5/26- I will consider this my rest day on the week. Gold's Mile in an overall time of 8:58 and had to rally in the last lap to break 9. Funny thing is that I felt decent at the wedding last night but was hurting on the drive back. No, I didn't drink either. I went with the moly alone this morning and it's obviously not the answer. I took half a Thym-Adren when I got home and got worse. I will try some ADHS later in the day. I have 2 options going forward: 1) Cal/Mag alone, 2) moly+ ADHS.
Update: The ADHS did not seem to make much difference. I'm going with option 1 for the next few days. This will not count towards the weekly GPA.
Grade:F/0 credit/distance=1.0
5/27- AM- Took NO pills upon rising and improved to a 2 miler in 15:23 (7:42 pace). That's an improvement of 1:16/mile over double the distance. Again, that's nothing new and no reason to get excited.
PM- Another step forward. 4 miles at Gold's in a time of 29:43 (7:26 pace). Even pace with a final mile in 7:19, which showed a little something left in the tank. Will I show continued improvement or will I collapse again by the end of the week? Passed 40K page views today.
Grade:B/1 credit/distance=6.0
5/28- Interesting day. Woke up feeling clearly out of whack. Popped a moly pill and felt some initial improvement but was hurting badly by the afternoon. It was the old better with or without test. 1 Mile at Gold's in 8:46 running at tempo effort. Then, I took 2 ADHS pills and it took a few minutes for it to kick in but soon began feeling better. I clocked a 6:55 the next time with splits of 2:34-2:16-2:05 so it's obvious that the ADHS did it and I likely would have been better if I ran it again. ADHS is clearly a viable option and I think that I am trending off the moly. I have ordered a hair test kit as well as some whole food Vitamin C complex.
Grade:D+/1 credit/distance=2.0
5/29- AM-Small step backward. 3 miles at Gold's in 23:13 (7:44 pace). I did manage a slight negative split. I took half a moly last night and got worse so it may not have cleared yet. We'll see what happens tonight.
PM- Lakeshore 5 in 35:53 (7:11 pace). Best showing in a while but still way too tight. Good start and stayed near 7:00 pace for the first half (17:37) then faded a bit to an 18:16. Still, that's an awesome improvement over the morning session. Took half a moly and tightened up again. I'm officially done with that stuff as well as the Thym-Adren. It appears that the ADHS is working. More to come.
Grade:B/2 credit/distance=8.0
5/30- AM 2 mile junk run at Gold's in a solid 14:44 (7:22 pace) with a strongly negative split of 7:31-7:13. Didn't really put much more effort into Mile 2 either. Yes, I could feel the moly from last night but starting tomorrow, it will be out of my system for good.
PM- WEIRD. Canterbury-Jemison 5 in light drizzle. Finished in 37:45 (7:33 pace). Not bad overall but felt "weird" all the way. Hard to describe. Great start in the first 2 miles then faded hard to 7:50s in the last 2 miles. I think Vitamin C and moly may be hurting me. Not sure what I will do for my long run this week but I am not up for running with the sub-3 group.
Grade:B/1 credit/distance=7.0
5/31- Weak. 3 miles in 23:29 (7:50 pace). I had an immediate negative reaction to Whole Food Vitamin C last night. I'm off that stuff for good. I am improving as the day progresses and hope to be up for double digits by tomorrow. Pace was 7:50 +/- 2 seconds all the way so no collapse this time.
Grade:C-/1 credit/distance=3.0
6/1-AM- First full day off moly and Vitamin C. 8 miler in humid conditions and made the mistake of drinking too much water without any Gatorade to replenish the electrolytes. I was doing well through 5.5 miles (near 7:20 pace) then slipped to the 7:45 range on Lakeshore after a water stop. Not bad overall. Felt decent but it was one of those rare days that my heart wasn't fully into it.
PM- Cal/Mag tests.
0 Cal- 500 Mag- 1/2 mile in 4:04.
250 Cal- 500 Mag- 1/2 mile in 3:40
500 Cal- 500 Mag- 1 mile in 6:38
750 Cal- 500 Mag- 1 mile in 6:26 (last .2 @ 5:00 pace)
Again, this shows the nature of the beast with chemical sensitivity. I know that a 2/1 Cal/Mag ratio is too high but as of now, I think I'm better off favoring Cal over Mag (maybe a ratio around 1.62). We'll see what the medical report says. As for the ADHS, it does contain the same amount of copper as the Thym-Adren so I will be judicious with it. Tomorrow, I'll do a better with or without test without the moly interference.
Grade:B/2 credit/distance=11.0
Weekly summary:
4th straight loss and am losing patience again but the recent turn of events gives me a reason to hope again.
Distance=38.0/ GPA= 21.0/8= 2.63
YTD: 690 miles. 8-13 with a 2.56 GPA
Monday, May 26, 2014
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Rant: Running with adrenal fatigue and chemical sensitivity
Well, it's happened again. Yesterday's Trak Shak 3 was AWFUL (23:53). I had to rally in the last .1 mile just to get under 8:00 pace overall. Today, I put in the same effort and clocked a 19:08 for an improvement of 4:45 or 1:35/mile overnight. What made the difference? You guessed it. I cut the Thym Adren from 4 pills to 3. If I had made that adjustment in Nova Scotia, I probably would have done better even though I took too much Cal/Mag in the morning. 2 pills are not enough and 4 are too many. It's just the nature of the beast with chemical sensitivity and soon, I may have to cut pills in half. I must say that I am concerned that the downward trend is too fast. Only 4 weeks ago, I needed 6 Thym-Adren and now it's down to 3. If I remain off the Thym-Adren and am NOT near balance, my chemistry will get worse and a crash is inevitable. What can I do about it?
