Monday, November 29, 2010

Training 11/29-12/5

11/29- Easy indoor 5 miler in 38:27 (7:41 pace). This is the type of pace that felt easy when I was in the groove in September and it felt easy today as well. That's really a good sign especially after my long run the previous day was only fair. Of course, my body has not taken the cumulative effects of high mileage. I have not topped 40 in more than 2 months so I still should be fresh. I hope to look back on this and see today as when I turned the corner. 3 ADHS in divided doses evenly spread throughout the day is the winning formula right now. If I take 2 at once or go more than 12 hours without a pill, I'll be hurting. My best hope is that I will be less dependent when my numbers are better according to the medical report.
Grade:A-/1 credit/distance=5.0

11/30- Another easy 5 indoors because it was nasty outside. This one was a bit too fast. Time was 37:53 (7:35 pace). I felt comfortable during the run but was hurting a bit afterwards. Pretty strong performance overall.
Grade:A-/1 credit/distance=5.0

12/1- Tempo. Trak Shak 5 in 40 degree weather. It will likely be colder in Huntsville but as long as there is little wind, it will be fine. Moving time was 34:10 (6:50 pace). I must be especially cautious in the dark when it comes to traffic. Another runner told me that I was "over the speed limit." LOL. I've never heard that one before. Solid performance. Must be under 34 for an A in a tempo run. Plan is to go longer and slower tomorrow.
Grade:B+/2 credits/distance=5.0

12/2- Easy 7 plus cool down. Very smooth and relaxing run. Time was 55:23 (7:55 pace) with almost no effort. I get a rest day tomorrow then it's time to tackle that 20 miler.
Grade:A-/1 credit/distance=7.5

12/3- Planned rest day.

12/4- Obligatory 20 mile run in 2:47:47 (8:24 pace). That's a 3:40 marathon pace. Started out at 8;30 pace as planned. Very even pace. In fact, I hit the 16 mile mark in exactly 2:16 flat. I was hoping to have a bit more left in the final 4 but still managed a 31:47 (7:57 pace). I would rate my performance as average. I will not try for a PR in Huntsville (8:12 pace) and will play it safe and start out at 8:30 pace. If I can hold it, I will beat my time from Fargo last Spring.
Grade:B-/2 credits/distance=20.0

12/5- Surprisingly fresh in a recovery jog. I did not take any ADHS in the morning and felt good until noon but late in the run, I was beginning to feel some ill-effects. Still, I was able to do what I planned. 4.5 at EZ pace and I didn't even time it.
Grade:B/1 credit/distance=4.5

Weekly summary:
Clearly my best week since the injury and now is a good time for a breakthrough. I may try to tinker my dosage a bit. 3 seems to be a bit too much. 2 wasn't enough in the past. I may go with 2.5 this week. I definitely need it and my medical report confirmed it. I'll send in another hair test in about 6 weeks and hope to see at least somewhat better numbers. As for Huntsville, I plan to go out conservatively then gradually increase the pace depending on how I feel.
Distance=47.0/ GPA= 26.1/8= 3.26

Monday, November 22, 2010

training 11/22-28

11/22- Felt hypo in the morning but got better as the day progressed. Workout was a 5 mile tempo on Lakeshore in 65 degree weather (evening in late Nov). Time was a solid 36:29 at a reasonable tempo effort. Splits: 7:44-7:17-7:16-7:18-6:54. Solid performance. Took 4 ADHS alone. If that's going to be all that I need, I feel pretty good about that. I still need Paramin for blood sugar but it's no big deal if I miss a few doses. Now, I really want to get to the point where I can miss a few doses of ADHS without an extreme reaction. Based on my medical report, I am a LONG way from freedom from imbalances but I can live with that. What I CANNOT live with is being chemically unstable!
Grade:B/2 credits/distance=5.0

