Two separate trips to a small geographical area hit the wallet hard so I prefer to double up on the races if possible. Given my current fitness level, I do not believe that I can finish 2 half marathons on back to back days in less than 2 hours each. Even if I could, I really prefer not to subject myself to that kind of torture. I need at least 2 full days off to deliver a semi-respectable performance. While the short turnaround time certainly didn’t help me in Massachusetts, it was not the cause of my doom. The culprits were the viral infection and too many adrenal suppressant pills. The latter should not be an issue going forward with the modulator. Thanks to several race series such as Mainly Marathons, which offer weekday races, some doubles are more manageable than a Saturday-Sunday combo.
Nebraska and Iowa are 2 neighboring states that I need and Mainly Marathons offers a Thursday (6/7) race in Iowa. Guess what? There is a Nebraska race the previous weekend (6/2). Of course, it's too late to do it this year but I'd say there is a good chance that the scheduling will be similar next year. The timing would be perfect.
Here is what I would do hypothetically:
5/31- Fly into Chicago and immediately hit the road. It's over 9 hours into the race location in Hastings, Nebraska (about an hour west of Lincoln) so I'll divide it up and spend the night in Des Moines, Iowa. My one previous visit to the state involved a stop at a Subway restaurant just across the border so by the "strict standards" I really can't say I've "been there." A night in Des Moines with a possible stop at the Capitol will definitely shore up Iowa even before the race.
6/1- Relatively easy drive into Hastings, Nebraska. Pick up race packet and just relax
6/2- Race day in Nebraska (state #39). Head back east. I'll stop in Lincoln and spend the night in Omaha. I'd imagine there will be something to do there. My previous Nebraska visit involved a trip to a grocery store and about 15 minutes of driving through corn fields. Again, even if I fail on race day, this would meet the strict standards for an official visit.
6/3- Drive to Chicago (7 hours). Since I'll arrive on a Sunday night, there should not be much traffic getting into town. I'll just check in and do a quick walking tour.
6/4-6/5- 2 days to tour Chicago. A few things I'd like to see are the Magnificent Mile, Millennium Park, Sears and/or John Hancock Tower and Rush Street.
6/6- Leave Chicago and drive less than 3 hours to the race location in Clinton, Iowa.
6/7- Race in Iowa then head back to Chicago and catch an afternoon or evening flight back. The Mainly Marathons series are mostly trail races and usually 6-8 loops through a park. It may not be the most exciting course but any sanctioned race that allows for a manageable double? I'll take it. It's Iowa so it won't be too hilly either.
If all goes according to planned, this would take me up to the 40 mark and the projected completion will be November 2022 in Hawaii.
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
Monday, May 28, 2018
Delmarva Road Trip Plan
Yes, I am planning a trip nearly a year in advance. This race was the backup option for this Spring but New England fit my schedule better with the manageable Wednesday-Sunday double. Anyway, the planned race is in the town of Salisbury, Maryland on the 2nd weekend of April. That should fit my work schedule well because it is difficult to get audit appointments near the end of tax season. I actually lived in Salisbury for a few months between my Freshman and Sophomore year of college back in 2000 and landed a summer job at K-Mart. I can't believe that was 18 years ago. Man, has it really been that long? I've only been back once since then and that was about 15 years ago.
Here's the plan:
Day 1- Fly from Birmingham to Philadelphia. To my knowledge, there is indeed a direct flight option. It's about 2.5-3 hours south to Salisbury but I'll make a few detours. I could cross into New Jersey for a few miles just because I can. Knowing me, I'm sure that I will. I'll probably stop in Delaware's capital city of Dover as well. I will explore Salisbury a bit and I'm sure there are plenty of new buildings and am really not sure how much I will remember. I know the K-Mart is no longer there, which is too bad.
Day 2- Race in Salisbury (state #38) then drive maybe 45 minutes to Ocean City. I'd like to have lunch at a place called JR Ribs if it's still open. Of course, it will be way too cold for a swim but I'd enjoy a walk on that boardwalk as I spent many happy hours on that beach. From there, I'll head south to Virginia's Eastern shore with a possible stop in Chincoteague, where I also spent quite a bit of time. I'd classify southern Delaware and Maryland's eastern shore as "semi-southern" but once you cross into Virginia, you are most definitely in the South. This part of the state is very rural but there could be some hidden gems such as a nice independent restaurant. At any rate, I expect to hit the Chesapeake Tunnel by early evening and I'll stay in Virginia Beach for the night.
Day 3- Again, I want to walk on the boardwalk in Virginia Beach. Maybe, I'll do a junk run if I feel up to it. This was the first family vacation that I remember with any clarity but have not been back in 30 years. I expect to remember little to nothing. From there, I'll head northwest and stop in Richmond. I was there about 15 years ago and definitely want to drive Monument Avenue, which is a site of one of the largest 10Ks in the country. From Richmond, I will deliberately avoid the Beltway by taking 301 across the Bay. I'll explore the Chesapeake region of Maryland for a bit and stay there for the night.
Day 4- Finish exploring the Chesapeake Bay then head back up to Philly. I won't do any touring there this time around. That can wait until the New Jersey/Delaware race combo. I'll probably get a cheap motel near the airport and catch a flight back the next morning.
Not an epic trip but still could be fun.
Here's the plan:
Day 1- Fly from Birmingham to Philadelphia. To my knowledge, there is indeed a direct flight option. It's about 2.5-3 hours south to Salisbury but I'll make a few detours. I could cross into New Jersey for a few miles just because I can. Knowing me, I'm sure that I will. I'll probably stop in Delaware's capital city of Dover as well. I will explore Salisbury a bit and I'm sure there are plenty of new buildings and am really not sure how much I will remember. I know the K-Mart is no longer there, which is too bad.