1) Tighten the sugar restrictions- I had been doing pretty well in this area but have cheated too much since the trip. It may not help much but certainly cannot hurt.
2) Another detox- I had been forced off Thym-Adren before and the first 2 detoxes allowed me to go back on it. The last 2 did not and the black radish from the moly pills should accomplish the same as the cleanse. I have little confidence that it will work but again, it cannot hurt.
I am hoping against hope that by some miracle, I am headed towards balance and that soon, I will not need Thym-Adren at all and can get by on only Cal/Mag. At least 4 times, I have been forced off including 3 glorious months in early 2012 when I PR'd everything I raced, often by wide margins. However, every time, it was short lived and there was an explanation. It was either a mal-absorption issue or a toxicity issue. Both have since been corrected. Again, only a medical report can determine the cause of the shift. I am due for another one in early June.
Now, the question that I am often asked: Is it safe to run with adrenal fatigue? My answer is WITH CAUTION! I find that I feel best if I keep both my mileage and intensity at moderate levels. I will say that if you have slipped into Stage 3, you will do yourself more harm than good. It's just too much stress. Stick with walking until your Na/K is above 2.50. There are several things that you need to know if you are considering running after a history of adrenal disease.
1. Do NOT expect to go from the couch to a sub-4 marathon within 2 years.
I was able to do so because I already had a recent running background. Even a healthy person cannot expect a sub-4 without a fair amount of natural talent.
2. Running releases opiate like chemicals.
That's a double edged sword. Unless you have advanced adrenal disease, it will certainly reduce your symptoms and thus make your condition much more bearable. The downside is that it can give you a false sense of wellness. Also, if you are badly unbalanced, you will be more injury prone and your supply of opiate like chemicals will be cut off suddenly and your symptoms will more closely match your chemistry. If you or someone who know falls apart physically and emotionally when he/she cannot run, it's a good bet that their chemistry is badly unbalanced.
3.Increases your awareness
When you are badly unbalanced, your body has a way of reducing your awareness of symptoms. That's also a double edged sword. The plus side is that your symptoms are more bearable but it gives you a sense that you are managing your condition better than you actually are. You might think that you are doing okay but it's not until you are symptom-free that you realize just how messed up you really were. A good run may not guarantee that you are healthy but a sudden drop off DOES almost certainly mean that you are off track. It is VITAL to stay on top of it especially with sensitivity issues.
4. Increases motivation- Sure, I want to get faster and if not for my running goals, I would not be so motivated to stick with the program.
EDIT: Point #2 and #3 might seem contradictory but in my experience, running can be either an upper or downer depending on the cause of your symptoms. If your symptoms stem from toxic metals, it's likely to be a downer but the plus side is that you are more aware of your symptoms and can make changes before things get worse. I've turned in reports with errors and think: "Man, how did I miss that?" Simple, my mind was not as sharp. Eliminate the toxicity and you will do better.
On the other hand, if your symptoms come from unbalanced oxidation, it's more likely to be an upper unless the imbalances are completely out of hand. Again, be cautious and stay on top of the program. Good running is not a guarantee of wellness.
1) Tighten the sugar restrictions- I had been doing pretty well in this area but have cheated too much since the trip. It may not help much but certainly cannot hurt.
2) Another detox- I had been forced off Thym-Adren before and the first 2 detoxes allowed me to go back on it. The last 2 did not and the black radish from the moly pills should accomplish the same as the cleanse. I have little confidence that it will work but again, it cannot hurt.
I am hoping against hope that by some miracle, I am headed towards balance and that soon, I will not need Thym-Adren at all and can get by on only Cal/Mag. At least 4 times, I have been forced off including 3 glorious months in early 2012 when I PR'd everything I raced, often by wide margins. However, every time, it was short lived and there was an explanation. It was either a mal-absorption issue or a toxicity issue. Both have since been corrected. Again, only a medical report can determine the cause of the shift. I am due for another one in early June.
Now, the question that I am often asked: Is it safe to run with adrenal fatigue? My answer is WITH CAUTION! I find that I feel best if I keep both my mileage and intensity at moderate levels. I will say that if you have slipped into Stage 3, you will do yourself more harm than good. It's just too much stress. Stick with walking until your Na/K is above 2.50. There are several things that you need to know if you are considering running after a history of adrenal disease.
1. Do NOT expect to go from the couch to a sub-4 marathon within 2 years.
I was able to do so because I already had a recent running background. Even a healthy person cannot expect a sub-4 without a fair amount of natural talent.
2. Running releases opiate like chemicals.
That's a double edged sword. Unless you have advanced adrenal disease, it will certainly reduce your symptoms and thus make your condition much more bearable. The downside is that it can give you a false sense of wellness. Also, if you are badly unbalanced, you will be more injury prone and your supply of opiate like chemicals will be cut off suddenly and your symptoms will more closely match your chemistry. If you or someone who know falls apart physically and emotionally when he/she cannot run, it's a good bet that their chemistry is badly unbalanced.