11/23- Strong. Probably my best run since the injury. 7 miles in 49:17 (7:03 pace). Pace was no slower than 7:11. 1st half was 24:27, 2nd half: 24:50. A bit of groin soreness but overall, my legs felt light and the effort was strong. Probably good for a low 34 5 miler today. The old Crazy J is back. I'll need 2 more good long runs and it's still too soon to predict a time in Huntsville. 4 ADHS and NOTHING ELSE. Yes!
Grade:A-/2 credits/distance=7.5

11/24- travel day, no running

11/25- Thanksgiving Day, no running

11/26- 3 miles on the trail in 22:20 (7:27 pace). Miserable run. 34 degrees with a 15 mph wind. Did not feel my best on 4 ADHS. Time to cut it to 3 and possibly add tyrosine. Not good but the change in routine likely played a role as well.
Grade:C/1 credit/distance=3.0

11/27- travel day

11/28- Long run as planned. Woke up feeling hyper after not taking ADHS for almost 48 hours so I took 2 and it took me too far in the opposite direction. What else is new? Overall, it was not a disaster. I wanted to quit after 4 miles but after a sharp slowdown in pace, I managed to stay in the 8:30 range for the next 10 miles then closed with a 7:55. Overall time was 2:04:44 (8:19 pace). I passed 13.1 in 1:49:xx and felt fairly comfortable. I think that 3:40 is a moderate goal for Huntsville considering the shape I'm in when I am in balance. 1st 5 miles: 40:16, middle 5 miles: 42:27, last 5 miles: 42:01. Performance was fair overall.
Grade:C+/2 credits/distance=15.0

Weekly summary:
Will 3 ADHS work for me? If I feel good on race day, I'll finish Huntsville in a respectable time. If not, I won't. Simple as that. 2 weeks to go and 1 more long run.
Distance= 30.5/ GPA= 20/7= 2.86

Monday, November 15, 2010

training 11/15-21

11/15- Indoor 5 miler on a rainy day. Time of 34:46 (6:57 pace). Anything under 35 is acceptable. I went with iodine alone today and that's what I'm sticking with until further notice. More than 2 minutes down on my PR but a solid 43 seconds better than last week. 30 out of those 43 ticks came in the 2nd half. Splits were 6:45-6:52-7:04-7:09-6:56. 1st half: 17:08, 2nd half: 17:38.
Who knows? I may have to go back on Lithium again before too long. If I can tolerate ADHS, that will be helpful to get in balance but iodine is what gives me the symptom relief.
Grade:B/2 credits/distance=5.5

11/16- Planned rest day. It was windy with occasional rain anyway. The weather should clear tomorrow. Felt hyper today after taking iodine alone. Again, what worked yesterday did not work today. I HATE BEING CHEMICALLY UNSTABLE! I'm going back to ADHS.

11/17- Only took 1 ADHS in the morning and I felt good early in the day but the energy was fading by the evening and I was feeling hyperthyroid by the end of the day. I must bump it up to 2 and possibly take SBF. It's a good sign that I can tolerate ADHS again, which is what my doctor suggested that I take. I should see some improvement in my numbers by January. The workout was the Trak Shak 5 in 37:04 (7:25 pace). Moderate effort and even pace for first 3 miles. Faded in Mile 4 but made up for it in Mile 5.
Weight is up to 160, which is the highest it has been in 4 years. That's the upper end of the range so I don't want to gain any more (never thought I'd say that). The cause is likely the thyroid instability and blood sugar issues. NO more soda and alcohol usage must be rare.
As for Huntsville, the principle goal is to finish but if I can turn the corner in the next 3 weeks and feel that I can PR, I'll certainly try. I'll predict a time in the upper 3:40s. If by some miracle, I can crack the 3:30 barrier, I will happily retire from marathons.
Grade:C/1 credit/distance=5.0

11/18- Woke up feeling very hyperthyroid so I went with 2 ADHS and it worked well. The question is: What happens if I take 3 or 4? If that does not take me to hypo symptoms and if I could go without it for a day, I declare myself chemically stable! Yes! Workout was an indoor 6 at 45:27 (7:35 pace) plus a final 1/2 mile in 3:18 (10K race pace). Overall workout was 6.5 @ and even 7:30 pace plus a cool down. Solid performance.
Grade:B/1 credit/distance=7.0

