Monday, April 28, 2014

Blue Ridge Road trip and RR


Training:
I've shown some signs of breaking out of my prolonged slump recently.  However, this week I had been a bit sluggish.  Likely, my dosage needs to be tweaked a bit but thanks to the detox, my sensitivity has diminished. It will not be a disaster if my formula is a little off.  This race was billed as America's Toughest Road Half Marathon with a total of 3,800 ft. elevation change.  My mother had been worried about me running such a tough event when I am not in top shape and asked me to downgrade to the 10K.  I responded by assuring her that I would not be "racing" this event all out, had no time goal and even promised to walk parts of it if I got too uncomfortable.  I kept my word.

Trip up:
Took the shortest route on the way (I-59 to 24 to 40 to 81).  It's about an 8 hour drive so I broke it up by stopping just beyond Chattanooga on Thursday night.  It was a tough drive the next day with rain most of the way, especially after I crossed into Virginia.  There, I met up with my parents at the hotel then went out for a steak dinner before hitting the expo.  Not much to report there but I did like the tech shirt, which screamed: "You run hills.  I run Mountains."

Race:
The weather had cleared by the morning and we had fairly favorable conditions on race morning.  It was about 55 at the start with sunny skies but it quickly warmed to the mid-60s by the finish.  Not too bad overall.  I felt "just okay" warming up but remained unconcerned about my time.  I just wanted to get through it with as little pain as possible and check Virginia off my list.  I considered the RNR VA Beach as well as Richmond but opted for this one as a good low-key race that was within driving distance for myself and my parents.

The course quickly went downhill early in Mile 1 and the slope was fairly significant.  I reminded myself to take it easy here and I just ran it at my standard training effort.  The hill came around 0.7 miles and I passed a couple fading runners just before the Mile marker.  The climb would not let up until Mile 3.4.  To my Birmingham readers, for the sake of comparison, it was steeper than Peavine but not as steep as Stone River.  Everyone around me was running, at least in the early stages.  The grade remained manageable through Mile 2 and I managed to keep the pace respectable but it would steepen severely in the next mile.  At this point, I decided that it was not worth it and employed a walk/jog strategy until the top of the mountain.  Normally, I am not a believer in the Galloway method because the most efficient way to race is to run an even pace or at least an even effort if the terrain is very hilly.  However, in this case with time not important to me and hoping to simply get through it and minimize the pain, it was the right strategy.  Most folks around me were jogging up that monster but were not really gaining much ground on me.  Finally, we hit a gravel trail for about quarter mile that was merely rolling.  Then, it was a quad busting downhill that was shorter and steeper than the previous monster climb.  I'm normally a good downhill runner but here I made it a point to conserve energy.  There was a relatively flat section on a paved trail near a small creek that was a welcome relief.  I took it easy here as well for I knew that I would have to negotiate another monster mountain after Mile 7.
Here are the 1st half splits:
7:21 (7:21)  not bad YET
8:02 (15:23) very respectable
10:00 (25:23)  not worth the pain
8:11 (33:34) up and down
6:49 (40:23) quads are burning
7:20 (47:43) leveled off

The second mountain thankfully was not quite as bad as the first.  It was just as long but in this case, there were a few breaks along the way.  Again, I held my form pretty well early but decided that it was not worth it as the grade steepened in Mile 8 and Mile 9.  I think I walked about half of the steep uphills but we finally reached the summit around Mile 9.4 and were treated to a beautiful view near an overlook by the iconic star that gives Roanoke its nickname.  This time, I let it fly down the quad busting downhill and quickly re-passed 3 runners that managed to jog more of the that monster than I did.  No words were spoken as I breezed by at low-6 pace.  At the 10 Mile mark, I began thinking about my time.  Again, it was not real important to me but early hopes of a 1:45ish had faded to merely a sub-1:50.  I looked to be well on track but rounding a corner, I saw another very steep hill and once again, I was reduced to walking.  I would have to rally in the final 2 miles to break the barrier.  Fortunately, Mile 12 was largely a shallow downhill and I gained quite a bit of ground on the field.  Mile 13 was a different story with several rollers including a tough bridge climb.  This time, I would NOT be walking though some of my competitors did.  With about 3/4 of a mile to go, the sub-1:50 was in the bag and the last quarter mile was mostly a gentle decline.  I finished pretty strong and out-kicked 2 runners to finish in a time of 1:49:12 (8:20 pace).
2nd half splits:
8:36 (56:19) trying to hold it together
8:53 (65:12) ditto
10:00 (75:12) So what?
9:27 (84:39) should break 1:50
8:33 (93:12) need to rally
7:02 (1:40:14) finishing strong
7:30 (1:47:44) rollers
1:28 (1:49:12)  last .22, sub-7 pace.