3.Increases your awareness
When you are badly unbalanced, your body has a way of reducing your awareness of symptoms. That's also a double edged sword. The plus side is that your symptoms are more bearable but it gives you a sense that you are managing your condition better than you actually are. You might think that you are doing okay but it's not until you are symptom-free that you realize just how messed up you really were. A good run may not guarantee that you are healthy but a sudden drop off DOES almost certainly mean that you are off track. It is VITAL to stay on top of it especially with sensitivity issues.
4. Increases motivation- Sure, I want to get faster and if not for my running goals, I would not be so motivated to stick with the program.
EDIT: Point #2 and #3 might seem contradictory but in my experience, running can be either an upper or downer depending on the cause of your symptoms. If your symptoms stem from toxic metals, it's likely to be a downer but the plus side is that you are more aware of your symptoms and can make changes before things get worse. I've turned in reports with errors and think: "Man, how did I miss that?" Simple, my mind was not as sharp. Eliminate the toxicity and you will do better.
On the other hand, if your symptoms come from unbalanced oxidation, it's more likely to be an upper unless the imbalances are completely out of hand. Again, be cautious and stay on top of the program. Good running is not a guarantee of wellness.
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Nova Scotia Road trip report
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PEI |
 |
| Saint John, NB |
Training:
I am much better off than I was at the end of last year but still way too inconsistent. Fortunately, I have had no collapses in the past month. I define a collapse as when my body gives out after less than 3 miles at a pace over 9 minutes. I had many such days at the end of last year. Let's hope I'm done with that forever. Still, I can definitely feel it when my pills are even slightly off. Also, my training has been geared toward the 5K. It consisted of lots of short intervals and short tempos with a long run that topped out at 15 miles and an average weekly mileage just north of 30. A strong long run 2 weeks ago (14 @7:13) got my hopes up and I figured that if everything broke in my favor, I could do 1:31-1:32 on a flat course. This one would be a challenging route with the most difficult sections in Mile 10 and Mile 12. Figure 1:33-1:34 was the more realistic goal. At the end of the day, knowing that I am not in top shape and with the uncertainty of the chemical sensitivity issues, I could be as slow as 1:50 if my body shifts suddenly at an inopportune time. The principle goal was to enjoy the trip but I did take this race more seriously than the Blue Ridge half 3 weeks earlier. I had been wanting to visit the Atlantic provinces of Canada for a long time and this was the excuse to go. I had been to Ontario twice before and Quebec when I was very young.
Travel:
5/15- DELTA- Don't Even Leave The Airport. I had to get up super early for my flight. I was scheduled to land in Bangor, Maine via La Guardia at 3:38 PM. I thought about driving to Canada that evening but decided against it because I was sure that I would be tired from the 2 fights and the jet lag that comes with traveling east. That proved to be a good call because the flight was cancelled and I could not get on another connecting fight until 5:30 PM and would not be landing in Bangor until almost midnight. Thankfully, I got the rental car and made it safely to my hotel in Bangor (2 hrs. from the border).
5/16- This would be my toughest driving day of the trip. It was a scenic ride through rural Maine, which was gently rolling with lots of pine trees and small lakes and creeks. Western New Brunswick had a similar feel but took on a more distinctive flavor further east. The border crossing went without a hitch and my first stop came at lunchtime in the coastal town of Saint John, New Brunswick. I parked in a garage on their version of Market Street which led to small indoor shopping mall down by the harbor.
I enjoyed a tasty burger, took a short walk around the harbor and got some Canadian money at a nearby bank. As expected, my southern accent caused a minor buzz on a few occasions. I found the speech in New Brunswick to be similar to Ontario and nothing like neighboring Maine. Nova Scotia's was more distinctive but there was no difficulty understanding each other as long as it was some form of English that was spoken. In Halifax, I met a girl who swam for the Univ. of Alabama and even saw a man wearing a Clemson shirt after the race. Pretty cool.
Shortly after leaving Saint John, I got on a back road to the Bay of Fundy National Park. It added at least an hour to my drive but it was worth it. The road went up to about 1,000 ft. altitude but you could see views of the water along with the dark red sand in the distance. I stopped at the bottom for a short walk along the rocky coast. From there, it was across the Confederation Bridge into Prince Edward Island. The island was greener with red soil and a good mix of flats and rolling hills. My destination was Charlottetown, which had a rather quaint downtown area but I was able to get a pretty good seafood dinner. My hotel/inn was within a 5 minute walk of Victoria Park, which was down by the coast with a boardwalk and a good place for a junk run the next morning. It was unspoiled beauty with no shops of any kind. New Brunswick to Charlottetown added a total of 4 hours to my drive and cost $45 to cross the Confederation bridge but I knew that I would have regretted skipping it. I won't say never but it's highly unlikely that I'll be back that way again.
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| Bay of Fundy |
5/17- Relatively easy trip into Halifax, Nova Scotia that was almost all highway. The only hitch came when I tried to go to the expo before checking in to my hotel. Roads were closed due to the 5K being run that afternoon and I had no idea where to go. Eventually, I made it back to my hotel, which was close enough to walk downtown to the start line. I took another junk run through Commons Park and felt decent but maybe just a tad "off" then walked down past the Citadel, a scenic overlook commemorating military battles before a Prime Rib dinner where I enjoyed talking to a guy who also enjoys travel. Halifax drops down to near sea level at its lowest point but also has some steep climbs from the harbor up to residential areas. Fortunately, the half course was about an easy as could be without sacrificing the scenery. The expo was nothing special. I hoped to find a tech shirt with the Canadian flag or "Run Nova Scotia" but no such luck.