Day 2- Race in Salisbury (state #38) then drive maybe 45 minutes to Ocean City. I'd like to have lunch at a place called JR Ribs if it's still open. Of course, it will be way too cold for a swim but I'd enjoy a walk on that boardwalk as I spent many happy hours on that beach. From there, I'll head south to Virginia's Eastern shore with a possible stop in Chincoteague, where I also spent quite a bit of time. I'd classify southern Delaware and Maryland's eastern shore as "semi-southern" but once you cross into Virginia, you are most definitely in the South. This part of the state is very rural but there could be some hidden gems such as a nice independent restaurant. At any rate, I expect to hit the Chesapeake Tunnel by early evening and I'll stay in Virginia Beach for the night.
Day 3- Again, I want to walk on the boardwalk in Virginia Beach. Maybe, I'll do a junk run if I feel up to it. This was the first family vacation that I remember with any clarity but have not been back in 30 years. I expect to remember little to nothing. From there, I'll head northwest and stop in Richmond. I was there about 15 years ago and definitely want to drive Monument Avenue, which is a site of one of the largest 10Ks in the country. From Richmond, I will deliberately avoid the Beltway by taking 301 across the Bay. I'll explore the Chesapeake region of Maryland for a bit and stay there for the night.
Day 4- Finish exploring the Chesapeake Bay then head back up to Philly. I won't do any touring there this time around. That can wait until the New Jersey/Delaware race combo. I'll probably get a cheap motel near the airport and catch a flight back the next morning.
Not an epic trip but still could be fun.
Training 5/28-6/3
5/28- Day off work for Memorial Day so I was able to get a long run in today. Finished 10 miles in 84:13 (8:25 pace). Fine with this one. Felt quite comfortable all the way and dipped under 8 for the last mile without going nuts down the homestretch. I think I could do 1:47-1:48 for a half mary right now on a fairly flat course if racing all out. This goal is to be consistently below 1:40. Keep chipping away and workouts like this will do the job.
Distance=10.0
5/29- Very slow 3 miler. Probably just tired from yesterday. Slowed with every step and the overall pace was over 9.
Distance=3.0
5/30- Improvement over yesterday but still not real good. 5 miles in 44:44 (8:57 pace). I must confess that I binged on caffeine last weekend and have paid the price. STUPID! At least I know I'm not bulletproof in this area even on Sarcosine. Lesson learned hopefully for the last time. It might take a week for it to get regulated but at least I'm getting decent mileage.
Distance=5.0
5/31- 2 mile junk run. It has been confirmed that caffeine is the culprit and I am back to Day 1. A pair of 5 milers this weekend will take me up to 30 on the week. If it's Sarcosine (which I doubt), I'm done for. PLEASE, no more excuses going forward.
Distance=2.0
6/1- Planned rest day. Should start feeling better soon. This is only Day 2.
6/2- Day 3. Improving as expected. 5 miles in 40:56 (8:11 pace) on Jefferson trail. Faded on the back half but that's understandable. The trail is sloped such that the back half is mostly uphill plus conditions were quite humid outside.
Distance=5.0
6/3- Day 4. I've had a little alcohol this weekend but no caffeine binge. Same route as yesterday and I improved to a 39:36 (7:56 pace). MINUS 15. Did better in holding the pace as well. Still not too pleased with this one. I have a feeling that the Sarcosine will need to be cut further. Down to a half a scoop. Again, there is a chance that more will be tolerated in the future.
Distance=5.0
-30 miles on the week.
Distance=10.0
5/29- Very slow 3 miler. Probably just tired from yesterday. Slowed with every step and the overall pace was over 9.
Distance=3.0
5/30- Improvement over yesterday but still not real good. 5 miles in 44:44 (8:57 pace). I must confess that I binged on caffeine last weekend and have paid the price. STUPID! At least I know I'm not bulletproof in this area even on Sarcosine. Lesson learned hopefully for the last time. It might take a week for it to get regulated but at least I'm getting decent mileage.
Distance=5.0
5/31- 2 mile junk run. It has been confirmed that caffeine is the culprit and I am back to Day 1. A pair of 5 milers this weekend will take me up to 30 on the week. If it's Sarcosine (which I doubt), I'm done for. PLEASE, no more excuses going forward.
Distance=2.0
6/1- Planned rest day. Should start feeling better soon. This is only Day 2.
6/2- Day 3. Improving as expected. 5 miles in 40:56 (8:11 pace) on Jefferson trail. Faded on the back half but that's understandable. The trail is sloped such that the back half is mostly uphill plus conditions were quite humid outside.
Distance=5.0
6/3- Day 4. I've had a little alcohol this weekend but no caffeine binge. Same route as yesterday and I improved to a 39:36 (7:56 pace). MINUS 15. Did better in holding the pace as well. Still not too pleased with this one. I have a feeling that the Sarcosine will need to be cut further. Down to a half a scoop. Again, there is a chance that more will be tolerated in the future.
Distance=5.0
-30 miles on the week.
Monday, May 21, 2018
Epic New England Trip Report
5/15- I got a smokin' deal on a direct flight from Atlanta to Boston for just $152 round trip so I decided to fly from there instead of Birmingham. I had no issues on this flight but a bit of a SNAFU at the rental car pickup. Payless would not take my debit card so I was sent to Enterprise, who accepted it only after I provided proof of a flight out of Boston. Fortunately, I got the car and hit the road to Springfield, Vermont, the site of my first of 2 half marathons this week. I took I-90 out of Boston then some country roads once I got outside the metro area. It was mostly gently rolling terrain with heavy tree cover though it was merely early Spring up there. Lunch was in Concord, Mass at a nice independent pizza place. I also passed through a section of New Hampshire with a quick stop in the town of Keene before arriving at my destination just before dinner. I made sure I knew where to find the race start then had a rather mediocre steak for dinner.
5/16- With a race start at 6 AM, I needed to be up at 4:30 and out the door by 5AM. The day dawned foggy with temps in the mid-50s, which is actually very good weather for distance running. The race is one of the more unique events that I have done. It was part of a 6 day series called the New England Challenge, which consisted of 6 races on 6 consecutive days. Many runners were simply looking to complete the challenge and did not care about their time. I could have won overall if I had been in top shape but even as it was, I still finished 3rd and could have been 2nd if I raced all out.