11/19- Easy 3.5. Started slow (8:10 first mile) then slowly picked up the pace and finished in 27:56 for a 7:59 average pace. Didn't feel my best but not bad enough for it to be a concern.
Grade:C+/1 credit/distance-3.5

11/20- Terrible performance. Needed 12 hours of sleep then went from hyper to hypo because I took SBF in addition to ADHS. I remain chemically unstable with more loud screams of frustration. Workout was supposed to be 15 miles. I ended up quitting after 4 in 32:44 with splits of 7:56-8:06-8:07-8:35. I mentally checked out after 3 miles. My only hope is more ADHS to stabilize.
Grade:F/1 credit/distance=4.0

11/21- Mildly better than yesterday and that is faint praise. Pace was decent through 8 miles then slogged an 8:21 and then an 8:40 then quit after Mile 10 with a time of 81:35 (8:10 pace). I rested for a few minutes then ran a mile all out, which was a pathetic 7:59 followed by a cool down at a glacial pace. I probably need more ADHS. 3 or 4? Do I need tyrosine or iodine? SBF ain't gonna work and neither will taurine. 3 weeks until Huntsville and I am not ready.
Grade:D/2 credits/distance=12.0

Weekly summary:
"You're doing better because you've got a stable job and you're living where you want to be." Bull^#@^! I cannot take this chemical instability any longer!
Distance= 37.0/ GPA= 15.3/8= 1.91

Monday, November 8, 2010

training 11/8-11/14

11/8- Indoor 5 mile in 35:29 (7:06 pace). Still 3 minutes down on my PR and felt hyperthyroid but this is the best I've felt since the injury. Good start but could not hold pace after 1.5 miles. Splits were 6:47-7:00-7:11-7:16-7:15. 1st half: 17:21, 2nd half: 18:08. New thyroid supplements have arrived and I'll start on them tomorrow. Hope is still alive.
Grade:B-/2 credits/distance=5.0

11/9- Johnny's workout for the first time in a while. Great to see him again. 3x1200. Times were 4:50-4:46-4:43. Knee was a bit tender so I skipped #4 but I was told that I "was not limping at all." Overall pace was 6:22, which is the fastest I've gone since the injury. As for the body's response to the new supplements, I tolerated them and that's a good sign. It may take a while for it to fully work and I'm comfortable with that. Wild swings that I had in the past would make me feel uneasy. In peak condition, I would have run these 1200s in 4:15 or under. I experienced the stiffness of hypo and the breathlessness of hyper, which is pretty much what the medical report showed. Is this where the healing begins?
Grade:C+/2 credits/distance=3.5

11/10- Planned rest day. Can't rush back or risk another injury.

11/11- Veteran's Day run on Lakeshore. In mid-November, I ran without a shirt in 75 degree weather. Workout was 6.5 miles on the trail. I aimed for about 8:15 pace and felt too sluggish. The SBF won't work for me. I have to stick with the ADHS and possibly Thym-Adren. To my credit, I stuck it out and finished my longest run in more than a month. Time was 56:26 (8:41 pace). 1st half: 28 flat, 2nd half 28:26. Miles #4 and 5 were both over 9 but showed some life at the end with an 8:34 6th mile and a 4:00 last half as the SBF was working its way out. I've already topped last week's total in mileage.
Grade:C-/1 credit/distance=6.5

11/12- Good enough to run today but took an elective rest as a precaution. Thym-Adren won't work either. It's ADHS for sure and I may need thyroid glandular support for a short time.