Final thoughts:
Looks like an AWFUL result on the surface but if you take a closer look, it's actually quite respectable.  According to the overall results, I was 6th out of 55 in my age group (89th percentile), which is about on par with my usual placing.  Despite what looks like a ghastly fade in Miles 7-10, I actually GAINED 3 places overall in the 2nd half (passed 6, got passed by 3).  Again, this was NOT a serious "race effort" either and I'm sure that I would have been faster if I had walked less and ran a more even effort.

Trip home:
Showered up back at the hotel and went with my parents to Appomattox Court House National Park (site of Lee's surrender to Grant).  It was a mini version of Colonial Williamsburg, set up to look like it did back in 1865.  We had a really interesting guide who detailed the letters between Grant and Lee in the days leading up to the surrender.  It is a bit out of the way from any major town but worth the trip if you are in Roanoke or Richmond for any reason.  From there, it was back to Lynchburg for dinner at Outback then a trip to Monticello (Thomas Jefferson's home) in Charlottesville.  Unfortunately, we were unable to do the full tour of the house due to time constraints but there was plenty of interesting stuff to see in the Visitor's Center.  I had done the house tour about a decade ago so I was not too disappointed.  It was imperative that I made it back to upstate South Carolina that night.

From Charlottesville, it was country roads through central Virginia and the Piedmont region of North Carolina.  As an aside, with the exception of the DC suburbs, Virginia's culture is still predominantly Southern.  Nobody from the DC area says that they are from Virginia without adding the word Northern first.  Dinner was a nice independent buffet just before I picked up the interstate near Greensboro, NC.  I was late but made my destination in upstate SC.

I awoke early the next morning and drove through my old stomping grounds near Clemson.  I stopped at my old apartment complex and ran my old 5 mile route on Hwy 93 then stopped in to say hello to my old landlord.  He did not recognize me at first but but when I told him that I used to live there, he remembered and was very pleased that I stopped by.  I also paid a visit to one of old pizza joints and a fruit stand where I enjoyed talking to a nice woman.  Again, she did not recognize me at first but it came back after I started talking.  I moved to Alabama way back in '06 so I was impressed by all that.  I still like South Carolina very much but when I could not get a job, it was time for a change and I know that Birmingham is where I belong now.  The remainder of the trip went without a hitch and I was back by late afternoon.

Training 4/28-5/4

4/28- First run on the reduced Thym-Adren and Moly-Cu dosage.  5 miles on HWY 93 through Clemson and Central, South Carolina in a time of 38-flat (7:36 pace).  This route was my old favorite in my days as a student there.  No real complaints about this run.  Quads are still VERY sore but seemed to loosen up during and after the run.  Nice even pace over a gently rolling course.
Grade:B/1 credit/distance=5.0

4/29- Took the Thym-Adren in divided doses and it was clear that 5 pills is the optimal dose right now.  I probably would not have been awful on 4 and may reduce it before Nova Scotia.  The Cal/Mag may be tweaked a bit.  Cal is responsible for muscle contractions.  Mag is responsible for muscle relaxation.  Thus, if those 2 are unbalanced, you will be sore.  As for the workout today, I attempted a tempo and was out well but faded in Mile 2.  Still too sore from the race and I seriously "mis-underestimated" how much those steep downhills would trash my quads.  Overall, not too bad however.  Gold's 3 mile in 19:44 (6:35 pace).  I wanted to do 5 but decided to salvage 3 good miles rather than see my pace slip to the 7:00 range.  Splits were 6:23-6:43-6:38.  Added a mile cool.
Grade:B/2 credits/distance=4.0

4/30- SUPERB!  Trak Shak 9 in 64:55 (7:13 pace) with a last mile in 6:41.  Woke up noticeably less sore and I credit the extra Cal.  I had been taking roughly 700 mg of Cal and 750 Mag.  I've bumped the Cal up to 950.  I could go as high as 1200 but no higher.  Thym-Adren remains at 5 but could drop to 4 soon.  I believe my tissue sodium is around 55 now and will be 40 by next month.  Lots of potential for further improvement.
Grade:A+/1 credit/distance=9.0