I went back to my hotel, showered up and was out the door just after 9:00 AM. From there, it was I-91 South to New Haven, CT. Even with a lunch stop, I arrived by 12:30 and caught a Metro North train to NYC at Grand Central. My room was just 10 blocks away so I just checked in and hit the subway towards Coney Island in Brooklyn. Of course, it was way too cold for a swim but it was still pretty cool to walk on that boardwalk and see those iconic amusement rides. Dinner was a tasty Nathan's hot dog and a slice of pizza. Next, it was a walking tour of Soho and the Lower East side followed by a drink at the famous 230 5th rooftop bar, which offered perhaps the best free views of the NYC skyline. Unfortunately, it was too foggy to see the top of the Empire State building but it was still a lot of fun.
5/17- It was back to Brooklyn the next morning for a quick tour of Prospect Park and some off the beaten path areas of Vincent Gambini's neck of the woods. From there, it was a long subway ride to the Bronx but I was able to score tickets for a Yankee stadium tour and a Top of the Rock Observation. I am not a Yankee fan but I do have respect for what is historically the most successful franchise in all of professional sports. I got a view of the playing field as well as Monument Park along with uniform displays of legends such as Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle and Jeter.
I had waited more than a year to see the top of Rockefeller in the daylight and it was well worth it. Looking north, you see Central Park in full bloom with the lakes clearly visible. Looking south, you get a close up of the Empire State building with the Freedom Tower in the distance. Awesome. My camera would not work on low battery so I stole these pics from the Internet but I promise y'all that I was there. It was now 5:00 and I headed back to Grand Central to catch the train to Connecticut for the night.
5/18- Drive on Beach Road in New Haven. Part of the route was right next to the sandy beaches of the Long Island Sound so I snapped a couple pictures. I made another quick detour on the Connecticut/Rhode Island border but the next destination was Newport, Rhode Island with its cliffside ocean scenery against the rocky coast and nearby mansions. Pictures really don't do it justice. Right next to the Cliff Walk is a sandy beach that looked to have decent surf. Of course, it was much too cold for a dip (Air temp around 60, water in the upper 50s).
Soon, I was back in Massachusetts on my way up to Cape Cod. Because tomorrow's weather looked iffy, I cut this part short so I could get to Boston earlier that afternoon. I stopped at a beach in the town of Barnstable, walked around for a bit then got back on the road. This proved to be a good call because the weather had cleared for the time being and temps were quite comfortable for a walking tour of Boylston Street. I got some nice skyline views from the Prudential Tower and saw the finish line of the Boston marathon.
5/19- I got an early start of my Freedom Trail tour because I wanted to beat the nasty weather that did indeed come in the afternoon. Highlights here included the Massachusetts State House, Sam Adams' grave, statues of Paul Reveve and Ben Franklin as well as Old North Church and the site of the Boston massacre. I did not see any museums because I was pressed for time but it was still cool to see those historical sites. I had lunch with my friend Chase, whom I had connected with online several years on a health message board then it was back to the subway for the JFK library and a welcome stop indoors. This presidential library covered his early life, election and administration with highlights of the space program, Civil Rights efforts and the Cuban Missile Crisis. It did not cover the assassination and conspiracy theories. Overall, I probably would have approved of his job performance if I had been around.
5/20- Woke up this morning feeling completely wiped out despite a good night's sleep not to mention a nasty sinus headache probably from being out too long in the chilly rain yesterday. I still had 13.1 miles to run and I knew that it would not be pretty. The course started and ended at Horseneck Beach but the first 10 miles were fairly non-descript mostly through residential areas with gently rolling terrain but in the last 3 miles, the course turned on Beach Road and it was all along the ocean front with the sound and sights of waves breaking on rocky and sandy sections then turned through the sand dunes. The scenery here was spectacular but unfortunately, I felt anything but that. I managed to keep the pace semi-respectable through about 9.5 miles then I had to walk. Once you reach that point, you can't come back. It was a death march to the finish but once again, a finish is a finish and state #34 is in the books. I may be back in Massachusetts down the road for a shot at redemption but that will come after I finish state #50.
Despite a bit of traffic, I got back to the Boston airport in plenty of time and enjoyed a seafood meal before the flight back to Atlanta. The flight itself was fine but because of a maintenance issue on a plane at our assigned gate, we were stuck on the tarmac for nearly 2 hours. It was about 11:00 by the time I got back to Birmingham but made it home safely and showed up for work the next day.
People that I met:
I found that western CT sounds more like NYC while RI and east CT is more like Boston. Traffic was a bit of an adventure in spots and I got somewhat rude service at the Vermont restaurant but overall, most people were nice. Whenever I travel, there is always a good chance of a connection when I meet somebody from the South. I got a nice compliment on my accent after asking for "10 on pump 5" in Connecticut. I met a girl from Georgia at the NYC bar and a couple from Miss'Sippy in Boston but a nice surprise came at the Boston subway. I connected with a very nice girl from South Africa, which has long been on my travel bucket list. We had a nice conversation and she even gave me her phone number. I hope that we will keep in contact and I would encourage everyone to seek out friendships with people from different backgrounds and cultures. You will find that there is a lot more common ground that you might expect.