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| Halifax |
5/18- I normally take my Thym-Adren + molybdenum in the morning and the Cal/Mag in the evening. On race morning, I got the bright idea to take them both at the same time. STUPID! I should know not to try anything new on race day especially with chemical sensitivity. Still, I felt reasonably good warming up with only a trace of stiffness in my legs so I decided to go for the good time. It was a new experience to race with markers in kilometers. I did some math in my head beforehand. A 4:15 split would get me to 20K in 85 minutes and the finish at 21.1K just under 90. I would aim for more like 4:20 to be realistic.
Race:
I was out well feeling smooth and controlled after slight congestion at the start. I forgot to charge my GPS so I would be going naked in terms of pace. Because the kilometer marker came 600 meters before a Mile 1 sign, it would be easier to adjust and unlike a 5K, a fast 1st K represented less than 5% of the race distance so a few seconds fast won't hurt much. I came to the marker in 4:12. Okay, settle down now. Feeling good. The next kilometer was mostly an incline so the pace naturally dropped off as I came through a respectable 4:23 2nd kilometer. The course was tough but fair. There were a couple of steep declines but the climbs were mostly long and gradual. Flat sections were few and far between. Near the end of the 3rd kilometer, I was beginning to get a trace of abnormal fatigue and tightness. I knew right then that it was not going to be good. I tried to get a jump start with a hydration stop but it didn't help much. Still, despite hurting, the pace was still quite respectable as I passed 5K in a solid 21:43, still on pace for a 1:32ish. We got a nice downhill as we went back down to the harbor towards downtown but it was followed by a long incline. I wanted to walk here but I was able able to hold it together a bit longer and passed 8K in exactly 35 minutes. Figure about 35:10 for 5 miles so my pace was still projecting a finish around 1:32. Then my hip started cramping and pace suddenly fell off on the flat section. I had hit the wall. Do I punt? YES!
I walked for a bout 3 minutes hoping to recharge then settle into a jog that was sustainable for another 8 miles. I cut off the watch and would just try to enjoy the rest of the race as much as possible. I had to walk again going up the next hill and the finish line could not come soon enough. I have to say that the fans were great here. Numerous spectators were lining the streets shouting encouragement all the way. I've run 25 or so of these races and these fans were among the best. Going through the halfway point through downtown, I had settled into a pace probably just over 8:00/mile. Around 8-9 miles (just before 15K), we turned into Point Pleasant Park, a beautiful trail section along the Atlantic coast. It was here that the course turned uphill and we were treated to some more views of the sea from above. I managed a bit of a resurgence here as I held my position in the field and even passed a couple of runners on the hills. After leaving the park, we were back to the residential section that led us back to finish area overlooking the harbor. It was another long climb in Mile 12, which I ran all the way, followed by a significant downhill and a tough incline to the finish. Again, my watch was off and I expected to see a time between 1:41-1:45 at the finish and that's what I got. My official time was 1:43:26 and I finished extremely stiff but safely on my feet at the finish.
Final thought:
It's just an ugly fact of life that as my body adjusts toward balance and my optimal dosage trends down, there will be days like this with chemical sensitivity. It's unfortunate that it can happen on race day but I'm grateful that it wasn't a total blow up in which I was doing 10:00+ pace from Mile 4 to the finish. I can live with it too because it was my own fault for trying something new on race morning. I'm sure the travel wore me out as well but again, I knew that I would have regretted skipping PEI. I began feeling better by the evening but after another dose of Cal/Mag, I tightened up again. A healthy person will not be affected by a single extra dose of minerals but I am.
I also need to re-evaluate my training. Even though my tempos and intervals are short, it may just be too much quality. Super high mileage will also wear out my adrenals for sure no matter how slow the pace. What did I do when I was running my best in 2011 and 2012? A steady diet of moderate paced runs with an average weekly mileage just over 40. That's not what coaches will tell you to do but it may just be the right formula for me.
Trip home:
Relatively smooth ride back through Nova Scotia and New Brunswick back to the USA border in Houlton, Maine. The next day was an easy 2 hour drive back to Bangor for my fight home back through LaGuardia. It was pretty cool to fly over NYC. My connection into Birmingham was delayed an hour so I didn't get back until almost midnight. Back to real life now.
Monday, May 19, 2014
training 5/19-5/25
5/19- 2 hour drive back down to Bangor. Stopped at the University of Maine campus for a junk run on their track. Passed 1 mile in 7:31 feeling about as expected then shut it down with a glacial cool down. I am typing this from a free public I-pad in La Guardia awaiting my flight back to Birmingham.
Grade: Pass/ distance-2.0
5/20- Gold's 5 in 38:48 (7:46 pace). First half was a solid 18:48 then it was an even 20:00 for the second half. Not surprising that I struggled today but this just doesn't feel right. Could be a blood sugar issue because I saw stars when I got up in the morning.
Grade:C+/1 credit/distance=5.0
5/21- VERY POOR. Trak Shak 3 mile route in 23:53 (7:58 pace) and had to rally at the end just to make a sub-8. Not quite a "collapse" but not far off. Not sure what it is now. Could be blood sugar or Thym-Adren again or I need to detox.