5/1- A little wired/tired today but I have done a lot of quality this week.  Formula is probably good now but I do want to try to bump up the Cal one last time just to see what happens.  Now is the time to experiment.  I leave for Nova Scotia in 2 weeks and have got to be sure it's good.  I think I can run 1:32 or 1:33 if everything breaks in my favor.  Today's workout was 12x200 in Mountain Brook in sets of 6.  Very consistent splits.  No slower than 35.5 and my best was #12 at 32.0.  Averaged about 34.7 (4:37 pace) and added a warm and cool.  Solid performance.
Grade:B+/2 credits/distance=3.0

5/2- Planned rest day.  Feel good enough to run.
PM- I'll have a better idea tomorrow but I don't think extra Cal hurt me.  It may have helped but I still clearly need 5 Thym-Adren.

5/3- EXCELLENT!  14 miles with the fast Gnomes in a time of 1:41:06 (7:13 pace) after a slow start.  Last 11 miles were all sub-7:20 and the fastest was Mile 14 at 6:51 going slightly uphill.  Route was somewhat hilly as well. Added a full mile cool.  I have clinched my 3rd win in a row.  I enjoy this group a lot not just because they make me push but also they talk about running rather than their spouses and kids all the time.  I can actually join the conversation.
Grade:A/2 credits/distance=15.0

5/4- Mountain Brook 5 miler on a bit of a different route.  Sunny with temps in the upper 70s at 10-11 AM after church but fortunately low humidity.  This will probably be the last time that I can run this time of day until Fall.  Finished with a time of 36:25 (7:17 pace) and felt fine.  Barely a trace of leg soreness after yesterday's effort.  Only irritation was stomach cramps again.  I've discovered that protein bars with copper solve the diarrhea issues.  Perhaps doing so will slow down the elimination symptoms.  An early pit stop was the only reason for the minus today.  Added a mile cool.
Grade:A-/1 credit/distance=6.0

Weekly summary:
I am heating up.  This was probably my most impressive win of the year.  I'd like to see a better showing on the interval and tempo but I sure finished strong.  I've pulled even with last year's pace and barring a severe injury, it's a pretty safe bet that I will top 17 wins this year.
Distance= 42.0/ GPA= 31.6/9= 3.51 (highest since 2012)
YTD: 576 miles.  Record: 8-9 with a 2.63 GPA

Monday, April 21, 2014

Training 4/21-4/27- Race week

4/21- Plan is a speed session this evening.  I may be a bit sore 2 days after a hard long run but I think I can fight through it.  The  race is the Blue Ridge Half in Roanoke, Virginia on Saturday.  I'm training through because this is not a goal race.  Just a glorified training run to pick up Virginia and see my parents.

PM- Was not up for a speed session.  That's okay.  I don't mind putting it off a day.  Workout was Canterbury-Jemison 5 in a time of 38:30 (7:42 pace).  Very sluggish early but improved as the run progressed.  Splits were 19:24-19:06.  Just a bit off form.  It may be delayed onset soreness 2 days after a hard long run but this does not feel like natural fatigue.  Lack of flexibility is often a tell tale sign.  I will first try cutting back on the Thym-Adren and if that won't work, I will reduce the moly.  Nothing radical.  Just a small tweak should do it.
Grade:B-/1 credit/distance=5.0

4/22- Once again, I was not up for a speed session.  Cutting the Thym-Adren was not the answer.  It's got to be the moly.  Still, it was encouraging that taking 5 instead of my usual 6 did not make any difference.  In fact, I was slightly faster today with a Gold's 5 in a time of 38:14 (7:39 pace) but that's not enough to be considered significant.  Splits were pretty even at 19:04/19:10 so nothing really to gripe about but again, I would have been weak in a tempo.  Increasing the moly from 2 pills to 3 was a mistake but that's a 50% increase so some sensitivity can be expected.  No penalty today but I've got to double up tomorrow.
EDIT:  Big congrats to Meb on the win at Boston.  Some day, I will get there too.
Grade:B-/1 credit/distance=5.0

4/23- AM- Improvement.  Not all the way back to form but it's only the first day back on 2 moly pills.  Lakeshore 6.5 with the Gnomes plus a cool.  Aimed to run the first 4 @ 7:30 then the last 2.5 @ 7:00.  I was 5 ticks fast on the first 4 but 3 ticks slow on the back end.  Overall time was 47:17 for 6.5 (7:17 pace).  This was significantly better than the last 2 days so I get no worse than a "B" even if the PM session is weak.