5/16- With a race start at 6 AM, I needed to be up at 4:30 and out the door by 5AM. The day dawned foggy with temps in the mid-50s, which is actually very good weather for distance running. The race is one of the more unique events that I have done. It was part of a 6 day series called the New England Challenge, which consisted of 6 races on 6 consecutive days. Many runners were simply looking to complete the challenge and did not care about their time. I could have won overall if I had been in top shape but even as it was, I still finished 3rd and could have been 2nd if I raced all out.
 |
| Vermont course |
The race was run on a 4 loop course of 3.27 miles per loop. It was mostly a gravel trail with a long steady incline along with a corresponding decline plus a grassy section with a couple absurdly steep hills. Fortunately, those climbs were short but no matter what the pace, it will beat up your legs. I found a good rhythm on relatively flat and downhill sections but struggled on the grass. Overall, however, the pace was pretty steady in the 8:30 range for each of the first 3 loops. I simply wanted to break 2 hours and save it for Sunday in Massachusetts but my split at 3/4 was 84:xx, on pace for a 1:52. I intentionally backed off on the 4th loop and allowed myself to be passed by the 2nd place finisher. I took my time on the water stop and walked the steep sections. Pride got the best of me at the end however and I posted a respectable last half mile to finish in 1:54:18. I was fine with that and actually wished that I had taken it a bit slower. Hopefully, it would not bite me after a 3 day rest.
I went back to my hotel, showered up and was out the door just after 9:00 AM. From there, it was I-91 South to New Haven, CT. Even with a lunch stop, I arrived by 12:30 and caught a Metro North train to NYC at Grand Central. My room was just 10 blocks away so I just checked in and hit the subway towards Coney Island in Brooklyn. Of course, it was way too cold for a swim but it was still pretty cool to walk on that boardwalk and see those iconic amusement rides. Dinner was a tasty Nathan's hot dog and a slice of pizza. Next, it was a walking tour of Soho and the Lower East side followed by a drink at the famous 230 5th rooftop bar, which offered perhaps the best free views of the NYC skyline. Unfortunately, it was too foggy to see the top of the Empire State building but it was still a lot of fun.
 |
| Grand Central |
 |
| Coney Island |
 |
| Rooftop Bar |
5/17- It was back to Brooklyn the next morning for a quick tour of Prospect Park and some off the beaten path areas of Vincent Gambini's neck of the woods. From there, it was a long subway ride to the Bronx but I was able to score tickets for a Yankee stadium tour and a Top of the Rock Observation. I am not a Yankee fan but I do have respect for what is historically the most successful franchise in all of professional sports. I got a view of the playing field as well as Monument Park along with uniform displays of legends such as Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle and Jeter.
 |
| Rock 1 |
 |
| Rock 2 |
I had waited more than a year to see the top of Rockefeller in the daylight and it was well worth it. Looking north, you see Central Park in full bloom with the lakes clearly visible. Looking south, you get a close up of the Empire State building with the Freedom Tower in the distance. Awesome. My camera would not work on low battery so I stole these pics from the Internet but I promise y'all that I was there. It was now 5:00 and I headed back to Grand Central to catch the train to Connecticut for the night.
 |
| Long Island Sound |
5/18- Drive on Beach Road in New Haven. Part of the route was right next to the sandy beaches of the Long Island Sound so I snapped a couple pictures. I made another quick detour on the Connecticut/Rhode Island border but the next destination was Newport, Rhode Island with its cliffside ocean scenery against the rocky coast and nearby mansions. Pictures really don't do it justice. Right next to the Cliff Walk is a sandy beach that looked to have decent surf. Of course, it was much too cold for a dip (Air temp around 60, water in the upper 50s).
 |
| Cliff Walk |
 |
| Newport Beach |
Soon, I was back in Massachusetts on my way up to Cape Cod. Because tomorrow's weather looked iffy, I cut this part short so I could get to Boston earlier that afternoon. I stopped at a beach in the town of Barnstable, walked around for a bit then got back on the road. This proved to be a good call because the weather had cleared for the time being and temps were quite comfortable for a walking tour of Boylston Street. I got some nice skyline views from the Prudential Tower and saw the finish line of the Boston marathon.
 |
| Cape Cod |
 |
| Boston |
 |
| Boston |
5/19- I got an early start of my Freedom Trail tour because I wanted to beat the nasty weather that did indeed come in the afternoon. Highlights here included the Massachusetts State House, Sam Adams' grave, statues of Paul Reveve and Ben Franklin as well as Old North Church and the site of the Boston massacre. I did not see any museums because I was pressed for time but it was still cool to see those historical sites. I had lunch with my friend Chase, whom I had connected with online several years on a health message board then it was back to the subway for the JFK library and a welcome stop indoors. This presidential library covered his early life, election and administration with highlights of the space program, Civil Rights efforts and the Cuban Missile Crisis. It did not cover the assassination and conspiracy theories. Overall, I probably would have approved of his job performance if I had been around.
 |
| Freedom Trail |
 |
| Paul Revere |
 |
| With Chase |
5/20- Woke up this morning feeling completely wiped out despite a good night's sleep not to mention a nasty sinus headache probably from being out too long in the chilly rain yesterday. I still had 13.1 miles to run and I knew that it would not be pretty. The course started and ended at Horseneck Beach but the first 10 miles were fairly non-descript mostly through residential areas with gently rolling terrain but in the last 3 miles, the course turned on Beach Road and it was all along the ocean front with the sound and sights of waves breaking on rocky and sandy sections then turned through the sand dunes. The scenery here was spectacular but unfortunately, I felt anything but that. I managed to keep the pace semi-respectable through about 9.5 miles then I had to walk. Once you reach that point, you can't come back. It was a death march to the finish but once again, a finish is a finish and state #34 is in the books. I may be back in Massachusetts down the road for a shot at redemption but that will come after I finish state #50.
 |
| Sand Dunes |
Despite a bit of traffic, I got back to the Boston airport in plenty of time and enjoyed a seafood meal before the flight back to Atlanta. The flight itself was fine but because of a maintenance issue on a plane at our assigned gate, we were stuck on the tarmac for nearly 2 hours. It was about 11:00 by the time I got back to Birmingham but made it home safely and showed up for work the next day.
