Hello, my name is Terra Thomas and I have had Type 1 diabetes for 10 years. In May 2000, I switched from MDI therapy to insulin pump therapy. I work as an environmental scientist for a consulting firm in Santa Barbara, CA and I hold a BS degree in chemistry.

My experience in the outdoors has been accumulating all of my life. I grew up in Spokane, WA and spent most of my youth exploring the mountains of Washington and northern Idaho. My passion for activity has intensified with age, what can I say, I love to sweat. I enjoy trail running, kayaking, mt. biking, climbing (all kinds), surfing, SCUBA, sailing, snowboarding and swimming.

Ever since I was diagnosed, doctors and even family have frowned upon my adventurous lifestyle. Pushing my physical limit is a characteristic of my personality. I continue to focus on what I am capable of achieving rather than what I will no longer be able to do. By pushing my physical limit I attempt to defy the perceived notion that my disease has limitations. My involvement in an active life, including my love of the mountains, provide my self with the satisfaction of being. I have never been able to sit down while the world challenged me to explore and test the limits of my mind and body.

After graduating from college in 1995 I became involved with climbing in general. I was fortunate enough to learn most of the "basics" of climbing while learning to ice climb in the Canadian Rockies in the winters of 1995, 1996 and 1997. I have had the privilege to spend time climbing in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, Nevada, Utah, Montana, Arizona, Colorado and throughout the Canadian Rockies. My altitude experience includes climbing Mt. Rainer in 1998 and numerous mountaineering trips in the High Sierra.

On June 25, 2000 I completed my third marathon. The marathon took place in Kona, HI and was an ADA "Team Diabetes" event. It was amazing to be surrounded by so many people who had on one level or another, an understanding of diabetes. While walking on the beach, there was comfort to see how other diabetics strategically placed their pumps onto their swimsuits. As I departed from the ADA event in Hawaii I left with an overwhelming feeling of "fitting-in", an experience every diabetic should understand.