PM Could not hack it in a speed session AGAIN!  Not pleased.  Did not even try because I knew before I started that I was weak.  Managed just 3 miles in 23:47 (7:56 pace).  VERY lenient grade today.  I can win with a "B+" on race day.
Grade:B/3 credits/distance=10.0

4/24- Planned rest day.  Feel better than yesterday but I clearly need 2 moly pills.  Neither more nor less.  That makes me feel uneasy but it is attacking the root of the problem, which is copper and liver issues, the source of the instability.  On the other hand, it seems like I can cheat a little with the Cal/Mag and the Thym-Adren and get away with it.  Junk run on tap tomorrow.  Should end up with about 35 miles this week.  Leaving for Roanoke just after 4PM central.

4/25- 2nd rest day.  Arrived in Roanoke later than expected so there was no time for a junk run.  No big deal.

4/26- America's Toughest Road Half Marathon in 1:49:12 (8:20 pace) on a MURDEROUS course.  This is my slowest half since my debut in Seaside back in '07 but I don't really care.  State #19 done.
Grade:B+/3 credits/distance=14.0

4/27- Planned rest day.  Quads in particular are killing me.

Weekly summary:
A cheap win.  The race was essentially a freebie with the "B" target set at 1:50.  Nothing stood out as especially good but I managed to avoid a collapse despite tweaking my formula.
Distance= 34.0/ GPA= 24.3/8= 3.04
YTD: 534 miles. Record: 7-9 with a 2.55 GPA.

Monday, April 14, 2014

Molydenum Reviews. (lowering copper w/ history of adrenal fatigue)

Here's where I stand without taking action to reduce the toxic copper levels:
  I am fighting a 2 front war again.  Perhaps the hair test should list the sodium or potassium/copper level as well as the zinc/copper.  In short, when the fast oxidation dominates, I don't feel any effects of the copper toxicity but will be very over-stimulated and anxious.  When the copper toxicity dominates, fatigue sets in and I actually feel worse despite the fact that my oxidation rate is trending toward balance.  Also, it seems that the Thym-Adren, which I need to balance my oxidation rate, has the effect of increasing copper retention in the tissues.  That's not confirmed but I strongly suspect it based on what's happening.

I may have small windows of time in which both imbalances cancel each other out and I can run well.  In fact, my recent sub-20 5K was done in that state.  However, those days are rare and my performances are very unpredictable and inconsistent.  I could be content with being a 1:35 or even a 1:40 half marathoner if I could do it consistently.  Sure, it's disheartening to regress but I could still enjoy the running community as well as travel to destination races.  However, when the modulator failed, that's out the window.  It's all or nothing now.  Either I will live up to my potential and be consistently sub-1:30 with a best below 1:25 or I will remain where I am and eventually settle for being a casual jogger.

How did I get to this point?
I have a history of adrenal fatigue, which progressed to Stage 3C.  I had a 1.4 Na/K ratio and severely low neurotransmitter adrenaline levels.  I did not do a saliva cortisol test until I recovered but I'm sure it would have been bad if I did it at my lowest point.  Thanks to the hair and neurotransmitter protocol, I escaped adrenal fatigue in 2008 but it left lasting damage.  Poor adrenal function puts tremendous stress on the liver and kidneys.  Is it linked to chemical sensitivity?  HELL YEAH!  The liver is the central processing unit for nutrients and patients with adrenal fatigue usually see depleted levels of ceruloplasmin, a key liver protein responsible for carrying copper.  Despite the fact that my adrenal function leaped into overdrive, my liver remained in very bad shape.  I believe that copper read low on my hair test because it was stuck in my liver and did not reach the tissues.  After the Hulda Clark liver cleanse in December 2013, the excess copper was freed from the liver and dumped into the bloodstream and thus spilled into the tissues.

Solution:
 The Thym-Adren plus the Cal/Mag thus far has not been effective at lowering the copper so I went with molybdenum, which is intended to lower excess copper by binding to it in the cells.  I ordered 2 products: Moly-Cu from EndoMet, which contains just 100 mcg of molybdenum along with black radish and kelp.
I also ordered a plain molybdenum at 500 mcg from Douglas Labs and vowed to try both.

Result:
The Moly-Cu arrived first after a so-so workout on Thursday (5@7:44).  I took 1 pill Thursday night and it didn't feel like a miracle but I did feel a slight increase in energy.  I responded the next morning with a 5:56 Mile then improved to 5:50 after an afternoon pill.  I followed that up with a quality long run (14@7:44).  You would expect that I would struggle the next day but I was stronger than I had been all week with a 5 miler at a comfortable 7:23 pace in warm and sunny conditions.  This is a winner.