Grade:D+/1 credit/distance=3.0
5/22- 3 miles at Gold's in 19:08 (6:22 pace) plus a mile cool. That's equivalent to a 19:50 5K. Once again, I've gone from pathetic to almost normal literally overnight ALL BECAUSE OF ONE FREAKING PILL!!! That's just the nature of the beast with chemical sensitivity. I am now down to 3 Thym-Adren. Only 4 weeks ago, I was taking 6 and am concerned that the downward trend is too fast. A rant post is coming. In a hollow victory, I have clinched a 1.0 GPA for the year.
Grade:B+/2 credit/distance=4.0
5/23- COLLAPSE! 2 mile junk run at Spain Park and felt AWFUL. Gums were bleeding a bit last night, which suggests possible Vitamin C deficiency. Took some ascorbic acid and was worse. Natural C is an option but for now I need to detox and stay off caffeine.
PM- Worst day since December of last year. 1 Mile at Spain Park in 9:57. 'Nuff said. Detox is my best hope.
Grade:F/1 credit/distance=3.0
5/24- Well, it's official now. MY SYSTEM HAS REJECTED THYM-ADREN! DETOX IS MY ONLY HOPE! Junk run on Wisteria. Ran the first mile and my time was down to 8:08. Then I popped ONE Thym-Adren pill and I was back to the 10:00 range on the back half. 'Nuff said.
Grade:D-/1 credit/distance=2.0
5/25- Detox appears to have been successful. I passed about as many stones as I ever have but my body has yet to cry out for Thym-Adren. In fact, I'm pretty sure that my system would still reject it. I have little choice other than to ride it out at least for a few days and order a new hair test kit. I would feel safer on the ADHS (modulator) but I don't know if I can tolerate that. What is certain is that I CAN still tolerate the Cal/Mag and the molybdenum and both are still necessary. The lame workout was indoors with a toilet available every lap. Did 1 Mile in 8:30 without the moly then improved to 7:03 with it. I did not try any Thym-Adren but I'm betting that I would have been back over 9:00 with it. I am off to Nashville to put in an appearance at a wedding tonight.
Grade:D+/1 credit/distance=2.0
Weekly summary:
ANGRY AGAIN. 3 wins in a row followed by 3 losses. If I can stay off the Thym-Adren and the medical report shows I am in balance, it will turn around real fast.
Distance=20.0/ GPA= 12.2/7= 1.74
Grade: Pass/ distance-2.0
5/20- Gold's 5 in 38:48 (7:46 pace). First half was a solid 18:48 then it was an even 20:00 for the second half. Not surprising that I struggled today but this just doesn't feel right. Could be a blood sugar issue because I saw stars when I got up in the morning.
Grade:C+/1 credit/distance=5.0
5/21- VERY POOR. Trak Shak 3 mile route in 23:53 (7:58 pace) and had to rally at the end just to make a sub-8. Not quite a "collapse" but not far off. Not sure what it is now. Could be blood sugar or Thym-Adren again or I need to detox.
Grade:D+/1 credit/distance=3.0
5/22- 3 miles at Gold's in 19:08 (6:22 pace) plus a mile cool. That's equivalent to a 19:50 5K. Once again, I've gone from pathetic to almost normal literally overnight ALL BECAUSE OF ONE FREAKING PILL!!! That's just the nature of the beast with chemical sensitivity. I am now down to 3 Thym-Adren. Only 4 weeks ago, I was taking 6 and am concerned that the downward trend is too fast. A rant post is coming. In a hollow victory, I have clinched a 1.0 GPA for the year.
Grade:B+/2 credit/distance=4.0
5/23- COLLAPSE! 2 mile junk run at Spain Park and felt AWFUL. Gums were bleeding a bit last night, which suggests possible Vitamin C deficiency. Took some ascorbic acid and was worse. Natural C is an option but for now I need to detox and stay off caffeine.
PM- Worst day since December of last year. 1 Mile at Spain Park in 9:57. 'Nuff said. Detox is my best hope.
Grade:F/1 credit/distance=3.0
5/24- Well, it's official now. MY SYSTEM HAS REJECTED THYM-ADREN! DETOX IS MY ONLY HOPE! Junk run on Wisteria. Ran the first mile and my time was down to 8:08. Then I popped ONE Thym-Adren pill and I was back to the 10:00 range on the back half. 'Nuff said.
Grade:D-/1 credit/distance=2.0
5/25- Detox appears to have been successful. I passed about as many stones as I ever have but my body has yet to cry out for Thym-Adren. In fact, I'm pretty sure that my system would still reject it. I have little choice other than to ride it out at least for a few days and order a new hair test kit. I would feel safer on the ADHS (modulator) but I don't know if I can tolerate that. What is certain is that I CAN still tolerate the Cal/Mag and the molybdenum and both are still necessary. The lame workout was indoors with a toilet available every lap. Did 1 Mile in 8:30 without the moly then improved to 7:03 with it. I did not try any Thym-Adren but I'm betting that I would have been back over 9:00 with it. I am off to Nashville to put in an appearance at a wedding tonight.
Grade:D+/1 credit/distance=2.0
Weekly summary:
ANGRY AGAIN. 3 wins in a row followed by 3 losses. If I can stay off the Thym-Adren and the medical report shows I am in balance, it will turn around real fast.
