So much to do, so little time

I've been thinking about writing a blog post for a long time.  I sat down last November and wrote two months worth.  I haven't written any since.  This is going to be long.  Sorry.  It's a self indulgent post so that I can remember things when I look back.  Skip what's boring.  I've broken this out into Summary, Addison's Stuff, Running and Upcoming Race.

I think I'm on a kick so there might be weeks of pictures on this blog to follow if I can get my butt in gear and make some blog posts today.

Summary:  I've been doing a lot of bird stuff because I love it and I'm the Treasurer on the Board of Parrot Outreach Society  ("like" us on Facebook!).

Look at this sweet baby, she's not actually a baby, she's 18. CC is a Moluccan Cockatoo who needs a home.

I've been running as much as possible.  Usually running to the Parrot Outreach Center so that I can combine commute time with my run.  Efficiency and all that shit. For someone who has no job, I am always busy doing something.  Too much time with the birds, perhaps?  Well, that's okay because I love those homeless birds, even the mean ones.

We are moving to Vero Beach, Florida in the fall or early winter.  We are building a house there.  

Paul is working hard and bringing home the bacon.  He's running, doing crossfit and dreaming daily about our new home in Vero.  Dolly, the miniature schnauzer, and Keiko, the Senegal parrot, are doing well.  Dolly is running my mile with me three or so days a week and walking .5 the other days.  Dolly is 12 so she's doing awesome and staying active!  Keiko has been with us for a year now.  I adore him and he adores me.  He makes me smile every day.  I am doing well.  Feeling mostly good.

Addison's stuff:  I went for my yearly check up and got blood work.  Turns out some things are off.  I am, once again, over range with my Free T4 for someone with adrenal insufficiency.  This would explain some things that are going on that I won't discuss in this company.  My FT4 has been high before and I felt totally different but I was also 1) drinking alcohol very regularly 2) not taking enough hydrocortisone.  I haven't had a drink in eight months and I am taking hydrocortisone liberally so I am actually feeling the effects of being hyper (with adrenal insufficiency, if you are hyperthyroid and not taking enough cortisol [hydrocortisone] you will feel both hyper and hypothyroid at the same time).  Anyway, I'm working on that and hope it doesn't affect my run this weekend.

Running:  The running has been good.  I got two new pairs of shoes for Christmas (thank you Paul and Mom and Duane!).  My old ones were worn through to the insole and hurt my feet and legs.  I know you minimalist people think shoes with no cushion are the bomb, I think they don't work for me.  I like a tiny bit of tread too.  Shoes with tread and a little bit of padding make all the difference in my running comfort.  The training has been going well for the most part.   Weight lifting has been sporadic at best and my running always suffers for two weeks post event but I've been getting out regularly.  My mile a day running streak is still in tact after two years and  at least walking one mile a day, four years.

Old, ouch! Sorry for the bird food and poo stuck in them.

NEW! Pretty and comfy.

In December, I did Ancient Oaks again and completed the 100 miles in 27:48 (?) and felt great!  In February, I used the same training, eating and med tactics and completed about 60 miles at Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail as part of a relay team with Scott K. from Vol State.  In both cases, I felt great, ate and drank and had the same med strategy.  In both cases, I stayed up almost all night!!!!!!  I slept on and off through labor with my son when I was twenty years younger so staying up all night was a huge accomplishment.  The days following both, I was not terribly sore either.  Another accomplishment.  I will apply the same strategies in my upcoming race, the Route 40 Romp (R 40 R).  

Upcoming Race:  The Route 40 Romp (R 40 R) goes from Yankeetown, on the Pacific side of Florida, to Ormond Beach, on the Atlantic side of Florida mostly via Route 40.  It is 116 miles.  I will have a "crew" named Marilyn.  Marilyn and I met at Ancient Oaks in 2012.  She generously and selflessly offered to crew me at this race when Kathleen T told her I was going to push a baby stroller to hold my supplies.  This race has long stretches without water so a crew is necessary to keep you from dehydrating.  I am overjoyed and overwhelmed by Marilyn's enthusiasm and generosity.  I'm stunned that an acquaintance would give up her weekend to take care of me in such a self-serving, self-centered endeavor.   I am thankful and humbled.  My husband has paced me before but I've never been crewed.  This will be a new experience for me.  

The race is tomorrow, Saturday, March 22 at 7:30 am.  I have a med plan in place that is similar to the ones I've used in the last two races.  Food and clothing is ready.  I am nervous as hell.  I've been awake before 5 am three days this week because of the hyperthyroid and the anxiety over this race.  It's one thing to go 100 miles, to me it's quite another to tack on another 16 miles.  I need to trust that I can do it.  

This is getting too long.  I will put my med plan into a different post.  

A quick thank you to my husband who allows me to work with the birds, keep the house clean, take care of the pets and run.  Thank you to all of my wonderful friends who support me in so many ways.  Thank you to Marilyn for offering to take care of me for the weekend.

XXXOOO to all