Plain moly:
I took 1 pill Monday morning.  Sometimes when I experiment,  I get an immediate negative reaction.  That did not happen here but I did feel a bit too stimulated.  I tried a 3 mile tempo and was out pretty well for the first 2 minutes but the over-stimulation set in before the half mile mark.  That told me enough and I just jogged another 2 miles.  I was slightly worse in the afternoon.  This is a NO for me but it may be effective for slow oxidizers or those with extreme high copper levels.

Formula:
6 Thym-Adren, 1 Cal, 750 mg. Mag, 2 Moly-Cu.
All or nothing!
In order to confirm all of this, I intend to do a serum copper, plasma zinc and ceruloplasmin blood test

UPDATE:
I don't think I can endorse this product after what happened on my next hair test.  It did lower the copper but spiked the sodium.

Training 4/14-4/20

4/14- AM-  Took the heavy dose of moly and it was a bad call.  Oh well, I had to try it out.  I wanted to do a 3 mile tempo and I was out well but it quickly became apparent that I was over-stimulated.  Passed half mile in 3:17 fading fast then walked for minute and turned it into an easy run.  Did the next 2 miles at a steady 7:45 pace for an overall moving time of 18:50 for 2.5 miles (7:32 pace).

PM- No improvement over the morning session.  In fact, I was slightly worse.  3 miles in 23:46 (7:55 pace) plus a glacial cool down.  Started out in the low 7:50s and could not pick it up but did not slow down too much either.  The 500 mcg of moly is too much.  That leaves me with one option (Moly-Cu).  It's all or nothing now.
Grade:C-/1 credit/distance=6.0

4/15- Gold's 5 in 37:46 (7:33 pace).  Faded.  1st 2 miles were both a comfortable 7:25 then the calf muscles started to tighten up.  It was a gradual fade to 7:45 by Mile 5 but not a collapse.  Solid improvement over yesterday but a bit of a letdown.  I may need to cut the moly.  Once the excess copper is gone, the fast oxidation kicks in hard and it will be all Thym-Adren.  We shall see what happens but it will be no more than 200 mcg of moly.  I'll start with 1 tomorrow and see how I feel.  I'm really hoping to get up for a morning workout.  It will be freezing cold so I'll be at Gold's.
Grade:B/1 credit/distance=5.0

4/16- AM.  Tried to see what I could do without the moly and the answer came quickly.  Half mile at tempo effort in a blazing 3:58.  That told me enough right there.  Popped a pill and ran a Mile at the same effort and improved to 6:34.  That's better but still not nearly good enough.  Took another moly shortly after I arrived at work and felt similar to yesterday (not terrible but overstimulated) and not up for a tempo.  Gotta be something missing.

PM- Went with an extra Cal pill to bring my Cal/Mag balance from a 2:3 back up to 1:1.  The over-stimulation faded quickly and if anything, I was a tad sluggish.  Trak Shak 5 in a solid 33:21 (6:40 pace).  This was my best 5 mile showing since Week 2.  Popped a 3rd moly after dinner and it's too soon to tell if it was a good call.  I've learned something big out of this.  The Cal seems to stabilize my system, which makes sense because it regulates cell membrane permeability.  With the extra Cal, I may have been okay on 500 mcg of moly but for the time being, I'd like to keep it at 200 or 300.
Grade:A-/2 credits/distance=7.0

4/17- Junk run.  First time on 3 moly pills.  Tried to run a hard mile and was on a 5:40-5:45 pace through 600 but my watch cut off.  I just cruised the next 6.5 laps and could tell that I was over-stimulated.  I tried extra Thym-Adren but it didn't help.  That's not the problem.  It's the low Cal and it will just take a few days for the adjusted dose to kick in.
Grade:Pass/0 credit/distance=2.0

4/18- Left work early on Good Friday and ran a strong 6 at Gold's in a time of 43:44 (7:17 pace).  Every mile was between 7:15-7:20.  I may have found the winning formula.  3 moly pills worked well.  I want to stick with 750 Cal but may bump it up to 1,000.  I only need a decent long run to win this week.
Grade:A/1 credit/distance=6.0