Distance=20.0/ GPA= 12.2/7= 1.74
Monday, May 12, 2014
Training 5/12-5/18 (race week)
5/12- Continued steady progress. Fast finish 5 miler at Gold's in 37:23 (7:29 pace). Came through 4 in 30:31, a steady 7:38 pace with moderate effort. I was hoping to finish with a sub-7:05, which was my time for my 3rd interval yesterday. I soundly beat the target with a 6:52. In top form, I can come through 4 @ 7:30 with ease then close with a sub-6. Still a ways to go but when I'm coming off being sick, it's often steady progress followed by a breakthrough, which I hope will come by Wednesday. Still hoping for a good showing on Sunday. 3 days from now, I will be in Bangor, Maine ready to cross the border.
Grade:B/1 credit/distance=5.5
5/13- Laid back sprint session at Vestavia. 1 mile warm in 7:05. Don't think I can hold that for 13 but I think I can go 7:15-7:20 and I'm not fully over the sinus infection. 5x200 with generous rest (34-33-33-33-32). 6x100 naked in which I decided to simply "stride it". Half mile cool at a glacial pace. Nothing special but I wasn't expecting it either. I'd be hard pressed to break 65 in an all out 400 right now. Another fast finish run is planned tomorrow. Rain is in the forecast so it will likely be at Gold's.
Grade:B/1 credit/distance=2.5
5/14- Gold's 5 with no fast finish. Still a trace of congestion but that was not the problem. I was sluggish from the get go and nearly bailed after 3 miles. I managed to stick it out and finish without the pace going over 8 minutes. Time was 39:11 (7:50 pace) with a mild fade but fairly steady pace. I upped the Mag back to 750, which is what I should have been taking all along. Thym-Adren will be cut to 4 pills, which was actually expected. My projected tissue Na level is now 48 and edging closer to the target of 30. When that happens, I expect to be on 3 pills, maybe even 2. I expect that my tissue K is just north of 15 (10 is target)
Grade:C/1 credit/distance=5.0
5/15- Travel day and planned rest. Flight to Bangor, Maine via La Guardia. Border crossing will be tomorrow morning. I am unsure of my computer access on my trip so I may not post again until I return to Birmingham.
5/16- Long drive from Bangor through rural Maine and New Brunswick into Prince Edward Island. No time to run
5/17- AM- Junk run on the boardwalk in Charlottetown.
PM- Drive into Halifax, Nova Scotia. Estimated 2 mile junk run through Commons Park. Felt fine.
Grade:B+/1 credit/distance=3.0
5/18- Debacle. Broke the cardinal rule of nothing new on race morning. Happy just to finish safely. Time was around 1:43:30 (7:53 pace). Whirlwind travel schedule didn't help either.
Grade:D+/3 credit/distance=14.0
Weekly summary:
I can live with this one too because it was my own stupid fault for taking too many Cal/Mag on race morning.
NO MORE LOSSES from now on.
Distance=30.0/ GPA= 15.2/7= 2.17
YTD; 632 miles. Record: 8-11 with a 2.59 GPA
Grade:B/1 credit/distance=5.5
5/13- Laid back sprint session at Vestavia. 1 mile warm in 7:05. Don't think I can hold that for 13 but I think I can go 7:15-7:20 and I'm not fully over the sinus infection. 5x200 with generous rest (34-33-33-33-32). 6x100 naked in which I decided to simply "stride it". Half mile cool at a glacial pace. Nothing special but I wasn't expecting it either. I'd be hard pressed to break 65 in an all out 400 right now. Another fast finish run is planned tomorrow. Rain is in the forecast so it will likely be at Gold's.
Grade:B/1 credit/distance=2.5
5/14- Gold's 5 with no fast finish. Still a trace of congestion but that was not the problem. I was sluggish from the get go and nearly bailed after 3 miles. I managed to stick it out and finish without the pace going over 8 minutes. Time was 39:11 (7:50 pace) with a mild fade but fairly steady pace. I upped the Mag back to 750, which is what I should have been taking all along. Thym-Adren will be cut to 4 pills, which was actually expected. My projected tissue Na level is now 48 and edging closer to the target of 30. When that happens, I expect to be on 3 pills, maybe even 2. I expect that my tissue K is just north of 15 (10 is target)
Grade:C/1 credit/distance=5.0
5/15- Travel day and planned rest. Flight to Bangor, Maine via La Guardia. Border crossing will be tomorrow morning. I am unsure of my computer access on my trip so I may not post again until I return to Birmingham.
5/16- Long drive from Bangor through rural Maine and New Brunswick into Prince Edward Island. No time to run
5/17- AM- Junk run on the boardwalk in Charlottetown.
PM- Drive into Halifax, Nova Scotia. Estimated 2 mile junk run through Commons Park. Felt fine.
Grade:B+/1 credit/distance=3.0
5/18- Debacle. Broke the cardinal rule of nothing new on race morning. Happy just to finish safely. Time was around 1:43:30 (7:53 pace). Whirlwind travel schedule didn't help either.
Grade:D+/3 credit/distance=14.0
Weekly summary:
I can live with this one too because it was my own stupid fault for taking too many Cal/Mag on race morning.
NO MORE LOSSES from now on.
