and gear with my name and I'm adding flair to all of my outfits - reflective tape, rhinestones, iron-ons, ribbons and Trice is brining us boas!!! I'm prepping as much food as possible right now and packing cooking stuff. Thank goodness we are going to stay in a motel room, it's quite a treat to not have to pack camping gear and sleep in a tent.

To clarify, all the money raised with this fund raiser is going to the NADF. Paul and I have paid for ALL expenses for this trip including the $300 entry fee, transportation costs, hotel costs, gear costs, food during the trip (wahoo, I'm cooking on a hot plate in a hotel room or off the outlet in our car). By "Sponsoring" me, you are donating to the NADF. Help the NADF! Donate what you can afford!!