A 15k?!

I'm not the type of girl to sit back and be passive. If someone tells me not to do something, I normally end up doing it. A bit rebellious? Yes. Has this gotten me into trouble before? Yes. But I also think this fighting spirit has helped me greatly deal with Addison's Disease.

Also, I have always loved running. I just can't explain my love of running. I'm sure I come across as a crazy person. But my relationship with running is very finicky. If my Addison's Disease is off, I can't run or train. Many runners give me the advice to just "push through it!" No. I refuse to send my body into a crisis for my own selfishness. I have to listen to my body. I'm easily dehydrated and easily fatigued. I always assumed that I would hit a wall with distance. I told myself that I shouldn't try for the longer distances. I should be content with the "easy" 3.1 miles.

Recently I've learned how to better adjust my medicine and food so that I can handle longer distances. In November, I ran the 8 mile Turkey Trot. While I considered that a huge milestone and triumph, I did end up in the ER less than a week later. Not good.

About at month ago, I spoke with my endocrinologist and we tweaked some of my medicine. I openly told her about the couple of longer distances I had coming up. She told me how to adjust my medicine so that I would be able to recover faster.

Last Sunday, I ran a 5 mile race. I got third place for my age group!!! While that might not seem that significant, I was always the slowest girl on high school cross country. Looking back, I've realized it was because I was not adequately adjusting my medicine.

The RunOn! Chicken was kind enough to pose for a picture with me.
Also, the award was a snow globe. How awesome is that?

Yesterday, I wanted to test my boundaries again. I have Addison's Disease, but I'm done living in a box. My disease is incurable, but that does not mean that my life has to be miserable. I can do intense physical activity, I just have to plan ahead and be extra careful. I took additional medicine and was proactive about remaining well hydrated.

I had a co-woker who ran with me the first 8 miles.
I know I couldn't have had this good of time if I had been running alone.

I finished it!!! Addison's Disease, suck it! I ran a race that most healthy people would never dream of doing. AND I ran it at a 9:50/mi pace. Now let's just hope I don't end up in the ER less than a week later. But if that happens, oh well. This is the nature of this disease.

Next goal? A half marathon the end of March. I have completed a half marathon before (in 2008), but I didn't train and it took several days for my body to recover from it. And by recover, I don't mean "Oh, I'm sore." I mean "Oh, Addison's Disease, I hate you right now." I want to try to actually run this half marathon. Once again, I am pushing the limits of my disease.

Addison's Disease, you do not control my life.

I am Clearly Alive.

(And Clearly Crazy. That's the only way I can rationalize my love of running.)

I totally ran 9.3 miles for the chocolate.
It was totally worth it.

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