Distance=30.0/ GPA= 15.2/7= 2.17
YTD; 632 miles. Record: 8-11 with a 2.59 GPA
Monday, May 5, 2014
Message #75- Fellowship as a weapon
John 10:10- The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
1 Peter 5:8- Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Philippians 2:12- Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling
Hebrews 10:24-25- And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching
It was a sad day for me when I turned in my uniform because adrenal disease had progressed to the point in which I could no longer run competitively. Most of my inner circle advised me to let it go and focus on the positives. After all, I was still an A-student with a bright future and loved by friends and family. While I certainly do advocate being thankful and “counting your blessings,” I need to share a strong caution. We are facing an enemy with an insatiable desire to steal, kill and destroy. Yes, there are doors that God will shut for your benefit and/or protection but I knew in my heart that at least in my case, running was not one of them. With prayerful discernment, I believe that you can recognize the difference between a door closed by God and theft by the enemy. Unless you are sure that it is a locked door, DO NOT accept defeat in any area of life, EVER! Suppose that a thief stole maybe $10 per week from your checking account and you let him get away with it. Odds are that he will be emboldened and go for $20 next week and so on. Let me quickly break down the stages of Adrenal Fatigue:
Stage 1- A little irritable under stress but otherwise asymptomatic
Stage 2- Performance begins to decline. Need stimulants to function at a high level. Close friends may be concerned but you appear healthy on the surface.
Stage 3- Significant decline. Visibly sick. Often have trouble holding a job.
Stage 4- Totally disabled. Bedridden.
The enemy was not content with simply taking away my ability to compete in college. If I had allowed it, he would have taken pretty much everything from my job to my relationships and even my life itself. As the disease progressed, my exercise capacity continued to diminish. Grades started slipping and I was obviously unwell in job interviews. Thus, my once bright employment prospects faded. I did not answer my phone on my worst days because I simply want to be left alone. I have spoken to several people who have gone through a painful divorce or break up as a result of this disease.
Now, on to the parallels. When it comes to weapons at our disposal that I have referenced many times (church, Bible, prayer, fellowship), I find that it is fellowship that is most underestimated. When I felt like giving up, my friend Chris who has the gift of prophecy, told me repeatedly to keep searching because eventually I would “find the key” but I would have to “go off the beaten path” to find it. The key turned out to be a liver cleanse and an obscure mineral called molybdenum to bind excess copper.
Based on personal observations, I have found that “falling in with the wrong crowd” is quite often the culprit for people who backslide away from God. Like the progression of adrenal fatigue, it’s a slow fade. One of my friends likened it to drifting in the ocean. You don’t even realize it is happening but several hours pass and you realize that you are a hundred yards down the beach. I don’t know much about Justin Beiber or his music but I do recall hearing that when he was 15 or 16, he referenced his Christian faith many times in a book. Now, 3-4 years later, Beiber is a known pot smoker who smiled in his mug shot as he was arrested for DUI. Some people with adrenal fatigue deteriorate faster than others but many can and do stay productive in Stage 2 for several years. I managed to do so in one of the worst environments for the adrenals: College. Nobody goes from simply “a little irritable” to totally disabled overnight. Nobody goes from a faithful follower of Christ to a pleasure seeking hedonist overnight either. It is unfortunate that a single sinful choice can have life-altering consequences so don’t even give the enemy an opening to attack. I test my body regularly to ensure that my health remains on the right track in the natural. When it comes to spiritual health, I find that it is Godly companionship that is most effective in keeping yourself accountable and prevents you from drifting away. Stay on the narrow road.
Training 5/5-5/11
5/5- AM- No issues with delayed onset muscle soreness. Gold's 5 in 36:13 (7:15 pace) with nice even splits (7:11-7:17). Strong. Maybe a junk run this evening but I want to save myself for a speed session tomorrow.
PM- Naked 2.5 mile junk run on Wisteria with a few traffic stops. Sunny and 85 but still low humidity.
Grade:A-/1 credit/distance=7.5
5/6- END OF SOCCER SEASON! TRACKS ARE OPEN! Salazar 300s at Vestavia. Good to see Johnny again though I did not run his workout. It was the usual 10 reps in sets of 5. Consistent splits again. No faster than 55.1 and no slower than 57.9 with an average of 56.0 That's an improvement over the 56.8 that I did last time. Closed with a 200 in 33.9 and added a half mile warm and cool. Total time for the 2 miles worth of intervals was 9:53 (4:57 pace). That's solid but not stellar. Considering the improvement in my GA pace, I expected my intervals to improve faster. I will aim for a pace a bit slower tomorrow at the Shak and will probably do the 7.5 loop.
Grade:B+/2 credits/distance=3.0
5/7- STRONG. Trak Shak 7.5 in 55:27 (7:24 pace). Nice job. Pleasant 80 degree evening with low humidity. Pace slowed just a tad in the back half. Stomach held up during the run but got an attack afterwards. Looking for a tempo tomorrow.
Grade:A-/1 credit/distance=7.5
5/8- Just realized that I have not had a collapse in 4 weeks. YES! Today, I was down a bit with a mild virus. Doesn't seem to be anything more than a head cold. My throat was killing me during the day and the sneezing is starting to come now but outside of that, I felt pretty good. I figure that tomorrow will be as bad as it gets. Believe it or not, I was pretty solid today. Gold's 3 mile tempo in 19:07* (6:22 pace) plus a Mile cool. I did stop at the water fountain at the halfway point as a precaution but I don't think it made much difference. Splits were 6:21-6:27-6:19. This translates to a 19:50 5K and I believe I can run 19:30ish with no viral infection and fresh legs. This cold is a 5 day problem and my attitude is SO WHAT? I'll be ready in plenty of time for Nova Scotia.
