Training 9/3-9/9

9/3- AM- 2nd day clean and I am improving pretty quickly.  Indoor 3 mile (rain) in 22:12 (7:24 pace) with splits of 7:38-7:26-7:08.  Perhaps running helps me clear the poison from my system, which may explain the negative splits.  I may run again this evening.

PM- Trak Shak 3 in an 85 degree steam bath. Finished in a solid 22:36 (7:32 pace).  Performance was at least on par with this morning if not better.  Splits were 8:02-7:37-6:57.  I don't know why I am so slow starting out but negative splits result in a more positive view of the workout.  Bad news is that I may be coming down with a summer cold.  Okay, more pain!
Grade:C+/1 credit/distance=6.0

9/4- Indoor 5 miler in 35:46 (7:09 pace).  Put out tempo effort and my pace was still a good 30 seconds slow.  This is nothing worth celebrating under normal circumstances but once again, it is progress.  This is only the 3rd day clean and it will be at least 2 more until I am even close to my peak.  I made an effort to push it early so the pace was pretty even today.  Splits were 7:12-7:08-7:11-7:16-6:59.  The throat is still sore but so far that's my only symptom.  Let's hope that this is nothing more than an annoying summer cold.  NO sinus infection, NO bacterial.  Please.
Grade:B-/1 credit/distance=5.0

9/5- Trak Shak 6 with a moving time of 46:50 (7:48 pace).  That doesn't look so bad but if you break it down, it sucks.  1st half was a solid 22:18 then faded to a 24:32.  I also cheated by walking the last hill and stopping the watch.  Mile 6 was a terrible 8:43.  Not sure what to make of this step backwards.  The head cold was a little bothersome.  I did push pretty hard yesterday but I'm afraid that the banana that I ate for breakfast may have hurt me.  The Fructosin has yet to arrive.  I had planned on waiting until after Denver to take it but now, I'm starting it when it arrives.
Grade:C/1 credit/distance=6.0 

9/6- The plan calls for a rest either today or tomorrow and I am taking it today.  Negative thoughts have flooded my mind.  If the fructosin does not work, I have little choice other than to take some extended time off and come back as a recreational runner.  All other pills that I have taken in the past yield a swift negative reaction.  I am on the verge of giving up but this sort of deep slump seems to happen about once a year and it's always near the end of the 3rd quarter or start of the 4th.

9/7- Marginal improvement over 2 days ago.  Indoor 5 in 38:41 (7:44 pace).  1st half was 19:12, 2nd half was 19:29.  The rhino virus is slowing me down.  Felt very heavy and sore.  Not an enjoyable run at all but I survived it.  The fructosin arrived this evening so help may be on the way.
Grade:C+/1 credit/distance=5.0

9/8- HELP IS ON THE WAY!  I felt terrible when I woke up then took my first fructosin just before lunch.  I could feel a little bit of difference.  After my 2nd pill, it was a significant difference.  I did the same 5 miler indoors but my time is all the way down to 34:55 (6:59 pace).  Faded in Mile 4 but bounced back strong with a 91 second last quarter mile.  1st half: 17:25/ 2nd half: 17:30.  There are still a lot a unanswered questions.  What impact will this have on my foot?  Will it force me back on the Thym-Adren?  How dependent will I be on this stuff?  Do I have at least some freedom from the strict dietary restrictions now?  Another issue is that I was still more than 3 minutes slower than my PR today so I am a long way from being out of the woods.  My body is still out of whack so I can't push too hard and risk injury.  Denver is in 2 weeks.
Grade:B/2 credit/distance=5.0

9/9- I've gotten some answers to yesterday's questions.  The foot?  Still unsure on that.  Freedom from dietary restrictions?  YES.  I had a forbidden sugared drink and my body did NOT stiffen up.  Dependence on Frucotsin?  Unlikely.  I may need it long term but based on what I've read, I can miss a few doses here and there and be fine.  Back on the thyroid/adrenal pills?  PROBABLY YES.  I was hoping that I would not have to go back on those pills but I'm okay with it.  There is a chance that this is only temporary.
   The workout:  TERRIBLE. Lakeshore 4 miler in 32:13 (8:03 pace) with an 8:51 last mile.  After that point, I quit and walked the last mile.  This time, I was not heavy and sore.  I was short of breath and too loose.  Can Thym-Adren get me back on track?  I may try again this afternoon.

PM- Took a Paramin pill and felt no different then tried a Thym-Adren and did feel different.  Still too loose and struggling for breath but a definite improvement.  Wisteria 2 mile in 14:18 (7:09 pace) with splits of 7:02-7:16.  2nd mile was uphill so it was actually fairly even.  I was shooting for 12+ miles on the day and I only managed half so that's why I didn't pass today.
Grade:F+/2 credits/distance=6.0

Weekly summary:
Help is on the way.  I've just got to get it all regulated. 4th sub 2 in 5 weeks. Dropped below 3.0 on the year. Still on pace for 2K miles.  Barely.
Distance= 33.0/ GPA= 15.9/8=1.99