big Wade's XL Adventure
Let's do some fun stuff and invite people along.
A short history of mostly everything.
My disease went into remission when I was in my 20s. It was time to party.
I regained enough strength to be able to try a lot of the things I had missed out on as a kid. I set goals around them, and it was rad. Through many of these goals, we were able to raise lots of money for lots of cool organizations and non-profits.
I also found an army of amazing, kind humans who helped me along the way. My parents, brother, sister-in-law, and neblings were also behind the scenes on nearly all of it. I feel super lucky to know them and love them all.
So here’s a retrospective of my path of mayhem and destruction leading up to this point.
​
Age 5. Little Wadey meets dermatomyositis.
I was always chillin when my energy levels were low.
Hanging inside when play wasn't an option, I became a fierce reader and fledgling communicator.
Age 5. Little Wadey meets dermatomyositis.
My childhood took place through the 1980s. It was a weird time for fashion.
My childhood took place through the 1980s. It was a weird time for fashion.
1980s-90s. Sitting still. Without good treatment options at the time, my disease was pretty active for most of my kidhood.
1980s-90s. Sitting still. Without good treatment options at the time, my disease was pretty active for most of my kidhood.
1997. Camp JRA. My parents and doc lovingly forced me to go to Camp JRA, a camp for kids with similar diseases.
I quickly realized I'd found the community I'd been missing for most of my life.
By my last year at Camp JRA in 2011 (I was the camp director at this point), it reached 125 campers and 60 staff.
1997. Camp JRA. My parents and doc lovingly forced me to go to Camp JRA, a camp for kids with similar diseases.
1998ish. After 18+ years and a whole lot of meds, I entered remission. I start to feel stronger.
1998ish. After 18+ years and a whole lot of meds, I entered remission. I start to feel stronger.
1998. My brother Brett invites me on my first real backpacking trip. It became a new love.
We began going on many annual backpacking trips together.
1998. My brother Brett invites me on my first real backpacking trip. It became a new love.
2003. I feel confident enough to try my first half marathon. I power strode across the finish line with my sister-in-law Janice and friend Linda.
Sarah rounds out team Wadey and the Ladies for my first half marathon in Disney World.
2011. The Virginia Beach rock 'n roll half marathon.
2003. I feel confident enough to try my first half marathon. I power strode across the finish line with my sister-in-law Janice and friend Linda.
2013. I tried to quit cheese. It doesn't take. Watch what happened at the link.
2013. I tried to quit cheese. It doesn't take. Watch what happened at the link.
2013. I met Tyler. Tyler teaches me how to use a gym, since I'd never really had gym class.
Tyler is very patient, as I knew nothing.
2013. I met Tyler. Tyler teaches me how to use a gym, since I'd never really had gym class.
2014. I became numbers obsessed and set a bunch of goals around my 30th anniversary of diagnosis. It includes a list of goals for things I wants to learn and try.
I completed my 30K elevation gain goal.
Back side!
2014. I became numbers obsessed and set a bunch of goals around my 30th anniversary of diagnosis. It includes a list of goals for things I wants to learn and try.
I decide to properly learn how to ride a bike, after signing up to ride 363 miles down the coast of Oregon over 6 days. The pressure is on.
Laura was my cycling coach. Despite constantly denying me snack breaks, Laura is a fantastic and motivational cycling coach.
The People's Coast Classic riders, 2014.
I decide to properly learn how to ride a bike, after signing up to ride 363 miles down the coast of Oregon over 6 days. The pressure is on.
2015. With my 30 years goals over, I decide I'm ready to join my first gym. Joey Teardrops is there to train me and make it a party.
Joey gets me on a snowboard. Nothing breaks, mostly.
Hello, Mr. Hamstring. Please to meet you, Dr. Trapezius. Bonjour, Monsieur Pectoralis. High-five, Major Abdominals.
2015. With my 30 years goals over, I decide I'm ready to join my first gym. Joey Teardrops is there to train me and make it a party.
2016. Continuing my path of overcomplicating simple things, I made a 13 minute short film about trying to learn how to do a sit up starring C3PO and other celebrities. Alas, 8 years later, sit ups are still not in my wheelhouse. See the dorky film at the link below.
2016. Continuing my path of overcomplicating simple things, I made a 13 minute short film about trying to learn how to do a sit up starring C3PO and other celebrities. Alas, 8 years later, sit ups are still not in my wheelhouse. See the dorky film at the link below.
2017. I met Davie, a strength and conditioning guru and head coach for some pro Rugby folks. Davie teaches me how to push tin and properly curse.
Me, Davie and the rugby fellows.
2017. I met Davie, a strength and conditioning guru and head coach for some pro Rugby folks. Davie teaches me how to push tin and properly curse.
2018. I crossed another item off my list and properly learned to swim, courtesy of some patient and wise Denver Parks & Rec lifeguards at Central Park Rec Center.
Me and my swimming mentor Rob at Montclair Rec Center.
2018. I crossed another item off my list and properly learned to swim, courtesy of some patient and wise Denver Parks & Rec lifeguards at Central Park Rec Center.
2019. Me and Steph decide to attempt Mt. Kilimanjaro, and successfully summit.
Midnight on summit day, about to set off for the final leg.
2019. Me and Steph decide to attempt Mt. Kilimanjaro, and successfully summit.
2022. I discovered rock climbing at The North Face summer camp after Mo Beck and Conrad Anker gently bully me.
With Peter Athans looking on, Ed belayed me on my first awkward climb.
Me and Conrad, post climb. It's a big day for me in terms of setting new boundaries for what's possible for myself.
2022. I discovered rock climbing at The North Face summer camp after Mo Beck and Conrad Anker gently bully me.
2022. I start to dabble in climbing and attend the Adaptive Climbers Festival (ACF) in Kentucky for the first time.
Me and my ACF sponsors/bullies, Mo and Kristina.
ACF successfully makes me a little bit of a dirt bag.
2022. I start to dabble in climbing and attend the Adaptive Climbers Festival (ACF) in Kentucky for the first time.
Now! Prep work for 2024 began last year. I started taking the good drugs again (thanks, Rituximab!) and have been working on getting stronger through climbing, Pilates and lots o’ flexibility work.
Now! Prep work for 2024 began last year. I started taking the good drugs again (thanks, Rituximab!) and have been working on getting stronger through climbing, Pilates and lots o’ flexibility work.
I also recently got my resting metabolic rate tested. This RMR score determines the ideal calories I should consume during big activities, like long-distance hiking.
I also recently got my resting metabolic rate tested. This RMR score determines the ideal calories I should consume during big activities, like long-distance hiking.