4/19- STRONG.  Lakeshore 15 in 1:52-flat (7:28 pace).  11 of 15 were 7:30 or below.  Fell asleep a bit in the 2nd leg but came back strong at the end.  Fastest mile of the day was #15 at 7:13 going slightly uphill.  Splits were 37:21-37:41-36:58.  Good job.  Need only a "D-" tomorrow to get a win this week.  The 2 Oceans marathon was today.  Some day I will make it down to Cape Town and run that one.
Grade:A-/2 credit/distance=15.0

4/20- Resurrection day.  Crestline 6 in 44:43 (7:27 pace).  On the day after a hard long run, I was able to match the pace.  Very good.  Sure, I could feel yesterday's effort but fought through it.  Route was Dexter-Euclid-Dexter, which was gently rolling most of the way.  Only negative was that I faded a bit on the back half (22:05-22:38) but the back leg of Euclid was mostly uphill and I allowed myself to relax a bit more.  When I am feeling well, this type of training pace is really NOT that hard.
Grade:A-/1 credit/distance=6.0

Weekly summary:
This may be the best overall week of the year.  Let's keep it up and finally get a winning streak going.  The moly is working and so is the extra Cal.  Thym-Adren dosage may be cut soon.  I believe my tissue sodium has dropped into the 50s now and the potassium is under 20.  Perhaps by the end of May, it will be on target at 30/10.  I am 4-4 since the hip injury.
Distance= 47.0/GPA= 27.2/8= 3.40
YTD: 500 miles.  Record: 6-9 with a 2.52 GPA


Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Copper Toxicity Revisited

Let's go back to 2013 for now.  Here's where I was 12 months ago:
Taking the mega dose of Thym-Adren yielded nearly the full DV of copper and on its own, caused intolerable fatigue but if I didn't take it, my thyroid and adrenal rate would go into the stratosphere.  Fortunately, I found a fix.  EXACTLY 500 mg. of extra Vitamin C.  NEITHER MORE, NEITHER LESS.  Even a single extra dose, taken just ONCE would upset the fragile equilibrium.  That meant that METRX protein bars were on the forbidden list because they contained too much copper.  A bottle of OJ or other drinks with more than 100% DV of Vitamin C were also off limits.

Eventually, the chemical sensitivity became so severe that my system began to reject the very pills necessary to get into balance but I still had to adjust the C dose for the chemical sensitivity.  In my last half marathon in West Virginia last November, I had to reduce the Thym-Adren to the point in which I was only getting 60% DV of copper.  I was forced adjust the Vitamin C dosage by breaking open the capsule and taking approximately 300 mg.  I finished that race in a respectable time of 1:35:50 on limited training.  If I had taken the full 500 mg or an extra Thym-Adren pill, I would have struggled just to finish.

Thanks to the detox, I am no longer in this position.  YES, I am better off than I was 12 months ago despite the fact that my overall training record does not yet reflect it.  The source of my current issues is that the copper, which had been stuck in my liver before the detox, has now been dumped into my bloodstream and flooded my tissues and thus must be eliminated.  Most fast oxidizers are actually low in copper but my history of adrenal fatigue is likely the reason for the toxicity.  I showed signs of chemical sensitivity as far back as college.

Zinc and Vitamin C are 2 strong copper antagonists so I thought they would be helpful in reducing the excess.  Zinc never has worked well for me for reasons that I cannot fully explain.  I do know that it raises potassium, which is already high on my report and lowers chromium, which is always low.  Since the detox, Vitamin C has no longer worked well either.  I read an article from Dr. Wilson, which stated that Vitamin C can remove copper from the liver and dump it into the bloodstream, which is exactly what I do NOT need now.  So, why did it work so well before?  I'm not entirely sure so don't rely on this but perhaps it let just enough out of my liver to reach the other tissues.  It had read low on previous hair tests (usually 1.5ish) so if not for the C, it may have been closer to 1.0, which would have been a serious problem at the other end of the scale in the Zn/Cu ratio.  Selenium worked well for a few days then made me sick.  Manganese was trouble from the get go.

What I need now is not something that will release copper from the liver because I've already accomplished that with the detox.  Rather, I need something that will reduce its content in the tissues by binding to it.  Based on my research, the perfect solution is Molybdenum, which is supposedly very effective for that purpose.  I must be careful with it because too much can be toxic.  In theory, when used judiciously, it will work like a charm but will my system accept it?  If not, today's workout proved that I am not screwed if it doesn't work.  I'll have to stay on the modulator and my numbers likely won't change much.  As of now, my imbalances would be classified as "moderate" NOT severe.  If I stay on the modulator, my times will likely stabilize around 5:40/20/42/1:34ish.  That's certainly still respectable and I could still enjoy competing and traveling for destination races but it is disheartening to see myself regress by more than 20 ticks per mile across the board in such a short time.  The above times would be expected around age 43, not at 33.

