I've come so far!

I love our Tuesday night group training runs in Decatur. It's a nice break to the work week to go out there and see my running friends. I hate that sometimes (like tonight), it takes me almost 80 minutes to drive out there because of traffic, but it's always worth it to go and get my miles in with the group and just have a mid-week social outing.

It's also nice because we run the same route every week, and it's nice to feel the accomplishment I've made in finishing that route. It's a nice run through Decatur, and I feel so much better doing those 4-5 miles now than I did just 2 short months ago. I really like the 4-6 mile runs ... it's just long enough where I don't get super bored or exhausted, and it feels like a good accomplishment. I'm still kind of wondering how in the world I'm going to run 13.1 miles in Vegas!

I feel like I've also come so far health-wise! I saw my GI doctor yesterday and everything is going well! We've had some talks about possibly switching my medications, because I still have recurring abscesses and fistulas, but we're still waiting to see whether the Humira shots I give myself will start to make a difference in healing these fistulas. I've been on these shots for almost a year, with weekly injections for just about 2 months now.

I also think about how far I've come in terms of my recovery since my surgeries. I had my first surgery in July 2008, followed by my 2nd in September 2008, 3rd in December 2008, 4th in February 2009, and 5th in May 2009. I wish I had taken more pictures through the course of those surgeries, but they were all so whirlwind that I was just doing what I could to survive. I think I had no idea what my "new normal" would be when this picture was taken after my bowel resection last July ... or how 15 months later I would feel almost back to normal! It's amazing and I feel so greatful for my awesome doctors and my awesome medications!

Busy bee!

I've realized that I'm not a very good blogger. Good thing I've never wanted to start a blog about what's going on in my life because I'd probably only give updates every few weeks and that would be a really lame blog.

I have been SO busy lately ... it's like I finally bought a social life at the grocery store or something! Training is ... going. I'm finding it increasingly diffcult to manage my time and get my miles in. I wish I had been busier earlier in my training because the runs were so much shorter. We're steadily increasing miles now and it just takes so much more time. And my social calendar has exploded. I'm getting by though.

Last weekend, my Mom and I went to NY for the long weekend. My cousin Amanda and I went to run with her Team Challenge group on Saturday morning. Unfortunately, I got there and felt really sick so we didn't end up running. Sometimes I just get really faint and dizzy and feel like I'm going to pass out. I haven't figured out what causes it, but I'm pretty sure it's not normal and it happens probably more often than it should. Regardless, I missed my 7 mile run and felt pretty down about it. It's hard to look at increasing mileage when you've missed out on training.

On Tuesday night, I made it to our group training run ... but late. Traffic is usually so bad getting out to Decatur, and if I don't leave work at the right moment I struggle to get there. Apparently the group had just left, so I was certain that I could catch up with them, so I set out by myself. Wrong answer ... they apparently did a different route than I did, so I ended up running the 4 miles by myself. It was getting pretty dark by the end, but it's a nice route that I took and it is a pretty well-populated area.

On Thursday night, there was a Team Challenge half-way there party for the season! It was at a hotel down in Midtown and it was so fun! It's so strange to see everyone actually dressed up in real clothes and wearing makeup! My friend Jennifer and I went together, and of course we got there late because of traffic. It was a good time though, and we learned some interesting "fun facts" about some of our teammates! :) Afterwards, we went out to Twisted Taco for dinner and drinks and it was nice to get out! Unfortunately, that also meant I got home really late and missed running on Thursday. Whoops!

My weekend was busy yet again .... I need a break! Friday night, I went with some colleagues from work to the Auditory Verbal Center gala. It was lots of fun and even more fun to put on a cute cocktail dress and high heels and spend a night out! I woke up super early on Saturday morning and drove to Charlotte .... for my favorite event .... the Nascar race! Of course, this meant that I missed yet another group training run, but I was determined to get my miles in anyways. I got to Charlotte around 10am, put on my running shoes, and set out to complete 8 miles through downtown Charlotte. I had mapped out my route in advance and was set to make 3 loops. It shouldn't have been that hard, but I sure couldn't follow my own directions and I got lost. No big surprise because sometimes I'm not the brightest crayon in the box. I ran through some questionable parts of Charlotte. I ran ... and ran ... and ran. Because once I was off my course I had no idea how far I was actually running. It was SO cold too ... like nose running, eyes burning, windy bitter cold. I ran for 2 hours and 15 minutes, and I'm pretty sure it was close to 8 miles by my calculations. I was absolutely exhausted, and cold, and tired, and slightly cranky. It's definitely a lot harder to run by yourself than it is with the group.