People that I met:
I found that western CT sounds more like NYC while RI and east CT is more like Boston. Traffic was a bit of an adventure in spots and I got somewhat rude service at the Vermont restaurant but overall, most people were nice. Whenever I travel, there is always a good chance of a connection when I meet somebody from the South. I got a nice compliment on my accent after asking for "10 on pump 5" in Connecticut. I met a girl from Georgia at the NYC bar and a couple from Miss'Sippy in Boston but a nice surprise came at the Boston subway. I connected with a very nice girl from South Africa, which has long been on my travel bucket list. We had a nice conversation and she even gave me her phone number. I hope that we will keep in contact and I would encourage everyone to seek out friendships with people from different backgrounds and cultures. You will find that there is a lot more common ground that you might expect.
Training 5/21-5/27
5/21- Planned rest day. Still awfully tired from the trip but I should be ready to roll again tomorrow. It has been confirmed that Thym-Adren was the culprit. I am not depressed today but my legs feel like steel beams with zero power and it got worse with each subsequent pill. If I had simply taken 1-2 of those pills, I'd get nicked a bit but could still run. At mega doses, significant problems are to be expected. THIS was the reason for the debacle at Horseneck. Otherwise, I still could have done okay even with the head cold and draining travel schedule. I am switching back to ADHS. This is the adrenal modulator so too much of that stuff won't hurt me.
5/22- Much better today thanks to the ADHS switch. 3 miles in 23:33 (7:51 pace). Not bad at all. I've really been under a lot of stress lately at work plus I am still recovering from the trip. I'm fine with this one. Yesterday, I would not have been able to run at all so thanks to the Sarcosine, I am able to rebound within 2-3 days instead of 5-7. Looking for continued improvement tomorrow.
Distance=3.0
5/23- 3 miles again but my time is down to 22:09 (7:23 pace). Best time since starting Sarcosine and it was a 15 second improvement over last week. That's what needs to happen. Just chip away a few seconds at a time and eventually I will get there. Even pace with a nice finish.
Distance=3.0
5/24- 5 miles on Lakeshore in 40:31 (8:06 pace). That's fine. I like that number too. I deliberately dialed down the effort today. I should hit 30 miles this week with a decent long run.
Distance=5.0
5/25- Upped my Sarcosine to 3 scoops just to see what if anything would happen. Just like the previous attempt, I had no issue with a depressed mood. In fact, that part was actually BETTER than usual but there was very little energy or power in my run today. Completed 4 miles in 33:44 (8:26 pace). Even splits and never really felt tired but just could not pick up the pace. Has it spiked my adrenals again? Unlikely because Thym-Adren didn't seem to help. I just have limited tolerance to Sarcosine. 2 scoops might be okay but I may not see any benefit beyond 1 so that's what I will go with for the time being.
Distance=4.0
5/26- Step backward but no concern yet. Excess Sarcosine hasn't cleared yet and this was done in humid conditions on a hilly route. Finished 4 miles from the Trak Shak in 35:16 (8:49 pace). Hope to go long again tomorrow but it's no tragedy if I don't since I had 2 long runs last week.
PM- Tacked on a mile cool just so I can hit 30 with a 10 tomorrow.
Distance=5.0
5/27- Needed extra sleep and it was too hot and humid to start a long run at 8:00 so I hit the gym for another 3 mile test. I am continuing to chip away. Time today was down to 21:48 (7:16 pace). Add about 45 seconds to this for a full 5K. Struggled in the midsection but came back with a strong finish. Last mile was a solid 7:04. That's 21 seconds better than last time. Even a 12 second improvement per week gets me below 20 within 2 months. Getting under 21 won't be hard. Under 20 will be tough but I've done it once in recent memory but couldn't be consistent. With the Sarcosine, I will be consistent. Under 19? Not counting on it.
Distance=3.0
-23 miles on the week. That's low but it was meant for recovery. I am encouraged by my progress in the 3 mile time trials and I think I can expect a 21:30 next week. I will try 2 scoops next week but expect to go with 1 until further notice.
5/22- Much better today thanks to the ADHS switch. 3 miles in 23:33 (7:51 pace). Not bad at all. I've really been under a lot of stress lately at work plus I am still recovering from the trip. I'm fine with this one. Yesterday, I would not have been able to run at all so thanks to the Sarcosine, I am able to rebound within 2-3 days instead of 5-7. Looking for continued improvement tomorrow.
Distance=3.0
5/23- 3 miles again but my time is down to 22:09 (7:23 pace). Best time since starting Sarcosine and it was a 15 second improvement over last week. That's what needs to happen. Just chip away a few seconds at a time and eventually I will get there. Even pace with a nice finish.
Distance=3.0
5/24- 5 miles on Lakeshore in 40:31 (8:06 pace). That's fine. I like that number too. I deliberately dialed down the effort today. I should hit 30 miles this week with a decent long run.
Distance=5.0
5/25- Upped my Sarcosine to 3 scoops just to see what if anything would happen. Just like the previous attempt, I had no issue with a depressed mood. In fact, that part was actually BETTER than usual but there was very little energy or power in my run today. Completed 4 miles in 33:44 (8:26 pace). Even splits and never really felt tired but just could not pick up the pace. Has it spiked my adrenals again? Unlikely because Thym-Adren didn't seem to help. I just have limited tolerance to Sarcosine. 2 scoops might be okay but I may not see any benefit beyond 1 so that's what I will go with for the time being.
Distance=4.0
5/26- Step backward but no concern yet. Excess Sarcosine hasn't cleared yet and this was done in humid conditions on a hilly route. Finished 4 miles from the Trak Shak in 35:16 (8:49 pace). Hope to go long again tomorrow but it's no tragedy if I don't since I had 2 long runs last week.
PM- Tacked on a mile cool just so I can hit 30 with a 10 tomorrow.
Distance=5.0
5/27- Needed extra sleep and it was too hot and humid to start a long run at 8:00 so I hit the gym for another 3 mile test. I am continuing to chip away. Time today was down to 21:48 (7:16 pace). Add about 45 seconds to this for a full 5K. Struggled in the midsection but came back with a strong finish. Last mile was a solid 7:04. That's 21 seconds better than last time. Even a 12 second improvement per week gets me below 20 within 2 months. Getting under 21 won't be hard. Under 20 will be tough but I've done it once in recent memory but couldn't be consistent. With the Sarcosine, I will be consistent. Under 19? Not counting on it.