The last question:  If my system does accept the Molybdenum and it is as effective as advertised, what happens then?  Will I finally live up to my potential in all areas of life or will another imbalance pop up?  If the answer is B, I vow to keep fighting but I will be greatly displeased.

EDIT:  BAD REACTION TO ADHS TODAY!  I AM SCREWED IF I CANNOT TAKE THYM-ADREN!

Monday, April 7, 2014

Training 4/7-4/13

4/7- AM- 2 miles in 16:40 (8:20 pace).  Much improved over yesterday's debacle.  Even pace as well (8:18/8:22).  I expect to be better this afternoon.

PM- 4 miles at Gold's.  The GB-3 has arrived so it was the old "better with or better without" test.  Clocked a 15:25 for the first 2 miles then popped a pill and ran the next 2 in 15:41. Overall time was 31:06 for 4 miles (7:46 pace).  Slightly worse after taking it but a pace 8 seconds per mile slower is not enough to be considered significant.  Still, I'm leaving this out of my formula.  It seems as if it releases copper from the liver, which I already accomplished with the detox.  I really need the molybdenum because it is intended to reduce excess copper in the tissues by binding to it.  It should arrive by the end of the week.  In theory, it should work but whether or not my system will accept it is another matter.
Grade:C-/1 credit/distance=6.0

4/8- Took only the ADHS (modulator) plus the normal Cal/Mag and I was not half bad today.  5 miles on the hilly Canterbury-Jemison loop in a solid 37:30 (7:30 pace).  Standard issue workout was fine but I still would have been off in a tempo.
Grade:B+/1 credit/distance=5.0

4/9-  I can't believe it!  CRASHED AGAIN!  2.5 miles at the Shak in 22:02 (8:49 pace).  Should not have even tried to run today but I wanted to see how bad it would be.  I believe the ADHS was the culprit.  Instead of feeling fatigue like over the weekend, I feel overstimulated and anxious.  Good news is that it seems like I can go back to the Thym-Adren.  Without it, I am screwed.  The molybdenum has not arrived yet nor did I expect it today.  I'll probably have to wait until Friday.
Grade:None/0 credit/distance=2.5

4/10- AM.  2.5 miler at Gold's on my first full day back on the Thym-Adren.  Time was down to 19:37 (7:51 pace).  As expected, I am improving but for how long?

PM- Lakeshore 5 in 38:41 (7:44 pace) plus a warm.  Even splits (19:17-19:24) on a beautiful day weather wise.  Perfect sunny and 75.  Only complaint was diarrhea, which is probably related to copper elimination.  The molybdenum has arrived.  Since the modulator won't work, I won't stabilize in the mid-1:30s for a half mary.  It's all or nothing now.
Grade:B-/1 credit/distance=8.0

4/11- Spain Park Mile in 5:56.5.  Best time of the year.  20 years after my first sub-6 Mile, I can still do it.  Splits were 89-93-90-84.  I can't remember a serious attempt in a Mile with that much of a negative split (3:02-2:54).  Another nasty diarrhea attack before I started.  The moly is causing me to feel some stimulation, which is to be expected.  Plain moly may be better for me than the Moly-Cu that I'm currently taking.  Once, the copper elimination is complete, fast oxidation symptoms will kick in full force.  My tissue sodium is probably in the 60s now with a potassium in the low 20s, which is still quite high.  I'm aiming for 30 and 10 respectively. Moly does increase sodium but the copper elimination decreases it.  I hope that the Cal/Mag will keep the potassium stable.

PM- Impromptu Gold's Mile in 5:50.6 (2:57/2:53).  Tight turns hurt me a bit but I believe the distance is accurate.  Definitely feel different on the Moly but am wary of feeling too stimulated.
Grade:C+/2 credit/distance=2.5

4/12- BTC long run social.  I got there late and had to run solo but that's okay given how uncertain I was about how I'd do.  Finished 14 miles in 1:48:20 (7:44 pace).  Solid performance.  Felt sluggish, not stimulated.  Stimulation may kick in after a 2nd moly pill.  Ran the 8 and 5 route (tribute to Ochocinco).  Only Mile 1 was over 8:00.  Pace did vary a bit based on the terrain but most miles were 7:40ish.
Grade:B+/2 credits/distance=14.0