After my long run, we all headed out to Lowe's Motor Speedway, and tailgated for hours in the freezing cold. I'm pretty sure I negated any healthy benefit of running by drinking beer and eating Bojangles for an entire day. Maybe all the shivering I did over the course of the night evened some of it out! :)

This week is busy again, but at least this coming weekend I'll be in town so I can train with my team again. I miss seeing everyone! My fundraising deadline is approaching soon, but I'm getting so close to my goal! Make sure to check out my fundraising website and donate to the cause!

Honoring ...

I will also be running in honor of two of my good friend Brittan's family members, who both had Ulcerative Colitis. So here's to Gary and Taylor, who are both angels now and pain free from UC!

This weekend we did a 6 mile run through Stone Mountain. It was tough, and hilly, but felt good! This coming weekend I'll be training with the Long Island chapter of Team Challenge with my cousin Amanda! I'm so excited to meet another group!

Camp Oasis

Camp Oasis is a summer camp that is sponsored by the CCFA for kids with Crohn's and Colitis.

Having worked at a summer camp during college, I totally support camp and the positive benefits children receive by going to summer camp. The kids that I worked with at camp spent the 10 months of the school year just counting down to the 2 summer months that they would spend at Trail's End Camp. And once they were there, it was such a supportive and loving environment where they could really be themselves and just be kids. And these were healthy, typical children from loving home. But just the summer camp experience for kids is something I feel strongly about!

I'm excited to be fundraising for the CCFA because of the Camp Oasis program they provide! I couldn't imagine being an elementary or middle school aged kid with Crohn's Disease. I mean, as an adult, it's bad enough that I'm in the bathroom sometimes 7+ times a day, and that I vomit, and bleed, and have to give myself shots, and have to take 10+ horse pills a day. Could you imagine going through that as a kid? And to try to fit in, and tell your friends and teachers why you're sick, and why you are in and out of the hospital, why you have to take medication on a daily basis, and to just try to live a normal life while going through all of that?

At Camp Oasis, the kids have a chance to be normal kids -- without the stigma of living with a chronic disease -- and have other kids and adults who get it.

There are some great quotes and photos from Camp Oasis that I'd love to share. You should feel good that when you donate to the CCFA, your money is not only going to research for Crohn's and Colitis, but to other mission-funded activites like providing a safe haven like Camp Oasis for kids with IBD!

"Camp means so much. Everyone is the same and everyone has to take medicine. When someone says they know what you're going through, they really do. Even though everyone is taking medicine and stuff, camp in a way lets us forget about our diseases."

"Without Camp Oasis, I don't think I'd be comfortable having Crohn's Disease at all. I know I definitely wouldn't be open about it, and by meeting all these other kids just like me, I've learned that it's ok to be different and people will just accept me for who I am, and if they don't, than they aren't worth it. I could never not go back to camp because of the amazing friendships I've made over the past few years, and because camp is probably the highlight of my whole summer."

A Year Ago

It's really incredible to think about where I was a year ago. In September 2008, I was 2 months post- small bowel resection and diagnosis with Crohn's. I was doing pretty well and feeling decent, although still lacking energy and not feeling quite like myself. On September 12, 2008 I had my 2nd surgery and spent another 4 days in the hospital. From that point, my mom moved to Knoxville and lived with me until November. I didn't go to class, I didn't go to clinic, I didn't see my friends outside of my own apartment. I felt awful and it was definitely a really rough time.

Fast forward to today, September 2009. I feel a thousand times better now. I'm still dealing with recurring abscesses and fistulas, all which started last year at this time. While I still don't feel perfect and still have my issues with Crohn's, from where I was a year ago at this time it's been an amazing transformation.