Distance=3.0
-23 miles on the week. That's low but it was meant for recovery. I am encouraged by my progress in the 3 mile time trials and I think I can expect a 21:30 next week. I will try 2 scoops next week but expect to go with 1 until further notice.
Monday, May 14, 2018
Training 5/14-5/20 Double Race Week
5/14- 3 miles in 22:24 (7:28 pace). Still very overstimulated but felt noticeably better overall today. I've cut off 30/mile in just 3 days. Of course, I cannot expect this rate of improvement to continue but for the last time, just chip away a few seconds per week and I'll get there pretty soon. Hitting the road soon to catch a morning flight in Atlanta.
Distance=3.0
5/15- Planned rest day. Drive from Boston to Vermont.
5/16- Maple Leaf half marathon in 1:54:17. Fine with this one. It was a trail race with more hills than expected. Ran this one harder than I planned and hope it doesn't come back to bite me on Sunday. State #33. NYC tonight.
Distance=13.5
5/17- Planned rest day. Mostly in NYC, night in New Haven, Connecticut.
5/18- Second planned rest day. Drive through Rhode Island to Cape Cod, night in Boston.
5/19- Junk run on Hancock Street in Boston. Only 1 mile but felt reasonably well and believe I could perform acceptably if the race were today instead of tomorrow.
Distance=1.0
5/20- DISASTER at Horseneck. Woke up with a nasty sinus headache. I was afraid of that after being outside on a chilly rainy afternoon the previous day. I held it together for 9 miles then walked/slow jogged it home. Time is too embarrassing to reveal. A finish is a finish and it's #34. I suspect that Thym-Adren needs to be reduced. The adrenal spike has calmed down. I knew that would happen eventually and it was just bad luck on race day.
Distance=13.5
-31 miles on the week.
Distance=3.0
5/15- Planned rest day. Drive from Boston to Vermont.
5/16- Maple Leaf half marathon in 1:54:17. Fine with this one. It was a trail race with more hills than expected. Ran this one harder than I planned and hope it doesn't come back to bite me on Sunday. State #33. NYC tonight.
Distance=13.5
5/17- Planned rest day. Mostly in NYC, night in New Haven, Connecticut.
5/18- Second planned rest day. Drive through Rhode Island to Cape Cod, night in Boston.
5/19- Junk run on Hancock Street in Boston. Only 1 mile but felt reasonably well and believe I could perform acceptably if the race were today instead of tomorrow.
Distance=1.0
5/20- DISASTER at Horseneck. Woke up with a nasty sinus headache. I was afraid of that after being outside on a chilly rainy afternoon the previous day. I held it together for 9 miles then walked/slow jogged it home. Time is too embarrassing to reveal. A finish is a finish and it's #34. I suspect that Thym-Adren needs to be reduced. The adrenal spike has calmed down. I knew that would happen eventually and it was just bad luck on race day.
Distance=13.5
-31 miles on the week.
Sunday, May 13, 2018
Sarcosine Product Review (Possible Accutane Antidote)
I've now been using this product for 6 weeks so I feel that I know enough to post a review. Let's first review where I was before I ordered this product:
My chief complaint was EXTREME SENSITIVITY to supplements, some of which were necessary for me to function. I would have TERRIBLE reactions to just a few specks of something as benign as Calcium and Whole Food C. The latter is necessary for proper Copper and Iron balance. What do I mean by these "terrible" reactions? Literally within 60 seconds of swallowing the pill or simply taking a few specks, my entire body tightened up to the point in which when I tried to bend down to touch my toes, I could barely get below the bottom of my knees.
The best way to describe how it felt so my readers can understand is a flu-like malaise minus the fever and congestion plus more depression. Symptom would begin to diminish over a period of 3-5 days but if I took another pill that I could not tolerate, the entire cycle would repeat itself again and again. I would often get better for several days then just as my hopes were beginning to rise, I collapsed again. Because it always occurred immediately after taking a pill, it was clear to me that it had NOTHING to do with my attitude or external circumstances. It was not so obvious to others unless they actually witnessed it and yes, some of my closest friends and family saw it. I know it's hard to believe but I swear it's true and if you are a regular reader of this blog, you should know it too.
Obviously there was something deeper than chemical imbalances in play here. I posted over and over again that there is NO WAY that a normal person would have these type of severe and immediate reactions to a benign mineral or vitamin even if it took my chemistry in the wrong direction. I can understand getting dinged a bit by a few doses of the wrong pill and that's actually good because it lets me know that I am off track and I can make the corrections before it got worse. However, what I described above should NEVER happen. I long suspected that defective enzymes were the culprit.
How about simply avoiding the problem pills? NOPE! Reactions can flare up at any time. What was yesterday's medicine could be tomorrow's poison. After blood donation to clear excess Iron last year, I developed a critical need for Whole Food C. Then, just 2-3 weeks later, I could not tolerate it. Similar things took place with many other pills in my cocktail. Something had to be done.
Though I have no medical diagnosis, I believe the culprit is a defect in the glycine conjugation pathway. According to the following article, Accutane can cause a permanent up-regulation of the GNMT enzyme (Glycine N-Methyl Transferase) http://forums.phoenixrising.me/index.php?threads/accutane-methylation-block-and-glycine-n-methyltransferase.26042/
Yes, I did try methylation support, specifically methylfolate. Yes, it did help and allowed me to feel better than I did without it but it had to be taken with TMG and it did not resolve the unexplained sensitivity to other stuff. Take more MF? Though extra doses were tolerated, I saw no additional benefit above a dose of 400 mcg. I tried Glycine itself and YES, it did resolve the sensitivity to other pills but in what I described as the ultimate in cruelty, I became intolerant to the Glycine.