11/13- BAD! ADHS ain't gonna work because it contains Lithium. SCREAMS OF FRUSTRATION! Tried 2 raw thyroid glandulars and felt pretty good for about 30 minutes then overshot the balance point. Hit 2.5 miles in a solid 18:15 then faded to 19:02 for 2nd 2.5 then hit the wall and quit. Next .25 was over 9 minute pace. MORE SCREAMS OF FRUSTRATION! I'll try one tomorrow then go back to tyrosine.
Grade:D/1 credit/distance=6.0

11/14- Went with iodine and one tyrosine with no glandulars. Pretty good call. Tyrosine likely did more harm than good and I did feel a bit hyper. At any rate, I did what I meant to do yesterday. 10 miles at moderate effort. Time was 77:58 with an even pace (38:54/39:04). I slowed down in Mile 7 and had to push pretty hard to stay on pace. Still out of whack and not good by any stretch but still a nice improvement.
Grade:C/2 credits/distance=10.0
Weekly summary:
I nearly tripled my distance from last week and my build up training plan is on track. That's good but my body is still clearly way out of whack and I am still angry.
Distance=31.0/GPA=16.7/8=2.09

Monday, November 1, 2010

training 11/1-11/7

11/1- Vestavia Mile in 7:26.8. I could not go much faster even if I wanted to but the good news was that my knee held up. It felt about the same as Saturday when I ran a 1/4 mile and Sunday when I ran a 1/2. I could feel the pain and it was holding me back but it was relatively mild and did not worsen during the run. I have my prolo appointment tomorrow afternoon and will need a few days to recover from the injections but I am optimistic about my prognosis. Still no medical report yet and in that case, I am hoping for the worst. Next run will not be until Friday at the earliest. Not that this means anything but my first half was 3:49 and 2nd half was 3:37.
Grade:D/1 credit/distance=1.0

11/2- Prolo appointment. Planned rest day.

11/3- Pain from the injection peaked around lunchtime and has started to die down. Running is still out of the question today. Maybe I can go super easy tomorrow. Medical report came in and I was hoping for the worst and got it. The problem was that the news was bad on 3 fronts, not just 1. Blood sugar is bad, which was not a shock. I'm not trending diabetic yet but I am in the hypoglycemic range. Thyroid and adrenals are in overdrive yet I get stiff and sluggish when I take Lithium almost as if I am hypo. The critical Na/K ratio, which I expected to be very high, is near normal. The doc has suggested that I switch to an herbal supplement to balance it out. This is my last hope to get in balance.

11/4- 2 miles. Just over 2 days after prolo, I could stand to run again. That's encouraging. My Garmin died after a half mile in 3:59 so figure that my time was around 16. Again, I could not go much faster but my knee held up okay. I'll try to do a little better tomorrow.
Grade:D/1 credit/distance=2.0

11/5- 5K at tempo effort. Time was 22:32 with an even pace (7:17-7:10-7:14) + 50. 1st half was 11:15, 2nd half was 11:17. That's still a distressing 3+ minutes from a PR but MUCH better than my previous runs since the injury. I felt somewhat like myself and the new supplements should arrive by tomorrow.
Grade:C-/2 credits/distance=3.5

11/6- If healthy, I would have gone to Mobile for a shot at a sub-40 10K. As it is, I had to settle for a Veteran's Park 4 miler at EZ pace but not EZ effort. Time was 31:48 (7:57 pace). I wasn't putting out tempo effort but it felt harder than a normal run at this pace. An all out out effort would have been around 30 flat. This is the first time since the injury that I trained on hills and my knee held up well. The new supplements did not arrive today so I'll have to wait until Monday. Tomorrow will be longer and slower. Fair performance.
Grade:C/1 credit/distance=4.0

11/7- Terrible performance. 5 hour energy will not work for me. Not a big surprise but I was curious how I would respond to it and really didn't expect it to be this bad. I'm stressed out. I don't know what to do if this new stuff doesn't work. It does contain ingredients that I could not tolerate in the past. The run was a half mile at Vestavia and I quit.
Grade:F/1 credit/distance=0.5

Weekly summary:
This is not good. Even out of shape, this does not feel right.
Distance=11.0/ GPA= 7.4/6= 1.23