I have to remember my favorite Bible verse, because it has certainly applied to my life with Crohn's over the past year ...
"For we walk by faith and not by sight." -2 Cor 5:7

Early Saturday

This morning, as a team, we completed the Big Peach Sizzler 10K. Team Challenge was one of the featured charities for this race, and we received a nice check from the race that will go to helping to find a cure for Crohn's and Colitis!

I had a decent week training -- did 4 miles on Tuesday and Thursday. We met at 7am this morning to run the 10K .... slightly early for a Saturday morning. I swear my alarm went off at 6am and my first thoughts were "Really? I'm no longer amused by these early Saturday mornings!" I don't think I realized when I signed up for Team Challenge that I would be giving up sleeping in for a good 3 months! It's all in the name of a cure ... right?

I stuck with one of our mentors, Betsy, this morning for the race. We did a run/walk, and finished in 1 hour and 20 minutes! I was pretty proud of that! My biggest goal is just finishing ... period .... but it's nice to both finish and have a somewhat decent time! The race itself was fun .... nice to have people cheering you on and it was a relatively flat course so that definitely helps.

Now on to the rest of my Saturday .... pizza and beer on the couch with a full day of college football! I love the fall!

Dare I Say it?

We did a 4 mile group run this morning .... in the rain. And when I say rain, I don't mean drizzle ... I mean full on rain. Pouring. Those of you who know me may be slightly surprised that I went out in the rain and nonetheless RAN 4 miles in the rain. I don't typically like to get wet ... don't like to get dirty .... I'm what you would call Miss Priss. But for some reason, and dare I say it ... I actually had fun? It was fun running in the rain, and laughing with my teammates, and making it to the end!

I did good this past week and kept up with the training schedule, and could definitely feel it this weekend! I felt good today, and wasn't huffing and puffing as much as usual! Slowly but surely ... I'm getting there!

Stay updated, and make sure to check out my fundraising page at http://www.active.com/donate/lv09georgia/CAdel

Back on the wagon

Last week I was most definitely off the wagon. I just felt kind of yucky all week, the work week was long and busy (although it was a 4-day week thanks to Labor Day, it sure felt long), and I was just not into my mission. I could blame it on any number of things, but truth is, I just didn't put in the effort that I should have.

On Saturday, we had a 4-mile group run. In the weeks past, the group of us doing the run/walk just made up our own routine .... run until we're tired and then walk until we feel ready to run again. Seemed like a good enough routine to me -- at least we were out there doing it! This week, our run coach, Mona, ran with us. She kept us to a strict run 3 minutes and walk 1 minute routine for the whole 4 miles. I definitely struggled -- probably due to my lack of activity in the week prior. I felt it, but I made it ... following the routine for the most part with maybe an extra short walk breaks. I think Mona intimidates me enough (she runs 100-mile races, y'all!) to keep me going, and that's a good thing!

Tonight it was raining pretty good, so I went to the gym instead of running in my neighborhood. We are doing 4 miles again this week, which is nice to keep at the same distance. I did 4 miles on the treadmill tonight, again with a routine of 3:1. I actually felt pretty good throughout the run, and finished it in 1 hour flat! I was happy with that for sure! I like being able to feel the progress through my efforts! This is definitely the longest I have stuck with any exercise plan, which isn't saying much because I rarely even start exercise plans!

I'm up to 25% of my fundraising goals so far, but still have a LONG way to go! Make sure to check out my Active page and see my fundraising progress!

Honoring ...

I received a very generous donation from one of my girlfriends from college. Her sister has Crohn's, and is now an honored teammate for my Team Challenge goals! I know Kris has had her own tough struggle with Crohn's Disease and has had many ups and downs, but I also know through her sister that she is a TOUGH girl! She is an avid biker, and I am honored to be racing for HER in Las Vegas!

Staying skinny

It's a good thing I didn't sign up for this marathon to lose weight .... luckily (is that possible?), the Crohn's takes care of the staying skinny part. I always joke that it's a good thing that I've got Crohn's because otherwise I'd be a big girl with all the crap I eat. I just love junk food too much to stop, although usually I pay for it dearly.

Regardless, we did a 3 mile group run tonight .... and I came straight home and ate McDonald's french fries and a glass of chardonnay. I need those carbs for energy, right?!