Sarcosine is also known as N-Methyl Glycine and is an intermediary in recycling process. I surmised that it was an intermediate step in the process that was blocked. I could very well be right. A more detailed explanation can be found in this post:
http://crazyj208.blogspot.com/2018/04/ordered-sarcosine.html
The RESULT
The negative is that yes, I am sensitive to Sarcosine BUT fortunately, the optimal dose appears to have stabilized at 1 scoop per night (1 gram) and it has COMPLETELY ELIMINATED the sensitivity to other pills. YES!! If I take too much Sarcosine, I will be weakened but bounce back within a day or two instead of 3-5. It was a mistake to try to take 2 scoops as directed. For the time being, 1 scoop is all that I can tolerate but that could change down the road. One time, I tried to go up to 4 scoops. Although I could not run at all, I was NOT depressed. In fact, I actually felt a definite uptick in my mood.
As of now, my best runs on Sarcosine are still slower than my best before it. I'm okay with that. Probably the biggest misconception about me is that I go to such great lengths ONLY because I want to run faster. THAT AIN'T TRUE! All I want out of this is stable chemistry. Anything else is a bonus. If my adrenal dysfunction was left completely untreated, I would be unable to work a full time job and live independently let alone be able to run. Although I am slower, I am more consistent and the depression has virtually vanished. My need for adrenal suppressants (Thym-Adren) has increased in recent weeks. That should be a temporary reaction and my doctor has told me that it is a common occurrence after solving a major problem. This was MOST DEFINITELY A MAJOR PROBLEM! I need to stick to drinking water only but a cheat day will not cause a collapse. I'll just get nicked a bit. In theory, I should get faster when the adrenals calm down and the body is back in balance. However, even if I never run well again, it is still a trade that I was more than willing to make to resolve the sensitivity.
My chief complaint was EXTREME SENSITIVITY to supplements, some of which were necessary for me to function. I would have TERRIBLE reactions to just a few specks of something as benign as Calcium and Whole Food C. The latter is necessary for proper Copper and Iron balance. What do I mean by these "terrible" reactions? Literally within 60 seconds of swallowing the pill or simply taking a few specks, my entire body tightened up to the point in which when I tried to bend down to touch my toes, I could barely get below the bottom of my knees.
The best way to describe how it felt so my readers can understand is a flu-like malaise minus the fever and congestion plus more depression. Symptom would begin to diminish over a period of 3-5 days but if I took another pill that I could not tolerate, the entire cycle would repeat itself again and again. I would often get better for several days then just as my hopes were beginning to rise, I collapsed again. Because it always occurred immediately after taking a pill, it was clear to me that it had NOTHING to do with my attitude or external circumstances. It was not so obvious to others unless they actually witnessed it and yes, some of my closest friends and family saw it. I know it's hard to believe but I swear it's true and if you are a regular reader of this blog, you should know it too.
Obviously there was something deeper than chemical imbalances in play here. I posted over and over again that there is NO WAY that a normal person would have these type of severe and immediate reactions to a benign mineral or vitamin even if it took my chemistry in the wrong direction. I can understand getting dinged a bit by a few doses of the wrong pill and that's actually good because it lets me know that I am off track and I can make the corrections before it got worse. However, what I described above should NEVER happen. I long suspected that defective enzymes were the culprit.
How about simply avoiding the problem pills? NOPE! Reactions can flare up at any time. What was yesterday's medicine could be tomorrow's poison. After blood donation to clear excess Iron last year, I developed a critical need for Whole Food C. Then, just 2-3 weeks later, I could not tolerate it. Similar things took place with many other pills in my cocktail. Something had to be done.
Though I have no medical diagnosis, I believe the culprit is a defect in the glycine conjugation pathway. According to the following article, Accutane can cause a permanent up-regulation of the GNMT enzyme (Glycine N-Methyl Transferase) http://forums.phoenixrising.me/index.php?threads/accutane-methylation-block-and-glycine-n-methyltransferase.26042/
Yes, I did try methylation support, specifically methylfolate. Yes, it did help and allowed me to feel better than I did without it but it had to be taken with TMG and it did not resolve the unexplained sensitivity to other stuff. Take more MF? Though extra doses were tolerated, I saw no additional benefit above a dose of 400 mcg. I tried Glycine itself and YES, it did resolve the sensitivity to other pills but in what I described as the ultimate in cruelty, I became intolerant to the Glycine.
Sarcosine is also known as N-Methyl Glycine and is an intermediary in recycling process. I surmised that it was an intermediate step in the process that was blocked. I could very well be right. A more detailed explanation can be found in this post:
http://crazyj208.blogspot.com/2018/04/ordered-sarcosine.html
The RESULT
The negative is that yes, I am sensitive to Sarcosine BUT fortunately, the optimal dose appears to have stabilized at 1 scoop per night (1 gram) and it has COMPLETELY ELIMINATED the sensitivity to other pills. YES!! If I take too much Sarcosine, I will be weakened but bounce back within a day or two instead of 3-5. It was a mistake to try to take 2 scoops as directed. For the time being, 1 scoop is all that I can tolerate but that could change down the road. One time, I tried to go up to 4 scoops. Although I could not run at all, I was NOT depressed. In fact, I actually felt a definite uptick in my mood.
As of now, my best runs on Sarcosine are still slower than my best before it. I'm okay with that. Probably the biggest misconception about me is that I go to such great lengths ONLY because I want to run faster. THAT AIN'T TRUE! All I want out of this is stable chemistry. Anything else is a bonus. If my adrenal dysfunction was left completely untreated, I would be unable to work a full time job and live independently let alone be able to run. Although I am slower, I am more consistent and the depression has virtually vanished. My need for adrenal suppressants (Thym-Adren) has increased in recent weeks. That should be a temporary reaction and my doctor has told me that it is a common occurrence after solving a major problem. This was MOST DEFINITELY A MAJOR PROBLEM! I need to stick to drinking water only but a cheat day will not cause a collapse. I'll just get nicked a bit. In theory, I should get faster when the adrenals calm down and the body is back in balance. However, even if I never run well again, it is still a trade that I was more than willing to make to resolve the sensitivity.