Grade:B+/2 credits/distance=4.0
5/9- Planned rest day. Sneezing and runny nose today. Throat pain has diminished. Legs and lungs are plenty strong enough for a standard issue run. Weather is iffy tomorrow so we'll see.
5/10- WORRIED NOW! Day 3 of the cold, which may actually be a touch of the flu. I have a dry hacking cough and chills today. I did attempt to run today but quit after a Mile in 8:30. I will see a doctor if I am not better by tomorrow. EDIT: This feels like a sinus infection. Only a doctor can tell if it's viral or bacterial.
Grade:F/1 credit/distance=1.0
5/11- No need to see a doctor. I am nearly 100% sure that it is viral. I just have to let it run its course and I expect to be okay for Nova Scotia in 7 days. Today was much better than yesterday's debacle. 3x1 Mile progression style at Gold's. Splits were 7:52-7:31-7:05 with generous rest periods. Did not want to push any harder than this and risk a relapse. If it were bacterial, I'd be getting worse every day. Overall time was 22:28 (7:29 pace) for the intervals. Should be up for a standard issue run by tomorrow.
Grade:C-/1 credit/distance=3.0
Weekly summary:
I'm never happy with a loss but in this circumstance (viral infection), I can accept it because it had nothing to do with my chemistry issues. 7:15 pace is too hard for easy days with my current fitness and I will back off to 7:30 ish until I am in BQ shape. Still, I don't think it had anything to do with this sickness. I likely just caught a bug, which happens to everybody. I do know that copper imbalances can weaken the immune system. I am due for a hair test in about 4 weeks and expect to see considerable improvement.
Distance=26.0/ GPA= 22.1/8= 2.76
YTD: 602 miles/ Record: 8-10 with a 2.63 GPA
PM- Naked 2.5 mile junk run on Wisteria with a few traffic stops. Sunny and 85 but still low humidity.
Grade:A-/1 credit/distance=7.5
5/6- END OF SOCCER SEASON! TRACKS ARE OPEN! Salazar 300s at Vestavia. Good to see Johnny again though I did not run his workout. It was the usual 10 reps in sets of 5. Consistent splits again. No faster than 55.1 and no slower than 57.9 with an average of 56.0 That's an improvement over the 56.8 that I did last time. Closed with a 200 in 33.9 and added a half mile warm and cool. Total time for the 2 miles worth of intervals was 9:53 (4:57 pace). That's solid but not stellar. Considering the improvement in my GA pace, I expected my intervals to improve faster. I will aim for a pace a bit slower tomorrow at the Shak and will probably do the 7.5 loop.
Grade:B+/2 credits/distance=3.0
5/7- STRONG. Trak Shak 7.5 in 55:27 (7:24 pace). Nice job. Pleasant 80 degree evening with low humidity. Pace slowed just a tad in the back half. Stomach held up during the run but got an attack afterwards. Looking for a tempo tomorrow.
Grade:A-/1 credit/distance=7.5
5/8- Just realized that I have not had a collapse in 4 weeks. YES! Today, I was down a bit with a mild virus. Doesn't seem to be anything more than a head cold. My throat was killing me during the day and the sneezing is starting to come now but outside of that, I felt pretty good. I figure that tomorrow will be as bad as it gets. Believe it or not, I was pretty solid today. Gold's 3 mile tempo in 19:07* (6:22 pace) plus a Mile cool. I did stop at the water fountain at the halfway point as a precaution but I don't think it made much difference. Splits were 6:21-6:27-6:19. This translates to a 19:50 5K and I believe I can run 19:30ish with no viral infection and fresh legs. This cold is a 5 day problem and my attitude is SO WHAT? I'll be ready in plenty of time for Nova Scotia.
Grade:B+/2 credits/distance=4.0
5/9- Planned rest day. Sneezing and runny nose today. Throat pain has diminished. Legs and lungs are plenty strong enough for a standard issue run. Weather is iffy tomorrow so we'll see.
5/10- WORRIED NOW! Day 3 of the cold, which may actually be a touch of the flu. I have a dry hacking cough and chills today. I did attempt to run today but quit after a Mile in 8:30. I will see a doctor if I am not better by tomorrow. EDIT: This feels like a sinus infection. Only a doctor can tell if it's viral or bacterial.
Grade:F/1 credit/distance=1.0
5/11- No need to see a doctor. I am nearly 100% sure that it is viral. I just have to let it run its course and I expect to be okay for Nova Scotia in 7 days. Today was much better than yesterday's debacle. 3x1 Mile progression style at Gold's. Splits were 7:52-7:31-7:05 with generous rest periods. Did not want to push any harder than this and risk a relapse. If it were bacterial, I'd be getting worse every day. Overall time was 22:28 (7:29 pace) for the intervals. Should be up for a standard issue run by tomorrow.
Grade:C-/1 credit/distance=3.0
Weekly summary:
I'm never happy with a loss but in this circumstance (viral infection), I can accept it because it had nothing to do with my chemistry issues. 7:15 pace is too hard for easy days with my current fitness and I will back off to 7:30 ish until I am in BQ shape. Still, I don't think it had anything to do with this sickness. I likely just caught a bug, which happens to everybody. I do know that copper imbalances can weaken the immune system. I am due for a hair test in about 4 weeks and expect to see considerable improvement.
Distance=26.0/ GPA= 22.1/8= 2.76
YTD: 602 miles/ Record: 8-10 with a 2.63 GPA
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