4/13- Lakeshore 5 in 36:56 (7:23 pace).  Finished up this one just before noon after going to church early.  It was getting warm at the end so I won't be able to run between 10-2 much longer.  Strong performance with even splits (18:23-18:33) with a bit of an uphill on the back half.  I get the minus only because of diarrhea but it was not as bad as earlier in the week.  Took 2 moly pills in the morning rather than divide the dose.  That seemed to help.  Dreamed that my apartment complex remained but my unit had disappeared and I was out walking all night looking for it.
Grade:A-/1 credit/distance=5.0

Weekly summary:
If there is ever a such thing as a "good" loss, this is it.  I really feel that help is on the way with the moly and I will be back to form by next month.  Mileage total is the highest of the year.
Distance=43.0/GPA= 22.6/8= 2.83
YTD: 453 miles.  Record: 5-9 with a 2.46 GPA

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Spring Road trips

Trip #1- Virginia (4/24-4/28).  I've been here countless times but never raced here at any distance.  That changes on the last weekend in April when I tackle America's Toughest Road Half Marathon on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Roanoke.  The course is so ridiculous that I have no time goal at all.  It's purely a training run.  In fact, there are 2 mountains that are so long and steep that I anticipate doing some walking.  The first comes from about Mile 1.0-3.5 then it's sharply downhill until Mile 6.  There's another monster from about Mile 7-9.5 that's not quite as steep but just as long.  It's back down from there but I'm sure there will be a few rollers thrown it.  All told, it has nearly 1,900 feet of climbs and 3,800 feet of total elevation changes.  Ouch!

 I chose this race for 3 reasons.  First, it's a manageable drive for my parents so I'll get to see them.  Second, it's really the only option in Virginia (State #19) for me that is can be driven.  It's about 8 hours from Birmingham so a race in Virginia Beach, DC or even Richmond would be a flight.  Third, I know that I am in no condition to run a fast time so why not just do a fun run?  Louisville, Kentucky has a race the previous week that is also on my list to do but it is a PR chance and I want to save it for when I am in top shape.  I do have the option to downgrade to the 10K if I really feel awful but I'd prefer not to do that.  I want my Virginia 10K to be the Richmond Monument Ave. which is a mega race similar to Peachtree but on a faster course with better weather.

Road Trip plan:
-leave work early on 4/24 and drive part way.  I'll probably be somewhere between Chattanooga and Knoxville then it will be a fairly easy drive the next day.
-After the race on 4/26, we are going to Lynchburg and Appomattox then Charlottesville.
-I'll take 2 days getting back and this time, I'll drive through Greensboro-Charlotte-Greenville on my way home.

Trip #2- Destination Halifax, Nova Scotia.  The Blue Nose Half Marathon is just an excuse to go.  I have always wanted to see the Atlantic Provinces of Canada.  The race course is not as tough as Roanoke but it is not a PR course either and has a killer hill in Mile 11.  Still, I hope to be in decent shape by then and want at least a respectable time (mid-high 1:30s)
Here's the plan:
5/15- I'll have to get up super early but it was the best available flight.  I'll land in Bangor, Maine at 3:38 PM after a connection in LaGuardia.  I thought about driving to Canada that evening but decided against it.  After 2 flights, I will be very tired.  Also, it will take time to get the rental car and I'll want a decent dinner.  There's nothing in between Bangor and the border town so I'll just spend the night in Bangor.  I have been to Maine before on a 2005 road trip but Portland was as far as I got.

5/16- The only downside to staying in Bangor is that the next day's drive could be tough.  The plan is to get to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, which is just over 6 hours away.  It's 2 hours to the border and I don't anticipate any major delays then about 1 more hour to St. John, New Brunswick.  I figure that will be a good lunch stop.  I'll also pass through Moncton before I reach the Confederation Bridge into PEI.  When I get to Charlottetown, I will treat myself to a seafood dinner and a brief night on the town.  It will be a very scenic route through lake country in rural Maine, the Bay of Fundy area in New Brunswick and I hear that PEI is beautiful as well.

5/17- If I get into Charlottetown later than expected, it's okay because I can take the morning to do a bit more touring.  It's only 3-3.5 hours to Halifax from there.  I want this day to be fairly relaxing.  I'll go to the expo and maybe check out a park.

5/18-Race day and drive back to the USA border going the alternate way through Fredericton (5.5 hours).

5/19- Easy 2 hour drive from Houlton, Maine back down to Bangor.  My flight does not leave until 4 PM so I have plenty of time.