Training 10/14-10/20

10/14- AM 2 mile junk run on Wisteria in 19:22 (9:41 pace) running nearly all out.  Afternoon should be marginally better.

PM- Got the expected marginal improvement.  3 miles at Gold's in 24:52 (8:17 pace).  In a full 5K, I would have had to rally for a sub-26, which is HORRIBLE.  I did get one piece of good news.  My RBC Magnesium results are in and the results are solidly in the normal range.  I will lay off the Mag for now.  One baffling development is as follows:  I know that the "deadly duo" of caffeine and alcohol depletes Mag so taking more should help when I cheat right?  Wrong.  Extra Mag made things worse.  From now on, it's all Thym-Adren.  Mag will be taken only on an as needed basis.
Grade:D/1 credit/distance=5.0

10/15- AM 3 miles in 22:56 (7:39 pace).  Splits were 7:40-7:53-7:23.  I was pushing but it was nice to dip under 7:30 for that last mile.  I hope that I can maintain it for 5 miles this evening.

PM- 5 miles at Gold's in 36:59 (7:24 pace) with a hard fought last mile in 6:51.  Actually dipped under 6:00 pace in the final 200.  This is NOT worth celebrating.  I've gone backwards in the last 2 weeks.  Will this round of improvements be followed by another crash this weekend?  2nd day off the Mag and 2nd day clean on the diet.  This was tempo effort to run what was previously an easy pace.  I may cut the Thym-Adren from 8 pills to 6 tomorrow.  Last week, I was over-stimulated when I tried that but who knows now?
Grade:C+/1 credit/distance=8.0

10/16- Trak Shak 5 in 34:50 (6:58 pace).  My legs actually had some power today and I had a bit of a spring in my strides.  Still, I was quite lethargic and heavy.  Rallied for a 6:42 in Mile 5 to secure the sub-35.  Time trial tomorrow.  I cut the Thym-Adren down to 6 pills and only 6 days ago, I was awful on that lowered dosage.  WHAT THE __________?  I am not going to get even the least bit excited about this string of improvements.  I could collapse by the weekend.  That said, I would really like to run the half in West Virginia on 11/10.  The song "Country Roads" by John Denver was going through my head today.
Today was my 3rd straight clean day with the diet.  The lowered Thym-Adren could be related to Vitamin E issues, which went away before after abstaining from caffeine.
Grade:B+/1 credit/distance=5.0

10/17- Gold's 5 in 33:45 (6:45 pace). Fastest time since early June.  Started too fast and was actually on pace for a sub-33 through the first 1.5 miles.  Faded in Mile 3 and 4 but rallied strongly at the end.  1st half: 16:42, 2nd half: 17:03.   (6:31-6:45-6:53-7:01-6:35).  Again, I had some power in my legs but was still too heavy and sluggish.  1 mile cool back on Wisteria.
Tried to get by on only 4 Thym-Adren but found to my relief that it wasn't enough.  6 Thym-Adren with no Mag is a winning formula for the time being and I will probably stick to it through Huntington barring another collapse.  3 sprays of Mag chloride produced a negative reaction.  That's okay.  I'll be fine by the weekend.
Grade:A-/2 credits/distance=6.0

10/18- Planned rest day.  I can get a win this week with a strong long run this weekend.  I need 2 runs in excess of 13 miles if I expect a decent showing in West Virginia.  Clinched a 2.0 GPA on the year yesterday.

10/19- Lakeshore 15 in light drizzle.  I believe this is my longest run since January.  Finished in 1:54:52 (7:39 pace).  Very sore groin and hip at the end but managed to hold it together despite starting too fast.  14 of the 15 miles were sub-8.  Passed 13.1 in just under 1:40 and probably could have been 2-3 minutes faster in a race setting.  Still, I've got a lot of work to do and the race is only 3 weeks away.  I remain on all Thym-Adren and will stay the course at least another 3 weeks.  Grading is lenient but it puts me in position to win barring a poor showing tomorrow.
Grade:A-/2 credit/distance=15.0

10/20- Beautiful 70 degree afternoon.  Trak Shak 5.5 loop in 42:35 (7:45 pace).  I'm fine with this one.  I was appropriately sore after yesterday and this closes out a strong week.  Slight fade at the end but kept all 5 miles under 8 before loafing in the last .5.  Added a half mile cool at glacial pace.
Grade:B/1 credit/distance=6.0

Weekly summary:
WIN!  That's one in a row with my highest mileage since March.  Magnesium must be avoided like poison when on Thym-Adren.  Thym-Adren must be avoided like poison when on Cal/Mag.  Simple enough.  The medical report will tell me when I need to make the switch.
Distance= 45.0/ GPA= 24.4/8= 3.05