Monday, May 7, 2018
Training 5/7-5/13
5/7- Lakeshore 6.5 in 53:54 (8:18 pace) plus a half mile cool. Mixed feelings about this one. I got off to a good start but slowed considerably on the last 2.5 leg. HR was unbelievably low at 107 and it got lower as the workout progressed. I must say that I seriously doubt that's accurate. Most people can get it that high on a brisk walk. Cheating over the weekend may have knocked me down a notch but this is not a collapse and I am back on track now. This week will be front loaded.
Distance=7.0
5/8- Approximately 3 miles through the woods and hills in Veteran's Park. Not sure of the exact distance because of poor reception but felt about the same as yesterday. I've come to the conclusion that although a single cheat day or two won't result in a collapse, I will get nicked a little bit because the sugars are bad for overactive adrenals. Best to stay away completely for the time being. Taurine may be helpful in calming the adrenal spike so I'm going to try that. HR was back to a more reasonable 144 but that's still much too low.
Distance=3.0
5/9- Trak Shak 5 in 39:25 (7:53 pace). This is the new normal and the gains will come slowly. Overall, it was about as expected. Slipped a bit in Mile 3-4 but rebounded nicely with a 7:37 closer, which was my fastest mile of the run. I took 4 scoops of Sarcosine tonight and we shall see what if any effect it has on me. Clean diet. HR-155, Cadence-176.
Distance=5.0
5/10- VERY interesting. I knew immediately that 4 scoops was a mistake. I could not run at all today. I only slow jogged 1 mile in a time that was probably over 10 minutes BUT my mood was perhaps the BEST that it has been in a very long time. For the last time, this proves my point that depression could very well have NOTHING to do with your attitude. It's all about chemical balance. Going forward, it is best that I REDUCE the Sarcosine to 1 scoop. What will happen?
I was a consistent Mendoza line performer at this dosage but that was before I cleaned up my diet, switched to Thym-Adren and upped the dose. 2 scoops without mega doses and I was worse. I only gained a bit when I jacked up the dose. Given the same diet and cocktail of pills, I believe I am better on 1 scoop rather than 2. Maybe someday, I will be able to tolerate more but it won't be for a while.
Distance=1.0
:
5/11-AM- Down to 1 scoop and improvement over yesterday is already evident. 2 miles in 17:46 (8:53 pace). Expecting better this afternoon.
PM- 3 miles in 23:55 (7:58 pace). Fought hard to stay under the Mendoza line. I'm back to where I was before I attempted 2 scoops. Will I improve from here thanks to the Thym-Adren or will I plateau? I ought to know by Monday.
Distance=5.0
5/12- BTC Social. I modified it and cut it short with my upcoming races. Finished 7 miles in 56:28 (8:04 pace). I was pleased with this one. Clearly better than yesterday. I hit 3 miles in just about the same time as yesterday then held it together for an additional 4 and the pace never went above 8:15 despite a fairly hilly route.
Distance=7.0
5/13- Lakeshore 4 in 31:04 (7:46 pace). MINUS 12 in 2 days with an extra mile using the new formula. I'll take it. It's not going to come back overnight but for the last time, simply avoiding the relapses will allow me to chip away at the goal times.
Distance=4.0
-32 miles on the week.
Distance=7.0
5/8- Approximately 3 miles through the woods and hills in Veteran's Park. Not sure of the exact distance because of poor reception but felt about the same as yesterday. I've come to the conclusion that although a single cheat day or two won't result in a collapse, I will get nicked a little bit because the sugars are bad for overactive adrenals. Best to stay away completely for the time being. Taurine may be helpful in calming the adrenal spike so I'm going to try that. HR was back to a more reasonable 144 but that's still much too low.
Distance=3.0
5/9- Trak Shak 5 in 39:25 (7:53 pace). This is the new normal and the gains will come slowly. Overall, it was about as expected. Slipped a bit in Mile 3-4 but rebounded nicely with a 7:37 closer, which was my fastest mile of the run. I took 4 scoops of Sarcosine tonight and we shall see what if any effect it has on me. Clean diet. HR-155, Cadence-176.
Distance=5.0
5/10- VERY interesting. I knew immediately that 4 scoops was a mistake. I could not run at all today. I only slow jogged 1 mile in a time that was probably over 10 minutes BUT my mood was perhaps the BEST that it has been in a very long time. For the last time, this proves my point that depression could very well have NOTHING to do with your attitude. It's all about chemical balance. Going forward, it is best that I REDUCE the Sarcosine to 1 scoop. What will happen?
I was a consistent Mendoza line performer at this dosage but that was before I cleaned up my diet, switched to Thym-Adren and upped the dose. 2 scoops without mega doses and I was worse. I only gained a bit when I jacked up the dose. Given the same diet and cocktail of pills, I believe I am better on 1 scoop rather than 2. Maybe someday, I will be able to tolerate more but it won't be for a while.
Distance=1.0
:
5/11-AM- Down to 1 scoop and improvement over yesterday is already evident. 2 miles in 17:46 (8:53 pace). Expecting better this afternoon.
PM- 3 miles in 23:55 (7:58 pace). Fought hard to stay under the Mendoza line. I'm back to where I was before I attempted 2 scoops. Will I improve from here thanks to the Thym-Adren or will I plateau? I ought to know by Monday.
Distance=5.0
5/12- BTC Social. I modified it and cut it short with my upcoming races. Finished 7 miles in 56:28 (8:04 pace). I was pleased with this one. Clearly better than yesterday. I hit 3 miles in just about the same time as yesterday then held it together for an additional 4 and the pace never went above 8:15 despite a fairly hilly route.
Distance=7.0
5/13- Lakeshore 4 in 31:04 (7:46 pace). MINUS 12 in 2 days with an extra mile using the new formula. I'll take it. It's not going to come back overnight but for the last time, simply avoiding the relapses will allow me to chip away at the goal times.
Distance=4.0
-32 miles on the week.
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